Start the New Year off right and join Scale Back Alabama, a statewide weight-loss contest for Alabamians who want to get healthy and have competitive fun at the same time.
Hosted by a Business Council of Alabama member, the Alabama Hospital Association, and the Alabama Department of Public Health, and generously supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Scale Back Alabama has helped Alabamians lose more than one million pounds since the contest began in 2007.
Scale Back Alabama is free. Its kickoff is Jan. 6, just a few days after New Year’s resolution time and enough time after holiday festivities are an afterthought.
The sign-up will be followed by Weigh-In Week, Jan. 19-25, and Weigh-Out Week, April 6-12. The final event is April 24.
Individuals and teams that lose at least 10 pounds will be entered in a final drawing for cash prizes.
The 10-week program features teams of two adults who follow weekly health tips that focus on healthy diets and exercise, Scale Back Alabama says. The goal is to lose one pound a week for the program’s duration.
There are two types of weigh-in sites, a private site for employees only and a public site open to anyone.
Companies can get involved by promoting weigh-ins in advance by listing weigh-in sites and times. Weigh-ins and weigh-outs are confidential. Weights are recorded on the Scale Back Alabama database.
Any organization can participate provided it sticks with the rules, is Alabama-based, and recruits at least three teams of two members each.
The April 24 drawing will determine winners. Three teams will get $1,000 per team member, three will get $500 per team member, and three teams will get $250 per team member. Individual prizes of $100 will be given to 40 randomly chosen individuals who have lost at least 10 pounds.
Coordinators can apply by emailing info@scalebackalabama.com.
-Dana Beyerle