More than 50 teams compete in our Fittest Loser At Work Challenge

This year's Fittest Loser At Work Challenge is bigger than ever. What started out with a few park district teams three years ago has grown into a community challenge with 57 teams participating. The teams are from local companies, police and fire departments, as well as local high schools. Their main goals are to adopt a healthier lifestyle and lose weight over the next 12 weeks.

All of the 295 participants came to the Daily Herald office to have their initial, pre-challenge health screenings with registered Amita nurses. At the health screening, each participant got weighed-in, as well as tested for blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol, stroke assessments and, for some, osteoporosis. They also had the chance to speak with the nurses about their results and next steps to get them started in the right direction.

We asked each team to sound off on their reasons for joining the challenge and to explain some of their goals and to reveal some of the things they are planning to try over the next 12 weeks.

Members from Forest View High School's Fighting Flab Five say their primary reason for joining the challenge is to lose weight. Rose Collins said that she wants to "lose 25 pounds by her daughter's graduation to look good in pictures."

Jessica Franco, the team's captain, says over the next 12 weeks she wants to "help keep my team motivated and staying on track with exercising regularly."

The City of Elmhurst team, Waist Management, is competing for a second time.

Their team captain Valerie Johnson said, "We are revved up and highly motivated. I think this year we did it to change; our habits, our culture, our health. What was lost last challenge was found, just like the Bible song: 'I once was lost, but now I'm found.' We lost some weight but then we found it again! This challenge, we want to lose it for good and keep going."

Wendy Schmidt, team captain for Dr. Aimee and Associates based in Bloomingdale, said "As a team, we want to feel better, look better and learn to eat better! Our goal is to win. But on a more serious note, we really want to make a consistent effort toward progress, not perfection."

Their plan for the first two weeks is to do a healthy Paleo detox cleanse.

"None of us have ever tried one before. Now that we have started it, we have found that each of us really looks forward to the one good meal every day."

Team members look forward to the group workout regimen they have started and are holding each other accountable while lending support.

Most of the teams participating have five members, plus a team captain. Teams have the option to participate in a variety of free activities, classes and team challenge events offered by the Daily Herald Fittest Loser sponsors. At some of these activities, they will receive prizes and some healthy surprises as well.

The winning team will get $2,000 donated by our sponsor Assurance and the Daily Herald to give to their charity of choice.

Each member of the winning team will get prizes valued at more than $200.