Offering up a healthy challenge
The actual contest period runs from Jan. 2 through March 26, with mandatory weigh-ins on Feb. 6 and March 5-6. Starting Feb. 6, Morga-Mangum said, the top 28 contestants will be broken into four teams of seven contestants each, with each team able to select an individual coach from the health club to help them continue losing weight through the end of the challenge. Contestants will also attend health talks during each weigh-in to get additional ideas for how to lose weight and keep it off.
Following a final weigh-in March 26, winners will be announced in a ceremony on April 13, which will include special guest speaker Abby Rike, who starred on NBCs Biggest Loser program and lost more than 100 pounds both on- and off-camera. In addition to the $1,000 prize for the contestant who posts the biggest weight loss percentage, additional prizes of $300 will go to the team that lost the most overall weight, as well as $400 to the non-coached individual who loses the second-most weight. The two individual winners will also receive free one-year memberships to the Bullhead Health Club.
While entry remains open through Friday, several dozen local men and women had already signed up at Monday nights event, many deciding to enter with friends so that they can support each other. Cheryl Todd was among the initial entrants, saying she decided to enter with her husband in order to improve their health.
Ive been dealing with my weight since I was a kid, taking it off and putting it back on, and my husband was recently diagnosed with diabetes, so hes doing it too, and were doing it as a team, Todd said. I want to take off at least 30 pounds in the next three months, but Ive got a much larger goal by the end of the year, and this provides us with a good support system.
Connie Becker was one of several Bullhead City municipal employees to sign up Monday night. Her hope is to lose 35 pounds by April, when she plans to take a trip to Florida.
Im going to Florida, and I want to look good, she said. This is a healthy way to lose weight, you can do it with a friend and it gives you a goal you can focus on. That, plus I already know several people here.
For more information on WARMCs weight loss challenge, call Morga-Mangum at 928-763-0222 or call either Bullhead Health Club at 928-704-4610 or 928-768-1339.