Shannon Hartley wants the people of Butler County to “get up, get moving, and make wiser choices” in the upcoming year.

One of those “wiser choices” may very well be participating in Scale Back Alabama, a program designed to address Alabama’s challenges regarding obesity and to encourage the state’s citizens to lose weight and be healthier.

Hartley, the director of L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital’s physical therapy department, is serving as a coordinator for Scale Back Alabama 2012, which kicks off statewide Jan. 19.

“It’s a really good program that helps people get moving and lose weight,” Hartley said. “As part of the program, participants are provided with tips on exercise, nutrition, portion control and the proper way to diet and lose weight.”

Scale Back Alabama is a 10-week weight-loss competition that will begin the week of Jan. 21-27 and end the week of April 7-13. Participants will compete in teams of four, and for every team that completes the 10-week contest with each team member losing at least 10 pounds, the team will be included in a drawing for one of three grand prizes. The first team drawn will win $1,000 each, while the second team drawn will win $500 per team member, and the third team drawn will win $250 per team member.

All individuals who lose at least 10 pounds will be included in a drawing for one of 50 achievement prizes of $100 per person, regardless of their team’s achievement. These drawings will take place on April 30.

“The money is incentive enough to participate,” Hartley said with a smile.

This year marks the sixth year that the Alabama Department of Public Health has hosted the program. Last year, nearly 33,000 people from across the state participated and lost a combined 143,309 pounds, according to statistics published on scalebackalabama.com.

 

Important Scale Back Alabama 2012 Dates

January 19: Statewide Contest Kickoff

January 21-27:  Participant Registration/Weigh-in Week

March 9-19: Voting for Team Name Winner

March 20: Winner of Team Name Contest Announced

April 7-13: Participant Weigh-out Week

April 30: Scale Back Alabama 2012 Ending Event