Biggest Chooser 2024
Why it is a good idea to join a team in the New Year!
While your weight may influence how you feel about yourself, body image is not the only reason for embarking on a weight loss and fitness journey. Check out the following information
- 1. Improves brain function – you think faster, learn more easily and remember more.
Why? Aerobic exercise promotes the creation of new brain cells (neurogenesis) which then also protects against diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s
- 2. It makes you feel happier and improves your self-esteem. Did you know that obesity is associated with a significantly increased risk of depression and other mental illnesses? People with obesity have a 30% higher risk of mental issues, as compared to their normal weight counterparts. It is suggested that hormonal changes in obesity may trigger mental illness in people with a genetic predisposition.
If you want a faster boost to your mood, add in some daily activity. Cardio exercise promotes the release of endorphins – chemicals that make us happy and reduce pain. Exercise also reduces cortisol levels to help us de-stress and minimize fat storage.
Certain foods can worsen stress levels just as stress can stifle a weight loss program. For example, foods high in refined sugar, like soda or ice cream, can increase levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. These foods spike blood sugar levels and then send them plummeting. As a result, the brain perceives these lower blood glucose levels and the body secretes more cortisol to trigger hunger which in turn increases stress levels again.
- 3. Protects your heart – losing just 5% of your body weight greatly impacts your risk of heart disease. Cardiovascular exercise, such as running or cycling most days has been clinically proven to lower cholesterol (particularly LDL or bad cholesterol), lower blood pressure, and lower blood glucose levels. Your heart is the body’s most important muscle and needs to exercise too!
-
- 4. Boosts energy – daily activities get easier as you lose those extra pounds.
-
- 5. Breathe easier – Shedding those extra pounds make breathing easier because weight loss improves blood oxygen transfer efficiency to tissue and muscle cells. So, after losing a few pounds you should start noticing yourself panting less.
-
- 6. Reduces cravings – Studies show that hard exercise (workouts like High-Intensity Interval Training – HIIT), Bootcamp, or a demanding run, could help you eat less.
-
- 7. Boosts immunity – Research shows that moderate exercise can strengthen the immune system. This means fewer and less severe respiratory infections. Carrying around extra body fat stresses the immune system by stimulating a chronic inflammatory response. Chronic inflammation increases your risk of lifestyle diseases including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, but may also lower your defenses against viruses like the common cold.
-
- 8. Saves money – A 2017 study analyzed the added lifetime cost of being overweight or obese in America. They looked at direct medical costs, productivity losses, and total associated costs for patients between ages of 20 and 50. Researchers concluded that overweigh and obese people experienced significantly higher costs and productivity loses than normal weigh people at both ages.
-
- 9. To get clearer skin – Regular exercise helps fight Acne breakouts. When you get your blood pumping with regular exercise the increased circulation transports more nutrients and oxygen to the skin with increased transport of waste products away from the skin.
-
- 10. Sleep better – Studies show that losing weight can improve sleep quality. This includes reducing the occurrence of common complaints like sleep apnea, day-time sleepiness, insomnia, restlessness and frequent waking. While overall weight loss helped, it was a reduction in belly fat that made the biggest difference. Your diet can control how easily you fall asleep and how well rested you feel on waking. A poor diet centered on foods which are digested quickly can leave you hungry. Your body will be searching for high energy foods as quick fixes, such as sugary foods which negatively impact your sleep quality. Snoring can be caused by excess weight around the neck.
-
- 11. Protect your joints – Did you know that losing just one pound reduces pressure on your knees by four pounds. Another study shows that losing 11 pounds decreases a woman’s risk of osteoarthritis by 50%, so if you struggle with joint pain, potential relief is one of the most rewarding reasons to lose weight. Excess fat storage triggers a pro-inflammatory response in our bodies. This response can cause joint pain, so reducing this inflammation through weight loss may help reduce joint pain.
-
- 12. Cut cancer risk – Reducing your risk of cancer is one of the most serious reasons to lose weight. According to the American cancer society, it is estimated that being overweight or obese, is responsible for about 8% of annual cancer cases in the US. Excess body weight increases an individual’s risk for breast, colon, rectal, uterine, esophageal, kidney, and pancreatic cancer. Experts believe that the same inflammation that causes weight gain causes DNA damage and results in diseases. You can decrease levels of inflammation by losing just 5% of your body weight according to a cancer research study of postmenopausal women.
-
- 13. Food may taste better- Researchers from Stanford University found overweight people have less taste sensitivity than their slimmer counterparts. This may be because taste buds are dulled by overuse or a more likely theory is that hormonal shifts that take place during weight loss may change the way taste receptors communicate with the brain.
Effective weight loss is often synonymous with home-cooked meals. Studies have found that frequent home cooks consume an average of 137 fewer calories and 16 grams fewer of sugar every day compared to those who regularly dine out.
- 14. You will not sweat as much- Fat insulates the body and raises core temperatures, making you feel warmer than those who are slimmer.
-
- 15. You may be able to reduce medication- Weight loss can improve your life by alleviating or reducing symptoms of chronic diseases you may have. This may mean you are able to reduce doses of current medications after careful consultation with your Doctor.
Do any of these facts motivate you to lose weight and increase exercise? If so, maybe it is time to join our Biggest Chooser 2024 competition. Registration begins on December 1st.
We have highly skilled Personal trainers who know just what to do in order to help you set goals and reach them.
This is a 10- week, team-based weight loss challenge and includes initial and final team weigh-ins and 10 weeks of 60- minute team workouts/weigh-ins
Cost and Conditions
The fee is $174 for members (Early bird Registration is $149 for members, a saving of $25 from December 1-15) and $199 for non-members
This year’s teams will consist of a maximum of 12 participants for an optimum trainer-client ratio.
Register by workout day and time on a first come first served basis. After registration closes, we may ask you to consider switching groups to balance our team sizes.
Please check for Kid zone availability during your chosen workout time.
Important dates
December 1 – December 15, 2024- Early Bird Registration for members and Non-Members
December 16 – January 3, 2024- Regular Registration
Jan 5th – Challenge Kick-Off party 6:00-7:00 pm- Group fitness studio. Meet with your trainer.
Jan 6th-12th – Initial team weigh-ins and first-week workout with Trainer
March 9th – March 15th- Final team weigh-ins and final workout
March 20th – Friday- Finale Celebration and Awards 6:00-7:00 pm. Snacks, adult beverages, and a free raffle for attendees.