As the CNN Fit Nation Lucky 7 continues to prepare for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon, another group has just completed their journey.

I was lucky enough to be a member of the 2011 CNN Fit Nation 6-Pack and complete the New York City Triathlon. My trainers and I wanted to bring that experience back to Green Bay and recreate the CNN program.

This was the birth of the Aurora BayCare LiveFit Triathlon Challenge. We took applications from employees of the company, picked six and created our own Six-Pack. The goal was the 2012 Green Bay sprint triathlon.

John, Kim, Amy, Lisa, Linda and Leslie became the LiveFit Six-Pack. Six people that for a variety of reasons had settled into unfit and unhealthy lifestyles. Individual and group training, along with a triathlon class, prepared them for the race in early June.

During their preparation for the triathlon they all endured various aches and pains, but were rewarded with new accomplishments and achievements. They all felt ready for race day.

The first Sunday in June was a perfect day for the race and for these six first-time triathletes. The water felt like it was just a few degrees above freezing and we were all happy to complete that part of the race, but the bike and run parts were uneventful - except for a few stumbles and mishaps in transition.

All six completed their first triathlon with big smiles as they crossed the finish line, family and friends cheering.

Not only did the Six-Pack complete their first triathlon, but many sports medicine staff members and several people that we were not able to pick also finished their first race. It was a great morning!

The real results were even more visible. John has lost 65 pounds and is wearing clothes that have been in the back of his closet for a couple years.

Amy, who had bariatric surgery 6 months before the challenge, has now lost 115 pounds and looks nothing like the woman she was a year ago. As a group they lost a total of 130 pounds during the 6-month challenge, and - more importantly - improved their overall health and cardiovascular fitness.

The program was a huge success and the 2013 program is already being planned. I will continue to serve as team captain, but the success of the program is due to the dedication of the trainers, Corey and Junius, who have now changed the lives of six more people.

It amazes me that this all started because I sat down to the computer in November 2010 and decided to apply to run a triathlon with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.