Two business owners challenge each other to loose weight

It started as a bet between two friends and ended with results that changed both of their lives for the better.

Twenty weeks ago, Kyle Brent and Dominick Ciliberto made a bet. The two friends would go out for lunch each day.

“We were both at a point where we wanted to loose weight,” said Brent.

He said he remembered telling Ciliberto one day, “Put your money where your mouth is.” And the next day the two agreed to compete in a weight loss competition, where the prize was $1,000. That money would go to the winner’s charity of choice.

“I was getting to the point where I didn’t want to make the jump to the next jean size,” said Brent. “The bet was motivation.”

For the first 10 weeks of the competition the two would weigh-in weekly. However, they didn’t for the last 10-weeks, leaving how much each had lost a mystery to the other person.

“That’s what it took,” said Ciliberto. “A little competition between the two of us.”

The two were amazed by the results when they weighed in last week. On April 13, the two got onto the scale in front of family and friends. Ciliberto learned he had lost a total of 49 pounds or 20.84 percent of his body weight. Brent went next, learning he had lost 51 pounds or 20.3 percent of his body weight.

Though it was a close competition, Ciliberto was victorious. Brent presented Ciliberto with a check for $1,000 to be donated to his charity of choice, the Ronald McDonald House. Ciliberto returned the gesture, by donating $500 to Brent’s charity, Relay for Life.

When the weigh-in was over, both men agreed that it was a success, benefiting both of their lives.

Brent is the owner of KJ Motorsports, 9952 Mountain Road in Middleport.

KJ Motor Sports sells aftermarket and performance parts for ATV’s, snowmobiles and golf carts. A lot of his business is based on sales through his website and Ebay.

He began the business in March 2005, while he was still in college. He said that he had a “passion” for the sport.

Brent grew up in Gasport and hoped to stay in the area. He found a company that he could buy parts from and opened up his own business to sell to others. When he graduated college he decided to continue his business and open up his own store instead of going to work for someone else.

Brent currently employs three part-time and three full-time people. Last year, he said he employed only one person plus himself.

“It’s been going good,” said Brent.

The store is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

For more information visit www.kjmotorsports.com or call 523-9046.

Ciliberto is the owner of All Metal Works in Gasport. He opened up his business in March 2009.

Ciliberto, a roofing contractor, said he use to put on a lot of metal roofs but found there was no where close to get the materials for it.

That led to Ciliberto’s decision to open up the business. Now, All Metal Works manufactures roofing and siding for residential, commercial and agricultural buildings.

Ciliberto was born and raised in Gasport and purchased the building located at 4321 Bolton Road when he was a contractor. He said when his business grew; the building layout was perfect to create the metal siding and roofing materials.

“It was a perfect fit,” he said.

For more information about All Metal Works call 772-7029.