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UAB Rec hosts Biggest Loser Challenge

Posted on Jan 14, 2008 in News

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From Jan. 7, to Mar. 10, the UAB Campus Recreation Center will be hosting its first ever Biggest Loser Challenge to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle for members of the UAB community. Like on the popular television show “The Biggest Loser,” the object of this competition is to try to lose the greatest percentage of body weight.

UAB decided to hold this event in an attempt to “promote healthy lifestyles and encourage eating right” said Wendi Stanley, the assistant director of fitness at the Rec Center.

Participants in the Biggest Loser Challenge can compete as an individual or as a member of a team of four. In addition, the participants in this event must meet the requirement of being overweight according to his or her BMI and/or the official ACSM guidelines of waist to hip ratio.

“As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, which was the second weigh-in day, an estimated 180 people had registered to compete in the Biggest Loser Challenge, and this total includes 31 teams and over 50 individuals,” said Stanley.

UAB Rec Center employees are pleased with the results thus far.

“The Biggest Loser Challenge so far is going really well,” said Stacey Prentice, supervisor of campus Recreation Marketing and Membership Service.

As part of the BLC, each participant must take part in 10 confidential weekly weigh-ins, which will take place in the Wellness Suite located on the bottom floor of the UAB Rec Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Also, participants of the BLC are encouraged to take part in the educational sessions and group exercise classes offered at the Rec Center. “In addition, a registered nutritionist, Kristen Williams, will be available to speak with participants on various topics throughout the course of the competition,” said Stanley.

Hard work pays off “The winning team and individual of the BLC will be awarded for their accomplishment by receiving a free week supply of meals from Healthy Connections, which is a business that delivers pre-made, healthy meals,” said Williams.

“We are really excited about the turn out so far,” she said, “the participants include a combination of students, faculty and family members of the UAB community. This is a good way to introduce the Rec Center to people who would not have usually come in,” said Williams.

Stanley said all UAB students and Rec Center members, as well as those that live in the same household as a UAB faculty, staff and alumni, are eligible to participate in the BLC. The deadline to participate in the BLC was Friday, Jan. 10.

“The idea of losing the most weight is a popular concept used on television now, and it has become a part of our culture,” said Williams. “Losing weight and becoming healthier in a group setting seems to be a good way to motivate people,” she said.

To get the word out to the UAB community about the BLC competition, flyers about the event were posted, and representative from the Rec Center traveled around campus to the different departments.

“UAB took part in the state-wide Scale Back Alabama Program last year, so the BLC is a good way to involve students, faculty and those eligible to use the Rec Center and keep them interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Williams.

E-MAIL: hac802@yahoo.com