'Greatest Loser' challenge starts next week in Elgin
A new initiative hopes to help Elgin-area residents get healthy with the prospect of free shopping at a local grocery store chain plus a $1,000 grand prize.
The “Greatest Loser” weight-loss challenge, a partnership between the Centre of Elgin and Elgin Fresh Market, kicks off Jan. 2 and runs through Feb. 29. The challenge is open to Centre of Elgin members with silver, gold or platinum memberships.
The challenge winner will get a $1,000 Elgin Fresh Market gift card, with gift cards of $500 for second place and $250 for third place.
Everyone who registers will receive a $5 gift card from Elgin Fresh Market. Every week, two participants will get $25 gift cards from the grocery store: the person who loses the most weight, and the winner of a random drawing.
The grocery store wanted to do something public for the community it's called home since its first store opened on Summit Street in 1997, Elgin Fresh Market co-owner Bobby Tzotzolis said. A second store opened along McLean Boulevard in 2001.
“We've always given back to the community but we never really talked about it,” he said.
The store has sponsored Thanksgiving dinners for Centro de Informacion clients and donated water for the annual Elgin Valley Fox Trot, he said. “One of our goals for 2016 is to talk about it more,” Tzotzolis said.
Several grocery store employees, including Tzotzolis, plan to participate in the challenge, he added.
Centre fitness supervisor Ron Anderson said that, as great as the prizes might be, he hopes money isn't the only motivation for participants. A habit can be established in just 21 days, he said, and he wants to help people get healthy for the long run, not just for eight weeks.
“I hope they're doing this because they need the carrot in front of them to get the engine started so it can keep running all year — and maybe the rest of their lives,” he said.
Participants will get an initial “mini assessment” and helpful information — such as the minimum number of calories they need to function well — to conduct the challenge healthfully, Anderson said.
People will be encouraged to focus on strength training and weightlifting. “It's what changes your body the fastest,” Anderson said. “I look at cardio as cash ... and I look at weight lifting, body building as residual income. What you do today, you're still going to be feeling the effects for the next two days, because your metabolism will be higher.”
“Greatest Loser” participants must register and weigh-in by noon Jan. 9 to be eligible. For more information and to set up your weigh-in appointment, call Anderson at (847) 531-7023. To purchase a Centre membership call Eddy Hernandez at (847) 531-7018.