District 65 staff members teamed up with the McGaw YMCA for a weight loss and fitness competition that began earlier this month.
More than 170 teachers, administrators and school staff are participating in the “Shed Weight Not Tears” challenge that started Jan. 9. Teams were divided by school and are competing to reduce their collective weight over three months. There are also scheduled weigh-ins to periodically measure progress, as in the NBC reality game show “The Biggest Loser.”
To support the contest, the YMCA, 1000 Grove St., donated three-month memberships to all participants. Many D65 team members have been visiting the local gym with their free passes to use its pool, track and workout facilities and participate in exercise classes, according to a D65 news release issued Jan. 24.
The D65 Wellness Council, a group of school and community representatives committed to facilitating healthy habits, came up with the idea for the competition. Mira Kaiser, health and wellness manager at the McGaw YMCA, is currently overseeing the challenge.
Kaiser said some school staff members who rarely exercise otherwise have decided to participate in the competition, according to the release.
Teams also share fitness tips to help members track their diet and exercise habits, said D65 spokeswoman Patricia Markham. Her team is using an online calorie counter called MyFitnessPal.
“People enter their food and exercise and we’re using that as a motivation tool among each other,” Markham said Monday.
Markham said the competition is lively at the district administration center where she works. People are getting motivated before the team weigh-in next week, she added.
“I’m seeing a lot of buzz about it,” Markham said. “People are excited and talking about the different methods they’re using to try to lose wait or get fit. It’s the water-cooler talk.”
Some participants have gotten creative with their exercise habits by finding ways to work out when not at the YMCA.
“I’ve seen people walking inside the building on their lunch hour so they’re getting some exercise in the building,” Markham said. “It’s a really good thing that we’re doing.”
Winners will be awarded prizes donated by the YMCA. The competition is set to end March 28, when the winning teams and their weight loss totals will be announced.
Marshall Cohen contributed reporting.
