January 17, 2018 - It’s a new year and time for a new you! Become the biggest loser in Shelby County — of weight, that is. A monetary award, gym membership, a hair make-over, massage, and various gift cards are among the prizes available for the most successful competitors in the county’s weight loss and physical fitness program.
Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for the opening weigh-in of participants which takes place January 22 - February 5, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Shelby County Extension office at 266 Nacogdoches Street, Center. Participants will weigh-in, submit a $30 participation fee and have their “before” picture taken during registration.
Winners of the 12-week long challenge will be determined by the percentage of body weight they lose during the three-month competition, not by lost pounds. All participants will weigh-in weekly to chart their progress (weights will be kept confidential), which ends with a final weigh-in at the Extension office the week of April 23-27. The winners will be awarded cash prizes of $500, $300, and $100 for 1st – 3rd places, respectively and recognized at a Celebration event on May 8th.
Shelby County Extension Agent, Jheri-Lynn McSwain says the Healthy Texas program also will include:
• weekly “Tone in 20” fitness program,
• weekly healthy cooking nutrition classes,
• health screenings,
• weekly door prizes
• fun, hands-on cooking demonstrations and tastings, and a
• 5K Fun Run and Walk.
In conjunction, participants will be encouraged to enter an additional weight loss challenge for all of East Texas entitled Lighten Up East Texas. Participants in this free contest will be eligible to win grand prizes such as $5,000 in cash for the top male and female percentage of weight lost, two $1,000 gift cards from Brookshire Brothers, a drawing for other cash prizes for those losing 5% or more in weight, and a Broadway Square Mall Makeover Package. For more information on this weight-loss challenge go to www.lightenupeastexas.com.
McSwain says she expects the weight-loss program to make a big impact at the start of the Healthy Texas campaign. “This is a challenge designed to be fun” she says, “but at the same time help people achieve their weight-loss goals and although there are prizes, everyone who reaches a healthier weight is a winner. Last year, I had 128 participants that worked hard and successfully lost a total of 713 pounds as a group. I anticipate an even larger group of participants for the 2018 program.”
If you have questions about this wellness program, please contact Jheri-Lynn McSwain, County Extension Agent – Family & Community Health at 598-7744 or jlmcswain@ag.tamu.edu or follow us on Facebook at Shelby Extension Service.
