By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

 

The coming of the new year marks the time when many people make resolutions for the upcoming 365 days.

One of the most common of these New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight.

The Alabama Department of Public Health and other organizations partner each year to put on the Scale Back Alabama campaign.

According to the campaign website, “Scale Back Alabama (SBA) is a free statewide weight-loss campaign designed to encourage Alabamians to get healthy and to have fun while doing it. Since the first challenge in 2007, Alabamians have lost more than one million pounds! Scale Back Alabama is designed to address the state’s challenge with obesity; however, we caution individuals to check with their health care provider before beginning a new exercise or diet regimen.”

The YMCA of Chilton County was a weigh-in site in 2018, and Senior Connection in Clanton will be taking part in the campaign as well.

Members will partner up and work to lose weight. Some prizes are handed out for those who participate and lose the most weight statewide.

Nell Littleton lost the most weight among Senior Connection members during the 2018 campaign.

She said she lost 40 pounds during the event but has gained “too much” of it back.

“I’m hoping I’ll lose more this year,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Scale Back Alabama kicks off statewide on Jan. 15 and runs through April 16.

Those participating in the event weigh-in once each week.

Senior Connection member Scarlett Teel said she was also planning on participating.

“I have never tried the Scale Back Alabama, but I have been successful with (other programs) before,” she said.

According to the Scale Back Alabama website, there were 459 local coordinators and 9,190 teams and 18,380 people total that participated in the 2018 campaign.

The main goal is to lose at least 10 pounds, which 901 participants did in 2018. A total of 6,136 people lost at least some weight, and 60,689 pounds overall were lost statewide.

For more information, to register for the event or to find some helpful weight-loss tips, visit scalebackalabama.com.