16th Annual Big Loser contest to start March 3

CRESCO - Have you put on a few (or a lot of) pounds in the past year, thanks to COVID? Maybe you have slowly gained weight over the past 5-10 years? Want to do something about it? Why not participate in the Big Loser Contest this year?

The program runs from March 3-June 25. Application deadline is Sunday, Feb 28.

Now entering its 16th year, the 16-week program promotes weight loss and a healthy lifestyle through sound dieting, regular exercise and good, old fashioned hard work. In 2019, the eight participants lost a total of 278.9 pounds, an average of 34.86 pounds each! The average loss of body weight was 14.68%.

But more importantly, they learned the benefits of replacing poor lifestyle habits with healthy eating and regular exercise.

Greg Hudecek, 2019’s winner, is thankful to have been part of the contest. “A person should be a big loser because it gives you great satisfaction helping yourself get and feel better, both physically and mentally, plus it gives you more self confidence.

“Receiving the congratulations and support from the community is overwhelming and such a great, rewarding feeling. Best of all . . . you just feel better.”

Bill Caffrey, Big Loser committee member and winner of the very first Big Loser Contest in 2005, said the program this year will follow suit with previous years.

“We are looking for people who want to lose weight and get fit in a healthy, safe way for life!” said Caffrey. “The 16-week contest focuses on proper exercise and diet for individuals who would like to lose weight and/or get more physically fit. No tricks. No gimmicks. Just hard work and real results.”

He added, “Deserving candidates will be selected to participate in the contest, which during the first eight weeks, includes weekly group classes with some professional guidance on nutrition and exercise.”

Caffrey says the following eight weeks gives participants a chance to incorporate these new concepts into their lives on their own.

Contestants from 2019 raved about the support they got from each other. Even though it is a competition, each individual was supportive of the others. They took the attitude of if one wins, they all win!

“Willing participants can be any size or age, possess any level of athletic ability and have a strong desire to make a positive change in their lives,” Caffrey explained. “We are looking for people who are fed up with the way their life is going and want to change.”

The program costs a mere $100 to join, and Caffrey explained participants can expect to become “happier and more confident individuals in the future.”

Additionally, prize packages include gift certificates, Cresco Bucks and more!

“I’m looking forward to the 2021 Big Loser Program,” Caffrey noted.

In order to be considered for the program, interested individuals must fill out a form that can be found online at www.cityofcresco.com/big-los.html. Hard copies of the form can also be obtained at the Cresco Fitness Center. Forms must be filled out and taken to the Fitness Center by Sunday, Feb. 28. The program starts on Wednesday, March 3 and runs until June 25.

Participants will be selected based on a personal, detailed letter describing why they believe they deserve to be a “Big Loser” and a possible personal interview with the program committee. Updated stories will appear in the Times Plain Dealer approximately once a month.

For more information, please call Caffrey at the Cresco Fitness Center at 563-547-3443.