United Way Challenges Residents to Get in Shape
By Karen Colbenson, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
Jan. 29–Mower County is on a diet.
United Way of Mower County is helping Mower County residents lose weight through the Biggest Loser Challenge, which will begin on Tuesday and run for nine weeks, ending on March 27.
BLC is a countywide contest geared toward weight loss and healthful lifestyle changes. The purpose behind the competition is to help combat the obesity epidemic that is taking place all over the United States, including in area counties.
How it works: Pre-registered participants will form teams and compete to be the team to lose the largest percentage of weight. Unofficial weigh-ins will take place during the challenge to track progress, although only the official weights will count toward prizes.
The final weigh-in will take place March 27 at the YMCA. Prizes will be awarded to the winning team and individual.
“We have had about 670 individuals registered,” said Mandi Lightizer-Schmidt, executive director of the local United Way chapter.
“People seem to want to do this because it’s a team effort. It’s easier to do something in a team. Another reason is that they know they need to lose weight.”
Many area businesses are also getting involved, with some paying registration fees for their employees.
“Many organizations are actually using this as their wellness program for their company,” said Lightizer-Schmidt.
“It’s really exciting,” she continued. “We are just overwhelmed with registrations here. We were hoping for 500, and we are exceeding that.”
Each registered individual received a BLC Bag, which included a T-shirt, water bottle, recipes, events calendar and magnet.
“Because of the unexpected amount of registrations, more BLC bags had to be ordered. However, everyone who registered will eventually receive a bag when the new order arrives,” said Lightizer-Schmidt.
Each participant received recipes to assist in the weight loss progress and a BLC card, which contains a list of discounts available for the participant at local businesses during the contest.
This is BLC’s first year in Mower County, but depending on how residents react to it, it may become a yearly competition.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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