Residents in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties have an extra week to sign up for Get Healthy, Live Well’s 2015 Weight Loss Challenge.
The deadline was extended past the original Jan. 12 deadline, to Jan. 19, to ensure residents have ample opportunity to join the challenge. So far, almost 300 residents have signed up to “Go for 2 — Together,” losing two pounds of body weight each week.
There is no cost to join the 2015 Weight Loss Challenge, and unlike in past years, this year’s challenge will not feature formal “weigh-ins” for participants; rather, participants are asked to self-report their weight through the Get Healthy, Live Well Web site. The easier sign-up process and extended deadline are intended to give as many people as possible the opportunity to join.
To join, just go to the Weight Loss Challenge home page then click the “Get Started” button. Sign in or create a free account to join the challenge and log your calories, exercise and weight loss. Registration is open from now through Jan. 19, when the challenge will begin. Participants can form a team for additional support or participate individually.
The six-week challenge will wrap up in late February, and winners will be announced on the Get Healthy, Live Well Web site at www.GetHealthyLiveWell.org.
The challenge encourages participants to lose just two pounds of body weight each week. Even moderate weight loss can lead to significant health benefits, including improved blood pressure, lower cholesterol, healthier blood sugar levels, a reduced risk for developing chronic disease, more energy and an improved self-image. Moderate weight loss has also been demonstrated as the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off long-term.
Along with encouraging residents to lose two pounds a week, the challenge also features the 2015 Weight Loss Challenge Education Series, with free classes on topics like motivation, healthy cooking, starting an exercise routine, stress and sleep and more. The classes begin Jan. 20 and are open to everyone, including those who have not registered for the Weight Loss Challenge. The classes will be offered Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Health Education and Wellness Learning Center at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton. Register for these classes online at www.GetHealthyLiveWell.org.
Winners will be chosen in several categories and will win a Fitbit Flex activity tracker. The categories include overall male and female for weight loss percentage; a drawing for male and female who have lost at least 5 percent of their body weight; and the team with the highest percentage of weight loss. Prizes will also be awarded to the male and female with the highest number of points for participating on the Get Healthy, Live Well Web site. There’s a limit of one prize per person even if the participant wins in multiple categories.