Article published February 16, 2009
Lucas County's weight-loss goal is gaining in commitment
Eager participants ignore food court on last day to register for challenge
Registrant Vera Hair, left, strategizes with Sue Morgenroth after weighing in for Lucas County's Million-Pound Challenge.
(
THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
)
|
By STEVE EDER
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Those weighing in for Lucas County's Million Pound Challenge at Westfield Franklin Park faced an immediate test of willpower Sunday.
When they looked up from the scale, the calorie counters could see a heaping helping of food counters: Cinnabon, Great American Cookies, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, and others.
And wafting toward the weigh-in were aromas of delicious treats served up by those eateries in the food court.
Sunday, on the final day to weigh in at the mall for the county's Million Pound Challenge, local people such as Lisa Edwards, 29, were eager to take on the challenge of losing a few pounds - even amid the mall's enticing food court.
"I need to lose weight, so this will be an extra incentive," Ms. Edwards, of Toledo, said.
"Everyone in the county is doing it, and so that's a good thing."
During the initial weigh-in period, launched a week ago, about 700 people signed up for the challenge, designed by the county and other sponsors including The Blade and YMCA, to inspire metro-area residents to collectively lose a million pounds before year's end.
Lisa Edwards, right, weighs in while Kristy Byrne, a social worker for the health department, documents the reading.
(
THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
)
|
Pete Genot, the founder and editor of the Health Minute, a co-sponsor of the challenge, expects the number of registered participants to rise to 1,800 after registrations from the local YMCA and JCC branches are counted."It has received outstanding support in the community," Mr. Genot said. "We've had a lot of people that have been stopping by the tables in the mall and thanking us for getting this started."
The goal is that the challenge will help people improve their lives while protecting them from the health problems that accompany obesity.
In addition to the benefits of losing weight, participants will be in the running for several monthly giveaways: free YMCA memberships, Mud Hens and Detroit Pistons tickets, restaurant gift certificates, and gym memberships.
Participants can check their progress through a private login at The Blade's Web site, toledoblade.com/challenge. Those interested can self-register throughout the year at toledoblade.com/challenge.
Dee Resnick and her husband, Gerry Resnick, of Sylvania, weighed in yesterday at the mall with confidence that group weight-loss programs can be successful.
In Ms. Resnick's office, Heartland Healthcare Services, 18 women joined a weight-loss team before Thanksgiving and already have lost a combined 364 pounds, she said.
"I definitely think it works," Ms. Resnick said.
Mr. Resnick didn't have a specific goal for how much weight he wanted to lose - just "lots."
"It'll hold my feet to the fire," he said of the challenge.
John Slaughterbeck of southern Wood County said he wishes his county would start a weight-loss challenge.
"I'd love to see something like that," Mr. Slaughterbeck said. "I could afford to lose a few pounds."
Contact Steve Eder at:
seder@theblade.com or
419-304-1680.
Permanent Link
|
|
 |
|
JOIN the 
Search
advertisement
