'Biggest Loser,' KMC style

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  For the third year the Southside Fitness Center is hosting a Biggest Loser competition from now until the end of March.

"This is one of our biggest events during the year," said Nicol Gecewich, 786th Force Support Squadron event coordinator. "It's important to have this at the beginning of the year to promote health and fitness, while people are really looking to transition into a healthy lifestyle."

Biggest Loser consists of male, female and team competitors and each week they are put to the test through competitions and weigh-ins.

"There are 11 challenges total," said the event coordinator. "At the end of the competition there is going to be an Amazing Race, challenge and that should be a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to seeing how it turns out."

Along with the Amazing Race there are many more challenges that will happen every Friday of the competition.

"I will be taking part in as many of the challenges as possible," said Staff Sgt. StacyLee Mente, 86th FSS manpower analyst and Biggest Loser competitor. "After having two children I have struggled with weight loss and this is my chance to be accountable to something bigger than myself."

In the month of January, the challenges consist of planking, jump rope and a balance challenge. In the coming months, there will be a wall-sit, hang tough, push-up and row challenge.

"There will be male and female winners as well as team winners for the challenges," said Gecewich. "The winners will win a fun prize. We have some really great prizes this year like a tablet, some workout equipment and many other things."

With more than 300 people in participation from around the Kaiserslautern Military Community, the event coordinator made a Facebook page for those taking part to communicate with each other.

"I can tell that creating the Facebook page was a good idea," said Gecewich. "It brings the community together. I have been seeing people on the page getting together and finding workout buddies."

Having a plan and sticking with it is an important part of losing weight, said Gecewich.

"I am going to be holding a 'Last Chance Workout' on Thursdays before the Friday weigh-in," said the event coordinator. "It is going to be a one hour aerobic class to, hopefully, give people that last little push they need before the weigh-in."

*Editor's Note: This is the first of a three part series on the Biggest Loser Challenge at Ramstein Air Base.