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The idea was brainstormed by Mark Zmitravich, his sister, Lori McMahon, and her husband, Dan.
At Monday's DuBois City Council meeting, Zmitravich said the project would be run like a Biggest Loser contest, but would invite the whole community to participate. One of the fundamental differences between the Biggest Loser contest and the Get Healthy DuBois Project is the competition.
Zmitravich said the project isn't a contest to see who can lose the most weight, rather it's an endeavor to see how much weight can be lost when the community works together and makes personal goals for themselves.
"I want to make this as simple as possible to give everyone the opportunity to lose one pound to 10 pounds or 100 pounds. One pound will count to the community," Zmitravich said. "I want everybody (in the 158-zip code) to be involved."
When planning the event, Zmitravich said he was afraid a competitive atmosphere would drive away some people who wouldn't think they would have a chance to win. Instead, he is hoping people use the weigh-in as a vehicle to set their own goals.
"Our goal is to see how much total weight the community can lose while becoming less sedentary and more healthy," Zmitravich said.
The Get Healthy DuBois Project is being planned in addition to the weightlifting event, which Zmitravich regularly organizes for Community Days. He said they are also planning a power bench press and deadlift contest.
Beginning weigh-ins will be held:
* from 6-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Third Ward Fire Hall basement.
* from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-6:30 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Curves (women only)
* from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday at DuBois YMCA .
* from 12-1 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Mike Pyne Chiropractic, 200 McCracken Run Road
* from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and at all three weekend services at Tri-County Church.
Tentatively, the final weigh in will be from 6-8 p.m. June 1-9 at the Third Ward Fire Hall basement.
The community's final weight loss will be announced at Community Days.
"We are planning on weighing everybody with clothes on, pockets empty, and shoes off to try and put everybody at ease," Zmitravich said. "Before we started the project, we asked around to see if it actually was a good idea and everyone we asked was very positive, so we said, lets go for it. Our job is to give people the spark and it will be totally up to the public to make it successful."
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Reported by Katie Weidenboerner, Tri-County Sunday. E-mail: katiew@thecourierexpress.com.
