The proceeds were donated to the Meramec Student Scholarship Fund
Spencer Gleason
– Sports Writer –
With a piece of skinless, boneless chicken breast and a potato without butter on her plate, Margaret Hvatum, the Meramec Wellness Committee Chair, is almost through with her lunch.
“I already ate my vegetable, squash. It was the best part,” Hvatum said. “I am trying to follow a healthy diet too.”
With the idea that everyone wants to be healthy and have fun at the same time, the Wellness Committee modeled a contest this fall after the reality show “The Biggest Loser.”
“We thought we would offer an opportunity for students and faculty and staff to have a friendly competition and see if we can all lose a few pounds,” Hvatum said.
With no requirements necessary, anyone who was interested was invited to sign up in September and pay the individual fee of $12. (The proceeds were donated to the Meramec Student Scholarship Fund). Then they were placed on teams of five. Every week the teams weigh in a total amount combined between their members on the official biggest loser scale, which is located in the fitness center of the Meramec Physical Education Building.
“People are encouraged to share with each other weight loss tips and techniques that they have got; to eat healthy meals and keep their body’s moving as much as possible,” Hvatum says. “We have little side contests every two weeks, too.”
On Oct. 30, they will have a “Let Them Eat Celery Contest” in the Meramec Cafeteria.
“That will be to see who can eat the most celery in a given amount of time,” Hvatum explains.
However, if someone breaks away from their diet and is spotted going on a candy bar binge, no penalizing would take place by the Wellness Committee.
“It is up to each team to determine if there is any disciplinary action for members who might slip off of their diet,” said Hvatum. “I think it is peer pressure. It is all done by peer pressure.”
While eating healthier contributes to weight loss, members of the biggest loser challenge are also encouraged to keep their bodies in motion and to participate in physical activity. It is up to the players and the teams, not only to join in the contests that are offered to them by the Wellness Committee, but to continually stay active everyday.
“The ultimate goal is for everybody to get a little bit healthier,” said Hvatum. “There has been a lot of press about how dangerous it can be to be overweight and how Americans are tending to get more overweight as the years go on. We just want to draw people’s attention to the health benefits of losing weight and being physically active.”
The winner will be proclaimed the biggest loser on Dec. 10.
