Scale Back Alabama

Beginning Jan. 21, local residents are invited to sign up for a statewide weight-loss contest called Scale Back Alabama. Now in its sixth year, the 10-week contest is an attempt to encourage Alabamians to lose weight, to exercise, and to have fun while doing it. Last year’s campaign drew more than 33,000 people in almost every county with a cumulative reported weight loss of 143,309 pounds. The goal of Scale Back Alabama is to lose a pound a week during the 10-week period. We’re really encouraging healthy weight loss, not crash dieting.

The Shelton State Association of Nursing Students (SSANS) and the Shelton State Community College (SSCC) Wellness Center are partnering to promote the Scale Back Alabama program this year as a public weigh in site. The New Year is a perfect time to think about establishing good habits that will make you healthier. All you have to do to participate in Scale Back Alabama is find three individuals to be on your team and come to the Wellness Center during the week of January 23-26, 2012 between the hours of 4-7 p.m. to weigh in and register. The contest is free, and there are cash prize drawings at the end. In addition, the nursing students will be offering free blood pressure screening and participants will be able to enroll in the SSCC Wellness Center Program.

The Wellness Center’s community hours are from 4pm to 7pm with an on-site personal trainer who can meet your health and fitness needs. The cost for the SSCC Wellness Center program is $45.00 for the semester and registration can also be done through the SSCC Community Education Department. For more information about the Wellness Center program, please contact Milady Murphy at 391-2994, and for registration, please contact Shannon Gryska at 391-2360 or sgryska@sheltonstate.edu.

Scale Back Alabama is a public awareness campaign hosted by Alabama‘s hospitals and the Alabama Department of Public Health, with generous support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. For more information, go to www.scalebackalabama.com.