It’s a new year and time for a new you!  Become the biggest loser in Shelby County — of weight, that is.  Prizes will be awarded to the most successful competitors in the county’s weight loss and physical fitness program.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office is launching Step Up & Scale Down, a 12-week weight management program to help the public in their efforts. 
Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for a two-part program with Lighten Up East Texas.  The opening weigh-in of participants will take place 

January 24 – 31, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Shelby County Extension office at 266 Nacogdoches Street, Center, Texas. Participants will weigh-in and submit a $40 participation fee.  You must weigh in by January 31st to participate in Lighten Up East Texas.

 

Winners of the 12-week challenge will be determined by the percentage of body weight they lose during the three-month competition, not by lost pounds.  All participants will weigh-in bi-weekly to chart their progress (weights will be kept confidential), which ends with a final weigh-in at the Extension office the week of April 27.  The winners will be awarded prizes for 1st – 3rd places, respectively, and recognized at a celebration event on May 7th.

 

Shelby County Extension Agent, Feleshia Thompson, says the Step-Up Scale Down program will also include:

“weekly Walking with a Purpose fitness program, 
weekly healthy cooking nutrition classes, 
guest speakers on various topics,
health screenings,
weekly door prizes
fun, hands-on cooking demonstrations and tastings,
5K Fun Run and Walk, and a
fitness component designed specifically for churches.”

In conjunction, participants will be encouraged to enter an additional weight loss challenge for all of East Texas entitled Lighten Up East Texas.  Participants in this free contest will be eligible to win grand prizes such as $5,000 in cash for the top participant with the highest percentage of weight lost, and other prizes for those losing 5% or more in weight.  For more information on this weight-loss challenge go to www.LUET.org

 

Thompson says she expects the weight-loss program to make a big impact again this year.  “This is a challenge designed to be fun” she says, “but at the same time help people achieve their weight-loss goals and although there are prizes, everyone who reaches a healthier weight is a winner.”  

 

If you have questions about this wellness program, please contact Feleshia Thompson, County Extension Agent – Family and Community Health at 598-7744 or feleshia.thompson@ag.tamu.edu or follow us on Facebook at Shelby Extension Service.