Fell free to lose with Meltdown

April 2009


Sometimes, it’s good to lose.
This spring, all of Allen County is welcomed to participate in a “Meltdown,” a 12-week organized effort to lose weight and improve health.
Sponsored by Thrive Allen County, the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and the K-State Research and Extension Service, the Meltdown begins with a “weigh in” at 9 a.m. on April 4 at the County Courthouse.
Individuals and teams of one to ten members are invited to participate. Everyone registering will receive a T-shirt and access to free work-out classes and online tips, said Sunny Shreve, Thrive’s program assistant.
As of this printing, a lot of the plans are still in the works, but expected activities include a zumba dance class every Saturday morning in Humboldt and a two-mile walk on the Prairie Rail Trial during week six. Extension service classes on healthy eating will be held every other week at floating locations throughout the county and seniorcize classes will be at the Humboldt United Methodist Church, Shreve said.
In addition, Healthy Humboldt yoga-pilates classes and the Iola Recreation department’s Tuesday and Thursday 5:15 p.m. aerobics classes are open to Meltdown participants.
A full listing of classes, their times and locations can be found on the official Meltdown website, www.allencountymeltdown.com
Shreve said she envisions community challenges, business competitions and church teams challenging each other to lose weight.
Registration forms can be printed off the Web site or filled out at the Thrive office, 2 East Jackson Ave., on the Iola square. There is a $5 per participant fee, which can be paid when returning the registration form. Be sure to note each team member’s shirt size and color choice on the form, Shreve said, as the shirts will be purchased about a week after kick off.
T-shirts are available in heather red or royal blue.
Participants must partake of an official weigh in at the beginning and end of the 12-week event. Scales will be located at businesses throughout the county for the duration of the Meltdown to track unofficial weights.
Complete rules for the Meltdown are on the Web site. Team captains should have Internet access to log their group weights on a weekly basis. In addition, registered teams are eligible to win weekly incentive prizes. Prizes will be distributed regardless of amount of weight lost, Shreve said, so everyone has a fair chance of winning. Prizes based on weight loss will be offered at the end of the event. Individual weights will be kept confidential.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age to compete. For those who cannot make the kick off, an alternate weigh in may be conducted at the Thrive office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 3 or April 6. No entry will be accepted after April 6.