FMWR Fitness Center kicks off Fittest Loser Competition
By Kathy Eastwood, Staff Writer
The Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Fitness Center kicked off the 2nd annual Fittest Loser Competition during the Health and Wellness Fair Jan. 23.The competition is based on several categories within each age group—percentage of pounds lost/total body weight; percentage of body fat percent lost/total body fat percent and the most points based on minutes of exercise performed overall.
The competition runs through March 20 and the deadline to register and weigh in is Feb. 6.
“I did this last year and lost 24 pounds,” Melanie Shattan, community member and competitor, said. “I want to lose 15 pounds more.”
During the weigh in, FMWR trainers weighed and measured participants, took blood pressures and checked the Body Mass Index by checking height and weight to calculate BMI.
The competition is open to community and military members and civilians who want to lose weight and get fit.
Even those who exercise on a regular basis and those who participated in last year’s competition are involved in this year’s competition.
Bernie Huerter is new to West Point, but not new to keeping fit.
“I think this (competition) is a great experience,” she said. “They are meeting different (fitness) needs, not just weight loss. I exercise five days a week mixing cardio and strength training, but you can always learn more.”
Most people involved in this year’s competition want to lose weight, but they also want to learn about ways of reaching an overall fitness level.
“I want to bring my blood pressure levels down a little,” Sara Wasserman, a new community member and the West Point Schools speech pathologist, said.
“It’s a new place, new job, new life and new health,” she added.
Wasserman and another community member, West Point Schools psychologist Valerie Cotter-Bosco, go to the fitness center on a regular basis to work out on the weights.
“This is a great way to get in shape and be healthy,” Cotter-Bosco said.
In keeping with the Health and Wellness Fair, the kickoff included individuals from the Rockland Chiropractic Center who offered free spinal screenings along with a masseuse who offered massages.
For additional information, call 938-6490 or stop by at the Fitness Center.