Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center has teamed up with the Volusia Building Industry Association (VBIA) for the Losing Big Weight-Loss Challenge to encourage local community members to get healthy during an interactive 12-week program.

Contestants will receive nutritional guidance from hospital dietitians, receive personal training sessions and be required to participate in weekly weigh-ins to determine which group has lost the most weight. The winning group is eligible to win more than $8,500 in prize money.

“We wanted to get involved to ensure that contestants are taught what foods work best for their bodies to keep excess weight off by making sound nutritional choices,” said Shawn Noseworthy, Director of Food Services for Florida Hospital Memorial. “Weight loss and nutrition go hand in hand, so we are providing one-on-one nutritional support for every contestant who is interested,” she added.

The event kicks off on Saturday, August 21 at the Indigo Banquet Center in Daytona Beach, although contestants are already being encouraged to pre-register and form teams.  

The challenge is team based. You have the choice to form a team of five, or register as a "single" and VBIA will place you on a team. Being on a team can offer you support as you work towards shedding the excess weight. There are no obligations involved with being on a team—but the final weight loss of a team counts for two cash prizes at the end of the challenge.

Registration is $99 ($79 for current YMCA members). With registration you get:

• Access to a Personal Trainer

• Weekly Weigh-ins

• Nutrition tips (brought to you by FHMMC)

• Exercises (fitness center-based and home-based)

• Monthly challenges

• Monthly Boot camps

• 12 Week Limited Membership to Any YMCA in Volusia/Flagler County ($48 value)

• Before & After Pictures

• Before & After Body Fat Analysis

• Before & After Wellness Assesments

• Official Event T-Shirt

Prizes include: $5,000 to the Winning Team (based on percentage of weight lost), $1,000 to the Top Individual for total pounds lost, $1,000 to the Top Individual for percentage of weight lost, prize for the healthiest lifestyle changes, more cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd paces!

There is also an inter-hospital competition! FHMMC is offering $500 (your registration fee refunded) at the end of the competition to two teams — the all-FHMMC team who loses the most pounds, and the team that loses the greatest percentage of body mass.

FHMMC team members must register IN PERSON: Stop by to Shawn Jackson, Marketing (Reflections); Debbie Saeger, Employee Relations,10th floor FHMMC; or Carol Ferguson, Administration (Oceanside). If you are a YMCA member, please bring your card with you to be photocopied.

Payroll deduct is accepted! For more information, email us at marketing@fhmmc.org