Hurry! Time is running out to apply to participate in the Fittest Loser
The Daily Herald is accepting applications for both the Fittest Loser Challenge and the Fittest Loser At Work Challenge.
If you are a military veteran who lives in the Daily Herald coverage area and would like to improve your health, consider applying to our 2017 Fittest Loser Challenge. This year we are focusing the challenge on military veterans.
The Daily Herald will select five veterans from any branch of service who will receive 12 weeks of free instruction from a personal trainer from Push Fitness and a nutritionist. The program pairs each contestant with an individual trainer for one-on-one workouts, as well as group "boot camp" sessions.
Contestants will work out three days a week at Push Fitness in Schaumburg.
Participants also will be featured in before-and-after photos, plus stories highlighting their progress.
The Fittest Loser winner will be chosen based on percentage of weight lost.
In the 2016 contest, the contestants lost a total of 239 pounds combined, and the individual winner lost 73 pounds. The winner also received a two-night stay and spa package at Le Meridien Chicago-Oakbrook Center valued at $1,200, $75 gift cards from Valli Produce and Seasons 52 dining, and two months of personal training at Push Fitness.
To apply for the Fittest Loser Challenge, go to events. dailyherald.com/fittest-loser/. Applications will be accepted through Monday, Jan. 9.
Now in its fifth year, the At Work Challenge gives individuals the opportunity to work together on a team of co-workers to get fit. The challenge is sponsored by Assurance and is open to teams of five from any type of company or workplace.
Teams compete against other teams in the friendly 12-week competition that runs parallel to the Fittest Loser Challenge from February to May.
The winning team will receive a $2,000 donation to the charity of its choice, as well as individual prizes.
Since the scores are reported only as a team, a sense of accountability to your teammates helps keep motivation high. The team scoring also offers a bit of privacy - no individual weights are ever published. For the 2016 Fittest Loser At Work Challenge, 295 people in 57 teams of co-workers from across the suburbs participated.
Think you and your co-workers are up for the healthy challenge? For details or to sign up a team of five, visit events.dailyherald.com/fittest-loser. Deadline to register a team is Friday, Jan. 20.