JCHS students and staff slim down (02/24/07)

They are all striving to be losers.

Seventy Jay County High School students and faculty are vying for the title of the biggest loser.

A program, based off of the weight loss television show "The Biggest Loser," encourages students and faculty to exercise more, eat healthier and lose weight.

"It is along the lines of the TV show, but no one gets kicked off," said JCHS nurse Lisa Wood. Faculty members have been taking part in walking competitions for several years and this year Wood wanted to include students to create a new type of competition.

During the first month of the program, participants lost a total of 150 pounds.

"I am just tickled that they are taking this seriously and having fun with it," said Wood. She is also taking part in the program.

The contest was announced in school in November and December on Jay Today and posters were placed around the school.

The first weigh-in was Jan. 12. During morning activity period, 41 students and 30 staff members, looking to be named the biggest loser, stepped onto the scale.

"I was shocked by the number of students that were interested," Wood said.

The group meets twice a month for a weigh-in during the 30-minute activity period. Students also make plans to exercise together and some have made new friends, Wood said.

The participants are divided into 10 member teams. Each team is designated by a color and is made up of several staff members and students with one team that is made up entirely of faculty members. The team records how much weight has been lost on a poster made by the group.

Program members also record their weight loss on a paper that includes reminders from Wood that "weight loss and keeping the weight off takes a change in lifestyle." She offers tips such as not eating after 6 p.m. each night, drinking lots of water and avoiding foods high in fat and sugar. She also reminds students not to starve themselves during this contest then return to their unhealthy practices at the end of the program.

"Our kids are really getting heavier. By changing their lifestyle getting into better shape and with better nutrition they can feel better," Wood said. "I just want them to enjoy themselves and make it a positive situation."

Wood stays after school daily until 4 p.m. and walks with any students in the competition or not that want to participate.

Sophomore Chris Dickison says that has been feeling a lot better since the start of the program.

"I joined because I wanted to lose weight and to boost my confidence," Dickison said. He has been everyday walking after school and does 500 push ups a night. During the first two weeks of the program he lost four pounds.

Sophomore Kacy Wentz said she joined to have fun and had lost seven pounds during the first two weeks of the program. She said that her favorite activity is to go to the Jay Community Center with friends then walking, running, jogging and "checking out the cute boys."

JCHS athletic director Phil Ford said that he dropped 10 pounds during the first month by not eating sweets and cutting back the size of his meals.

"As I've gotten older, it's more and more difficult to lose weight," Ford said. "I just feel better the thinner I am and as anyone knows it's difficult to do that."

Ford, who used to walk several miles a day, added that he may have to restart that activity if he plans to lose additional weight.

Results of the competition will be announced in the first week in May. The contest ends on April 27 with a final weigh-in.

A biggest loser and the team that has dropped the most weight will receive a basket of gift certificates and prizes donated by local businesses and a gold medallion. The medallion has a red, white and blue patriot on the front and Biggest Loser 2007 engraved on the back.[[In-content Ad]]