Area towns participate in weight loss challenge

Tony Herrman
therrman@hastingstribune.com
The smack talk has begun to fly among three area towns.
Residents in Juniata, Kenesaw and Blue Hill are organizing a weight-loss challenge. Anyone in the three communities wishing to take part, has until Friday to register.
Seeds for this challenge were planted when a similar competition was organized among Hildreth, Wilcox, Upland and Franklin in conjunction with Hildreth’s 125th anniversary.
Kim Gibson of Juniata, a friend of Hildreth-challenge organizer Pat Schoone, said she saw Schoone on a local television station making smoothies and promoting her challenge. Gibson was inspired.
“Not everybody can afford to be on ‘Biggest Loser,’ ” she said. “Everybody is looking for something to lose weight and be healthier.”
From walking clubs and discounted fitness center memberships to monthly meetings focusing on nutrition, education and frequent motivational e-mails with healthy recipes, team members are encouraging healthy lifestyles.
The initial weigh-in occurred last week at the co-op scales in each community. So far, there are 30 people in Juniata, 36 people in Kenesaw and 32 people in Blue Hill participating.
After the competition concludes May 31, 2011, members of the team that loses the most weight will ride on a parade float while members of the other two teams walk. That parade could be at either, or both, the Blue Hill Independence Day parade and the Adams County FairFest parade in Hastings.
For more information about participating in the challenge contact Gibson at 402-751-2108, Uden at 402-752-3441, Hamik at 402-756-2265 or Cook at 402-756-3963.