Doug Blattman, left, Adam Hicks and Jeff Mildner participated in the 10-week De Soto school district weight loss challenge. The photo was taken about one month ago in front of the Technology Center in De Soto.

De Soto school district got a lot lighter the past few months — 2,390 pounds lighter, in fact.

A total of 289 district employees completed a 10-week Biggest Loser competition last month.

Gabby Philbrook, wellness coordinator for the district, said the competition began Feb. 2 as a way for staff to adopt healthier lifestyles.

The district’s Winning With Wellness Team came up with the competition idea, Philbrook said.

The team, which began three years ago, hosts challenges and offers healthy lifestyle information to district staff.

Each building in the district formed its own team in the Biggest Loser competition.

Team members also competed against one another for building prizes.

“Everyone paid a $5 entrance fee,” Philbrook said. “In each building, the first-place winner received 60 percent of the pot, second place received 30 percent and third place received 10 percent.”

The overall district winner, based on percentage of body weight lost, received a Wii and Wii Fit.

The overall second- and third-place winners received a month pass to Punch Boxing in Shawnee and Mr. Goodcents gift cards, Philbrook said.

Jeff Mildner, director of technology, was the top winner, losing 24.14 percent body weight, or 49 pounds. He went from 203 pounds to 154 pounds and shed 4 inches from his waistline.

Mildner said he decreased his caloric intake from about 4,000 calories a day to about 2,000 calories.

“I made some changes with my diet that definitely were more healthy,” Mildner said.

The competition wasn’t especially difficult, he said. But he credited his department’s co-competitors for motivating one another.

Competitors had weigh-ins every two weeks. If a competitor gained weight at a weigh-in, they would have to put $1 toward the building’s prize pot.

Mildner’s team, “Mass Reduction,” lost the most weight of any building, with 472 pounds lost, or 7.61 percent body weight.

Mildner said he planned to continue his healthier lifestyle even though the competition had ended.

“Whenever you decide to do these things, it’s all about commitment and deciding what your end goal is and what you’ll do to work and stick with it,” he said.

Philbrook said the challenge did more than help people lose weight.

“I just think it created a team-bonding atmosphere and some healthy competition in every building,” she said. “I think it was a wonderful event and can’t wait to do it next year.”