|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 8th, 2010 - 15:45:09 |
The K-State Research and Extension Office will hold its annual Community Meltdown on Jan. 11. The eight-week competition challenges members of the community to lose weight and make a change to a healthy lifestyle.
The competition has changed this year with additional tips, assistance and incentives to participate. For example, the first 120 participants will receive a pedometer for registering.
“For everyone that participates, they will get three free visits to Southwest Fitness and Racquetball and three visits to the SCCC/ATS Wellness Center,” said local K-State Research and Extension spokeswoman Kathy Bloom. “It is a heck of a deal. You are getting very good research based information and sound advice. It is just a really good way to lose weight and get on track if that is what you are looking for."
The Community Meltdown is composed of teams of four. Each team pays $40. The competition is done by weigh ins held each Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the local K-State Extension Office. After the weigh in, participants attend sessions that teach healthy weight loss and lifestyle changes.
The sessions are divided into four concentrations: a healthy lifestyles lecture, a success story, a physical activity and new this year, a healthy food spot light.
“Each week we are going to spotlight a food group or a food that is easy to prepare and is healthy, a good option for healthy eating,” said Bloom. “The dietitians and I will have displays and hopefully, we will have samples of the food as well.”
The team that loses the most weight combined will receive a $200 cash prize. Second team to place will receive $100 and the third team to place will earn $50.
Bloom has planned new incentives for the community to participate. This year the office received a $500 coalition grant from The United Way. The money has been spent on prizes including a Nintendo Wii. The gaming system and other prizes will given away the final night, March 11.
“We are going to have nice prizes for those that attend every week,” said Bloom. “We really think it is important to stay motivated and attend each week. That is what we are encouraging with the prizes.”
One of the 2009 first place winners, Joan Underhill, believes the motivation to lose weight was the biggest prize. The meltdown was an effective tool to encourage her to eat healthier, said Underhill.
Joan, her husband, Frank, her daughter, Shadra Thomas, and daughter's friend, Susan Merklin, lost a combine total of 50 pounds. Underhill credits her success and continued success to the one of the tips she learned from one of the sessions.
“I think the best was using a journal to write down everything you eat and logging your exercise time,” said Underhill. “I make a menu up for the month and we know how many calories we are going to be eating. We have our breakfast and dinner planned and we know how many calories those are.”
Underhill's use of journaling and crafting a monthly menu are still used today. She, her husband and daughter plan to participate again this year and this time include her sister.
The lifestyle change Underhill made is exactly what Bloom hopes to encourage with this year's participants.
“What we hear from individuals is 'I lose the same weight ever year and gain it back',” said Bloom. “What we are working on is helping people learn lifestyle changes so they don't have the weight to lose every year. That is what we are focused on this year. We are asking people to just set a goal of 10 percent of their body weight. Instead of saying 'I need to lose 30 pounds', which is an unrealistic goal for an eight week period, we suggest two pounds a week.”
The weigh in process is done in private. The scale is away from the crowd, only the individual and the staff member can see the measurement.
“I think a lot of people are held back by the fact that they don't like to be weighed in front of people,” said Bloom. “We have it as private as we can. If they are really self conscious they can come by our office and weigh in early. It is totally confidential and only kept here in our office.”
Registration is due Wednesday, Jan. 6. Teams may fill out the form and pay the $40 fee at the Seward County Extension office at 1081 Stadium Rd in Liberal or download the registration from from the website, www.seward.ksu.edu. The office does take late registration with an additional $20 fee.
Hosting Partners for Community Meltdown are: Liberal Parks & Recreation, Seward County Extension Service, Seward County Health Department, Southwest Medical Center, Southwest Medical Center, Southwest Fitness & Racquetball, SCCC Wellness Center, Liberal Area Coalition for Families, United Way of Seward County and USD 480.
For full story please see Sunday's Times
© 2008 Southwest Times
|
|
|
