The 10-week initiative helps residents achieve a healthier weight and lifestyle.
Year after year, weight loss ranks as the most popular New Year’s resolution – usually we can overindulge from Christmas to New Year’s Eve, committing to a fresh start on January 1st.
The sad reality is that fad diets and short-term weight loss plans often fail before you even start waking up on New Year’s Day. Luckily, Hernando County has programs to energize its residents and visitors and encourage them to lose weight. The program has been successful for several years.
A planning committee called the Great Hernando Weight Loss & Wellness Challenge, a Community Health Improvement Planning Partnership (CHIPP)-led initiative, has supported the YMCA, Department of Health, United Way, Hernando County School District, Hernando County Parks and Recreation, and Gift of Mara. .
Ann-Gayl Ellis, Health Education Program Manager, Hernando County Health Department, said:
“Like all things, COVID has reduced attendance over the last two years, but registrations have proven to be strong so far this year,” she said.
“Not only is participation concentrated, but engagement from the health and wellness community is growing,” said Ellis. “Both HCA Oak Hill and Bravera Medical Group have become financial backers, significantly increasing the number of wellness professionals offering classes and activities! This is exactly what we have been striving for… It’s a true community initiative.”
Community weight loss challenges encourage residents to lose weight. Challenges vary and can be designed as healthy lifestyle education programs, inter-team sports competitions, charitable giving efforts, or faith-based initiatives. They are typically multicomponent interventions that include education, weight status, food intake tracking, regular check-ins, and group support.
“In the first few years, we had around 100 participants in our program, compared to around 760 during the Covid pandemic,” Ellis said. “We are expecting about 300 people this year.”
Ellis said the goal was for participants wanting to lose weight to lose 10 pounds over a 10-week initiative, but not exceed 20 pounds in total.
“In the early days of the challenge, we included the theme of ‘maximum weight loss,’ but now we’ve moved away from that and now include the words ‘and Wellness,’ as our focus is on ‘wellness. In the title of the show,” she added.
Wellness activity incentives include weekly prizes donated by our generous community partners. Activities may include attending classes in person, reading articles, and watching videos.
Challenge participants can register as individuals or as members of teams of 10.
“At the end of the 10 weeks, all participants who are 10 pounds lighter than they started will enter a raffle for a $100 gift card,” says Ellis. “In total he has lost 100 pounds and his 10-man team will enter a raffle to win a $500 gift card.”
The 2023 winners will be announced on the GHWLWC Facebook page in the first week of April. The kickoff event will run from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
Saturday, January 21st at Hernando Park at 205 Fort Dade Ave in Brooksville. The 10-week program ends on his Saturday, April 1st. Attendees can collect information packets at his event to kick off, weigh in confidentially, and meet with local health and wellness professionals who have gathered for this annual event. Residents can also participate in wellness activities for the kickoff event, including three of his 20-minute exercise classes offered by TUFF trainers, the Brooksville Yoga Company, and Downtown Athletics.
For more information about the Great Hernando Weight Loss & Wellness Challenge and Kickoff Event, please visit GHWLWC’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/GHWLWC or email us. [email protected]
Local health and wellness organizations are welcome to contact and participate in the Challenge Planning Team. [email protected]
Hernando County CHIPP, Inc * 4028 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, Florida 34606 * 352-279-1949
