SOUTH BEND — When she heard another local school started a Biggest Loser program, Wilson Primary PE teacher Suzie Harness couldn't resist starting one at her school. So far, the program has inspired about 45 staff members to lose a combined total of 310 pounds.

Harness told WSBT she's always loved the reality TV show The Biggest Loser.

She said the very first day she put a sign up sheet in the lounge, 35 people signed up.

Now, more than half the staff at Wilson is trying to get healthier.

The started the program on January 18. In six weeks, the staff has lost a combined total of 310 pounds. That's 3.5 percent of their body weight! They all have their own goals and reasons for doing it.

"I wanted to lose 30 pounds by May," said Harness.

"One of the teachers announced to me, 'You've lost a chin!'" said Principal Mary Jo Costello. "Yes, I hope to lose another one soon!"

Third grade teacher Gay Bajdek said she's felt uncomfortable with the way she looked for a while.

"My mother has really inspired me to do this," she said. "She died more than a year ago and it was something she and I had really talked about."

So far, Bajdek is the school's "Biggest Loser." She's lost 20 pounds in six weeks, and she hopes to keep going. She says her strategy is simple: She watches what she eats -- no french fries or soda. She also buys 100 Calorie Packs instead of large bags of chips from the grocery store.

Everyone involved is exercising more, eating less cafeteria food and bringing more lunches from home. In the teacher's lounge, WSBT found almost 20 low calorie, low fat frozen meals.

"The team thing is helping us," explained Gail Bajdek. "[Someone will say], 'Oh you're looking great, keep it up' and it really inspires you to do more."

The staff hopes that inspiration reaches beyond the staff to a generation in its own battle with the obesity epidemic.

"Student obesity is a big problem in the United States as a whole," said Suzie Harness. "And I'm always faced with that as a PE teacher, so that's always our ultimate goal."

All the teachers we talked to say they're feeling happier and more energetic. Their version of The Biggest Loser is going on until May -- when school lets out. They're hoping to lose a total of 7 percent of their body weight.

In Week 6 of WSBT's Why Weight? challenge, Kirk Mason took a big lead over Cari Peugeot and Kelli Cheatham. In six weeks, Kirk has lost 7.5 percent of his body weight. Cari is at 5.4 percent and Kelli is at 4.6 percent.

Has WSBT's First Thing in the Morning crew inspired you to lose weight? If so, we want to hear from you! Email Kelli with your success story. Put 'Why Weight' in the subject line.

Check out our Why Weight section for more on the competition between Kirk, Cari and Kelli.