Mayor Rob Ford weight loss campaign ends with a 'twist'

What started out as a highly-hyped campaign to lose 50 pounds has ended with a slight weight loss — and a sore ankle — for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

Ford, who said he was going to lose the weight by June 18, managed to lose 17 pounds during his five-month diet.

The mayor even injured himself, twisting his ankle, as he stepped off the weight scale in front of his office inside Toronto City Hall on Monday afternoon.

"I just want to thank everyone for their support," Ford said.  "I could've done better ... anyways we'll keep working hard to cut down.  That's all I can say.

At one point he had lost 22 pounds, but in April the 'Cut The Waist' challenge began to go off the rails. 

Ford started rescheduling and then canceling his weekly weigh-ins. 

The mayor began the challenge by losing 16 pounds, but then started gaining weight.  At his last public weigh-in on May 8, his weight had risen four pounds.

Shortly after that the mayor said he had quit his diet.

Both Ford and his brother Doug, who is a city councillor, started a public weight loss campaign in January, each hoping to lose 50 pounds by the end of June. 

Rob Ford started out at 330 pounds.  Doug Ford tipped the scales at 265. 

On Monday the mayor weighed 313 pounds.  His brother 230. 

"Enough's enough," said Ford when he kicked off his very public campaign.  "It's the heaviest I've ever been ... I've got young children and this is not healthy."

It's estimated the weight loss challenge will raise about $14,000 for charity.