Here’s Kathy’s latest report on her progress:

“Now that March is here, I want to give you an update on my weight-loss progress. February was a tough but exciting month. I traveled to 7 countries and I was away from home 22 of the 28 days. Despite that, I managed to lose a few more inches and 3 lb. I am really happy that I didn’t gain any weight like last month. I really made an effort to work out during my trip even if it was for 30 minutes. I made sure wherever I went, I had access to a gym and walked quite a bit.

This month, I plan on increasing my workouts and starting a food diary. I want to encourage all of you who entered our “Healthier, Happier You” Contest to keep going. I see your progress and you guys are doing great!!!

I also want to remind everyone that you have until the end of March to enter the guess my weight contest. Guess my weight for the December 31st weigh-in. See the contest details below.”

—Kathy Peterson

For participating “Healthier, Happier You” contestants, if you haven’t emailed your March weigh-in updates, please do so by March 10th. Plus don’t forget to enter our “Weigh in with Kathy” Contest. See details below.

“Weigh in with Kathy” Contest

(Entry Deadline: 3/31/10)

Guess Kathy Peterson’s weight at the final weigh-in of the “Healthier, Happier You” Contest and you could win $100 in koi merchandise.

As many of you know, co-founder and designer Kathy Peterson is an active participant in the “Healthier, Happier You” contest. Every day, she’s watching her diet and exercising to achieve her weight-loss goals by the end of 2010. She started the year at 132 pound and her goal is to get down to 110 by the end of the year. At the first weigh-in in February, she had gained a pound, but lost inches all around. Will she reach her goal? We won’t know until December 31, but she vows to give it her best shot.

Kathy would like you to predict what her weight will be at the final “Healthier, Happier You” weigh-in on December 31, 2010. The closest guesser will receive $100 in koi merchandise. If there’s a tie between more than one person, we will award a maximum of 5 prizes, with ties going to the person who submitted their winning entry first.

Send your guess, along with your name, address and phone number to shiningstar@koihappiness.com by March 31, 2010. Only one entry per person, please.

Customers often ask us how they can obtain koi styles and prints that aren’t available at their local koi retailer. The first thing you should do is to ask your retailer if they can place a special order for you. Most will be happy to do so.

But what if you want to replace a favorite koi top that’s sold out or no longer in production? Sometimes it takes persistence. But sometimes you just get “lucky.”

Koi fan Nicole P. of Long Beach, CA wrote in to tell us how one unlucky day at work her black permanent marker top came off and ruined the koi Kathryn Lucky top that she loved so much. When she tried to purchase a replacement online, she found out the top was sold out except for a size 2X and she wore a small.

When Kim in our sales department got wind of Nicole’s dilemma, she went to see if our product development team had any extra fabric in that style to make another top. But since it was a style from a past season, the odds weren’t good. She also went to see if our production team could cut down a 2x and make it a small. Sometimes, it’s possible if you have the right trim fabric. But that was no guarantee either.

Miraculously, our product development team managed to find an early production sample of the Kathryn Lucky top. Best of all, it was in Nicole’s exact size. Nicole was thrilled. And so was everyone on our team. (After all, we’re suckers for happy endings.)

So if you can’t find the koi style you’re looking for, don’t give up hope. Be persistent and ask around. You could get “lucky” like Nicole.

Above: koi fan Nicole wearing her Kathryn Lucky top.

Here’s what Kathy had to say to her fellow participants:

“I am so excited that we’ve gotten such a great response to our “Healthier, Happier You” Contest. I am really inspired by all the great reasons you gave for wanting to get healthy.

Here is how I am trying to get healthy. Five weeks ago, I started taking spin classes. I’ve been taking classes 5 times a week for about an hour. I also stopped drinking soda and eating candy. I feel better and can tell my body is changing. I did my first weigh-in and measurements for the year and I gained 1 pound, but lost a couple of inches around. This tells me I need to monitor what I’m eating and change up my exercise. I have to admit that ever since I started my workouts, I am hungry all the time.

I want to encourage you all to keep at it, especially if you are like me and don’t see results right away. Everyone is different. Go at your own pace, but keep going.

For those of you who didn’t sign up in our “Healthier, Happier You” Contest or are already at a healthy weight, I have just the contest for  you. Guess what my weight will be when I weigh in on December 31, 2010. You have until March 31, 2010 to enter. Just send your guess, along with your name, address and phone number, to shiningstar@koihappiness.com. The closest guesser will receive $100 in koi merchandise. If there’s a tie between more than one person, we will award a maximum of 5 prizes, with ties going to the person who submitted their winning entry first. Only 1 entry per person, please.”

—Kathy Peterson