NEW CASTLE, Colorado — Every Tuesday or Thursday if you get up real early and stop by New Castle Family Fitness, you will see a number of dedicated individuals working on their health and fitness. A group wearing “Greatest Loser T-shirts will be their working harder than most.

The Greatest Loser is now in its third week and the two teams have already seen productive results. Both teams — Alpine Bank and the Glenwood Springs Post Independent — have lost 27 pounds each (not including the alternate teammate).

Each team is required to workout one time a week with the New Castle Family Fitness trainers, with the Post Independent hitting the gym at 5 a.m. on Tuesdays, and Alpine Bank coming in at 5 a.m. on Thursdays.

The rest of the week is up to the individuals. The competition is based on team weight lost.

The individual weight loss winners since the start of the competition so are are Laree Magnuson of Alpine Bank, who lost 15 pounds, and Post Independent's Matt McDonell who dropped 13 pounds.

This week, the Post independent team will be profiled, and the Alpine Bank team will be profiled next Thursday.

The Competition Starting team weight Alpine Bank — 672 pounds Post Independent — 712 pounds First week weigh-in

Donna Dunlap

Occupation: Advertising consultant/classifieds

Age: 51

Tell us about yourself and why you're participating in the Greatest Loser? I have been with Colorado Mountain News Media for 9 months now (formerly with Evergreen newspapers). I moved here from Bailey, Colo., and have been married for 33 years to my wonderful husband Mike, I have 2 daughters: Crystal (husband Adam) Kessler, in Rifle; and Cody Dunlap in Aurora, Colo. I “love” to ride my ‘”Harley” along with the rest of my family that rides. I am getting older now (more weight coming on) and I was thrilled when I heard about the Greatest Loser, this is my chance to get myself back to where I need to be with my weight and learn to eat better foods/meals.

What's your biggest challenge in staying fit and/or with weight loss? To keep up the exercising and eating correctly after this is done.

What foods torment you the most? Chocolate/sweets/fast foods that we used to eat during work week in the office for lunch.

Your favorite healthy snack food? Fruit.

What's your favorite exercise or piece of exercise equipment? Sit-ups, treadmill and bike.

What's the best and worst part of working out? Best: Get energized and you feel great afterwards. Worst: “The pain” — it hurts!

Slogan, cliché, book, TV or movie that impacts or has impacted you? “Life is too short — live life daily as if it is your last day!” Good health also means you live longer!

Favorite athlete or celebrity? Meg Ryan.

Matthew McDonell

Occupation: Computer systems administrator for the Post Independent.

Age: 36

Tell us about yourself and why you're participating in the Greatest Loser? I enjoy snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, street and dirt motorcycles, rafting ... the list goes on. Three years ago I suffered a minor heart attack and required a bare metal stent to be inserted into my heart. Since then I have been struggling with losing weight so that I may maintain a healthy lifestyle.

What's your biggest challenge in staying fit and/or with weight loss? Time! It is real easy to put on the pounds fast without noticing until you wake up one day wondering what happened!?!?

What foods torment you the most? Milk chocolate.

Your favorite healthy snack food? Currently it is sting cheese.

What's your favorite exercise or piece of exercise equipment? Elliptical Machine

What's the best and worst part of working out? The best is the feeling I get after working out, the sense that I have done something that is good for me. The worst is dragging myself out of bed to go do it.

Slogan, Cliché, book, TV or movie that impacts or has impacted you? How does someone choose just one? “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” — Abraham Lincoln

Favorite athlete or celebrity? Tim Tebow (Florida Gators).

Kendra Jones

Occupation: Advertising Consultant, Post Independent

Age: 29

Tell us about yourself and why you're participating in the Greatest Loser? I want to be XS, not Excess!

What's your biggest challenge in staying fit and/or with weight loss? Trying to fit working out into my schedule and eating healthy instead of just eating what is convenient and quick.

What foods torment you the most? Beer.

Your favorite healthy snack food? Greek Yogurt.

What's your favorite exercise or piece of exercise equipment? I like the treadmill and running, I like to push myself to run longer and faster each time.

What's the best and worst part of working out? I am not a morning person, so the early morning workouts are pretty rough. But, I feel really good when the workout is over and I know that I am doing something good for myself. Also, I have asked my co-workers in the advertising department to commit to donating a dollar to the Red Cross for every pound I lose, so that makes me want to work even harder.

Favorite athlete or celebrity? Mia Hamm.

Renee Calderon

Occupation: Classified Sales Consultant

Age: 36

Tell us about yourself and why you're participating in the Greatest Loser? I have lived and worked in the valley for over 25 years. Family is very important to me. Want to live a healthy lifestyle. I want to know that I lived my life to the fullest and that failure will not overcome me. I want to be a positive role model for my 11-year-old son Nicolas. I push him and try to encourage him to never give up so I must lead by example.

What's your biggest challenge in staying fit and/or with weight loss? Commitment.

What foods torment you the most? Any sweet.

Your favorite healthy snack food? Fruit.

What's your exercise or favorite piece of exercise equipment? Elliptical machine.

What's the best and worst part of working out? Early mornings, getting there!

Slogan, Cliché, book, TV or movie that impacts or has impacted you? “Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals.” —Henry Ford

Favorite athlete or celebrity? Stephen Murray, Pro BMX'er.