Spring 2010
Largest Loser Fitness Challenge

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

What is the Program About?
This program is a 12 week medically supervised diet, exercise and health education experience. Our goal is improve your overall health, self-confidence and help you establish healthy living habits through medically supervised, professionally guided classes, coaches and training sessions. It’s designed for people interested in making serious health and fitness changes. The program begins April 17, 2010 and ends July 10, 2010 (just in time for summer bathing suit displays). 


What Does the Program Include?
This program combines an initial psychological screen, initial fitness evaluation, pre and post program lab tests, ongoing nutritional therapy lectures, one-on-one psychological profile report, personal training both one-on-one and group sessions, behavioral counseling classes and final lab testing.  A complete list of services provided in this program are listed below:

1)    Initial Assessments:
       a)    Behavioral Counselor (LCPC)
       b)    Registered Dietitian (RD)

2)    Exercise:  3 structured exercise sessions per week
       a)    12 One-on-One Personal Training Sessions
       b)    24 Group Exercise Classes

3)    Education:  11 Group Education Classes
      a)    Nutrition
      b)    Behavioral Group Sessions

4)    Nutrition Counseling:  7 one-on-one sessions with our Registered Dietitian

5)    Behavioral Counseling: Initial evaluation and follow up consultation

Are There Any Extra Costs?
Acceptance into the Largest Loser Fitness Challenge does require a medical evaluation and release from one of our medical physicians. The cost of this examination is $134.00 and not included in the program fee. The cost of this examination may be covered by your health insurance plan.
While we prefer teaching you how to use controlled portions of regular food, at times for convenience sake our dietitian may recommend prepared diet foods or meal replacement foods.  All recommended foods can be bought in regular grocery stores and are not covered in the program costs.
If you are truly struggling we have a trained behavioral counselor on staff. Should you need this help these services are additional and billed at the standard hourly rate. This service is covered by many health insurance plans.

How does it differ from other weight loss programs?
While weight loss is an expected result the Largest Loser Fitness Challenge is designed more as an overall health and fitness enhancement program. The program is however limited to individuals who have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 25 or higher which is the equivalent of 20-45 pounds excess body weight. We expect all participants to lose weight and we use it as a primary gauge of your overall progress. You will look great and feel even better both physically and mentally. Plus we expect measurable improvement in your blood chemistries. This a program that challenges you to achieve the shape and fitness level everyone wants. The Largest Loser Fitness Challenge can add years to your life and life to your years. 

How does it work?
1)    Participants will be divided into 3 teams of 6 and assigned to a specific group trainer
2)    This is a challenge to become physically fit. We will use weight loss as a preliminary gauge to measure each participant’s progress in the program. To add interest and challenge we will monitor and make public each participants weekly progress. The program will be run as a contest with weekly eliminations. While no-one will be truly eliminated from the program they will be eliminated from the being awarded the Grand Prize. The challenge has two tracks in which participants compete. All participants start on the Grand Prize Track called Track One. The team with the lowest percentage of body weight each week will lose a team member. The eliminated team member will be the person losing the lowest percentage of body weight for that week. The eliminated team member will move to Track Two where he will compete for Overall Largest Loser. Prizes will be awarded for each track with Track One having a higher overall value.
3)    The Track Two winner honors will be awarded to the person with the greatest percentage of overall body weight lost during the entire 12 weeks. There is only one winner per Track so the Track One winner is excluded from Track Two competition.
4)    The Grand Prize Track One winner will be the person who has consistently avoided weekly elimination.
5)    See "How Do I Win The Prizes" section below more information on awards

I’ve tried losing weight before but found it frustrating, how is this program different?
1)    Combining Diet, Exercise, Healthy Living and Nutrition Education, and and guidance in adopting Lifestyle changes is shown to be the most comprehensive and longest lasting approach to weight loss
2)    This will not be your grandmother’s exercise routine, each competitor is closely monitored and coached to attain their maximum potential at each and every workout
3)    Team camaraderie becomes a personal support system. This helps motivate participants to stay focused and competitive throughout the program
4)    We encourage you to set your goal to win our Grand Prize but losing 10-20% of your body weight makes everyone who competes earnestly in the program is a winner
5)    Your professional team is there to see you succeed. Each has the resources and training to help you get ahead. At an additional fee and if needed we have additional medical and behavioral counseling support services at your disposal
6)   Our trainers are career health professionals, not typical "gym" trainers. The three trainers slated for the Winter 2010 Largest Loser Fitness Challenge are college educated professionals that all possess a degree in the health sciences. Two of our trainers are seasoned marathoners who understand personal commitment and how to train properly

I'd rather not be in group program, do you have other options?
Absolutely, click on the "Weight Loss Center" green tab above for our regular weight and fitness programs.

Who is eligible?
1)    People who need to lose at least 20 pounds of weight (Body Mass Index [BMI] over 25).
2)    People who are physically and mentally prepared to lose weight. All participants must pass medical and psychological screening.
3)    People willing to commit to a minimum of 3-scheduled exercise sessions and weekly Healthy Lifestyle Classes.


How Do I win the prizes?
1)  Avoiding Elimination: Grand Prize or Track 1 Prize ($1350 Cash Prize)

• Participants will be assigned to one of 3 teams.
• Each week, teams will weigh in and be compared for total weight loss.  The team with the lowest percentage of total weight loss will be the Losing Team. The player from the Losing Team with the lowest percentage of weight loss will be eliminated from the grand prize.
• If a participant misses a weigh-in, that player will receive a 3-pound one-time weigh-in penalty added to their weight for that weigh-in. The three pounds will be added for weigh-in purposes and then immediately deducted from future calculations.  
• A player missing 2 consecutive weigh-ins constitutes mandatory Grand Prize elimination.
• If all members of a team are eliminated, eliminations will proceed from the remaining team and the player losing the lowest percentage of body weight will be eliminated from the Grand Prize.

• Total Percentage of Body weight will be determined from weight lost between start date (February 27th, 2010) and finish date (May 22nd, 2010) of the 12 week program.
• Missing a total of 3 weigh-ins while on any Track results in elimination from either prize.

We reserve the right to alter or add to the rules should unusual or unforeseen circumstances arise. The decision will be based on input from both trainers and the management team at First Health. 

Our February Challenge is full.
We will be accepting 18 contestants for the April 2010 Program.
Personal training appointments are based on a FIRST-REGISTERED, FIRST-PICK basis, so register early to assure your time slot preferences.