(RALEIGH) -- Employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina have lost a combined 11-thousand pounds as part of the company's "Five Ton Challenge".

Adrianne McCree lost 42 pounds during the company's effort to improve employees' health and save on health care costs.

"We had different wellness classes where we could come in and get intrinsic view of what weight loss means to us and how it will benefit us in our personal life."

Employees who lost 5 percent of their body weight can receive a credit toward their health care premiums in 2013.