PR2010 Jan 26
SHELTON STATE PLANS TO SLIM DOWN
TUSCALOOSA – Playing off of the hit television show, “The Biggest Loser,” employees of Shelton State
Community College will participate in their own version of the show on campus, losing to not only benefit
themselves but also the West Alabama Food Bank in Tuscaloosa and the United Way Community Food Bank in
Birmingham.
The 14-week initiative, “Slim Down Shelton,” began Jan. 26 with an organizational meeting in which nearly
three-dozen employees participated. The program, organized by Nellie Christian, is straightforward. Participants
pay $10, meet from 12:15-1:15 for the next 14 Friday afternoons to receive nutritional advice and motivation,
and to walk with other participants on campus. They will keep a food diary that will be updated every Friday,
and they are encouraged to work out three times a week for at least 30 minutes. Much of the nutritional
information comes from the book “Eat Clean,” which outlines principles to help make lifetime dietary changes
for better health. Along with following the nutritional tips, participants weigh in three times over the course of
the program and the winner will be determined by the highest percentage of loss.
In order to remain eligible for the grand prize, participants are required to walk at least 12 of the14 weeks. The
registration money will be split between a gift certificate to the location of the winner’s choosing and a free
membership for one semester to the College’s Wellness Center. The remainder of the money will be used to help
the College contribute a pound of food for every pound lost to the food banks in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.
“Just as we encourage the students with whom we work to keep themselves healthy in mind and body, it is
equally as important that those who mentor them do the same,” says Dr. Mark Heinrich, Shelton State
Community College President. “I am pleased that our employees have chosen to participate in this program, as
well as the fact that our facilities are available to others in the community. It is wonderful that when our own
employees and our community think about their own health and fitness in terms of where they are, and where
they want to be, they will Think Shelton.”
Along with individual participation, the College’s Wellness Center and on-campus food provider, Poppy’s, are
also teaming up to help. Poppy’s is making available to Slim Down Shelton participants only a number of
healthy lunches for only $5. As part of the weight loss initiative, the Wellness Center staff encourages
participants to take advantage of the plan already in place for faculty and staff. Through the current plan, the
equipment and facilities in the General Conditioning Room of the Shelton State Wellness Center are open to
program participants for their benefit at a reasonable cost of $45 per semester. During the Spring 2010 semester,
the program will be in operation Monday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During these times, qualified
Wellness Center staff will provide supervision and instruction, as well as general information about health and
fitness. As a valuable community resource, the Wellness Center has also extended the same access to faculty and
staff of the Tuscaloosa City and County School Systems.
For more information about the Slim Down Shelton program, contact Nellie Christian at 205.391.2499. For
more information or to participate in the Wellness Center employee program, register through the Shelton State
Department of Continuing Education, 391.2360 or 391.2323.