Community effort sets new record in participation

It's a record-breaking year for the Fittest Loser At Work Challenge.

What started out with a few park district teams has spiraled into a much larger community effort. This year, 38 teams have joined the challenge — the highest number in its seven-year history.

Besides park districts, teams have formed in suburban schools, municipalities, various associations, corporations and charitable organizations. Their goal is to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle in the next 12 weeks.

In the first week, teams were asked to sound off on their reasons for joining the challenge, explain their main goals and reveal any new activities they plan to try during the duration of the challenge.

Members of Reduction in Force, a team from the Management Association in Downers Grove, say their primary reason for joining the challenge is to improve their overall health and energy levels and be good role models for their children, families and co-workers because “healthy living makes us happy, productive employees.”

The team members' main goals for the next three months include improving and lowering their BMI (body mass index) and finding new and healthy recipes that their families will enjoy. How do team members plan to accomplish this?

Reduction in Force plans a number of activities throughout the run of the contest. These include working out as a group, attending “fun workout classes,” and squeezing some type of activity into their workday — like going for a walk or doing simple exercises at their desks. In addition, the team plans to exchange healthy recipes and start a “healthy graze” in the office, meaning that each member of the group will bring a dish to share at the office.

The folks at Links Technology Solutions Inc. in Schaumburg are taking the challenge literally. The company's Links Dream Team is launching a “stop being couch potatoes” campaign. Not only is the team banishing potatoes from its diet, it is eliminating the word “potato” from its vocabulary as well. Team members plan to improve their health through diet, exercise and better sleep. They look forward to increasing their stamina and elevating their mood.

In addition, the company purchased each member of its Links Dream Team a Fitbit — a wearable wireless device that tracks the number of steps walked, quality of sleep and other personal metrics. The team plans to take up new activities. These includes tennis, racquetball and participating in an indoor 5K challenge at the Elk Grove Pavilion in March.

This team is extremely competitive. Members say they only have “one real goal” and that's “winning” the challenge. On a personal note, Links Dream Team Captain Mary Kay Piper says that she has her own reason for becoming involved in the challenge.

“I simply want to look smokin' hot in an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, jet-black bikini,” she says.

Another team participating in the challenge is The Flab-U-Less 5 from the Elk Grove Park District Pavilion Fitness center. This group's primary reasons for joining are “getting and staying healthy through learned forever life skills” and “weight loss through nutritional education and effective exercise.” Its main goals in the next 12 weeks include learning how to maximize workouts and adopting healthy eating habits.

Most teams participating in the challenge have four to five members, plus a team captain. Teams have the option to participate in a variety of free activities, classes and events offered by Fittest Loser sponsors. They also can snag a number of prizes.