Weighing in on weight loss

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Personal trainer Chyrel Kneeland measures up Sherri Goolsby during the intial weigh-in on the 13th.

Enlarge

Andrew Sylvia photos Jennifer Scoville (left) and personal trainer Chyrel Kneeland check Scoville's Body Mass Index with a testing device during the initial weigh-in on the 13th.

Enlarge

Kyle Tucker (left) and Milford Recreation Department program coordinator Heather Hoyt discuss ideas on how to lose weight at the initial weigh-in on the 13th.

Enlarge

Chyrel Kneeland (left) and Heather Hoyt pose outside of the Milford Recreation Department office with the sign advertising the initial weigh-in on the 13th. Andrew Sylvia Photo

Enlarge

Personal trainer Chyrel Kneeland measures up Sherri Goolsby during the intial weigh-in on the 13th.

Enlarge

Personal trainer Chyrel Kneeland measures up Sherri Goolsby during the intial weigh-in on the 13th.

Enlarge

DIGITAL CAMERA

Enlarge

Personal trainer Chyrel Kneeland measures up Sherri Goolsby during the intial weigh-in on the 13th.

Enlarge

MILFORD – On national television, it’s a reality show. But the town of Milford has turned it into a network of local residents looking for help and motivation to lose weight.

The Milford Recreation Department’s latest “Biggest Loser” weight-loss competition, now in its third year, started recently.

But unlike its television counterpart, this six-week competition is less of a contest and more of a support group that includes physical activities such as yoga, cardio swimming and guided running.

Jennifer Scoville lost 125 pounds with a personal trainer last year when she lived in Salisbury, Mass., but she gained 25 pounds back during the winter when she moved to Milford. She joined the Biggest Loser program to get some support in losing those pounds once again and also to give some support to her mother, Gretchen, who is also looking to get healthier.

“I need the motivation,” Scoville said. “I need the group motivation to keep me going, to keep me accountable.”

Kylie Tucker and Karen Margis are looking to lose about 20 pounds each over the six weeks. They decided the group would be the key to achieving their goals, since their jobs make it difficult to lead healthy lifestyles.

“I was walking for a little bit, but then I started a job at Walmart,” Tucker said. “I knew I’d start this, so I guess I slacked off a bit.”

Margis also sites a busy work schedule as an exercise complication.

“I’m going to work out when I can, given my busy work schedule,” said Margis, who is an employee at McDonald’s in Milford and, like Scoville, is also attending the program with family members.

But despite the camaraderie and flexibility, there is still a level of competition among the participants, according to Heather Hoyt, program coordinator at the Milford Recreation Department and director of Biggest Loser.

“I think it’s a little more competitive (here) as far as wanting to lose weight, and you only have six weeks to a fitness goal,” Hoyt said.

“It makes people look at what they’ve got set in front of them, maybe plan their goals and meet their goals, and they’ll probably do better than going to a gym and starting on their own.”

Although the program offers weekly challenges and prizes donated by local organizations such as St. Joseph Hospital, personal trainer Chyrel Kneeland said the key for the participants reaching their goals is to engage in exercise they enjoy.

“It doesn’t matter what you do, but if you like it, you’re more likely to do it more often,” said Kneeland, who owns Curves, a women’s gym in Milford and donated her time to help the participants determine their current level of health and fitness during the initial weigh-in.

“And that’s the key to exercise: You have to do it often.”

Although the program began with the initial weigh-in on July 13, the program has room for new participants, Hoyt said.

Sign-up fees range from $75-$110 for individuals and $170-$195 for families, depending on age and place of residence.