This year the Jefferson City YMCA started a program to help people keep their new year's weight-related resolutions, and it will continue into 2015.
The Y Weight Challenge is a 12-week program that assigns teams of personal trainers to participants to help them complete weight-loss goals. During the program, teams also attend lectures by psychologists and nutritionists to talk about the reasons people are overweight and healthy eating habits, according to Ashley Hale, YMCA health and fitness director.
This year more than 180 participants lost approximately 2,008 pounds collectively with the program, Hale said. But the program administrators put a premium on loss of body fat percentage over loss of pounds. This offsets weight gained from acquiring more muscle.
YMCA officials give prizes to participants for the greatest loss of body fat and most increase of muscle mass.
Teams of around 15 people have twice weekly group exercises with their trainers, but are given other exercises to do when they are on their own. They attend the lectures on weekends.
"It is not just the exercise," Hale said. "We try to address the whole of why someone might be struggling with their weight."
At the end of the program, participants run the Luck of the Irish 5K. Like many participants, 26-year-old Reece Fewins never imagined running a 5K, but he said running his first changed everything. He and his wife now run 5Ks for fun, he said.
"I have had trouble with my weight, and I was trying to get it off and it was not working," Fewins said. "I have two small children, and I wanted to be able to keep up with them and my health was not that great."
Fewins started the program at 314.6 pounds and ended closer to 288. He said before the program he could not even fit on rides at amusement parks. He added the program started out as one of the most difficult things he had done, but he stuck with it and it got easier and easier.
"Since I started it I have been able to participate in more activities," he said. "I have had a huge gain in confidence and energy, and everything has been great."
Fewins said once he completed the program he had gained 15 pounds in muscle, which means he lost around 41 pounds of body fat. He described the team workouts as similar to CrossFit, and said the talks from nutritionists were extremely helpful. After the program, he had the knowledge for proper exercise and diet to continue his weight loss journey, he said. To celebrate his accomplishment he thoroughly enjoyed the rides at an amusement park.
"You get to talk and meet other people and make new friends, and we still keep in touch with each other," Fewins said. "Like 99 percent of the team is going back to do it next year. Everybody should get into it. It is never too late to live a healthier life."
Registration for the event is open until Sunday, and the program starts Jan. 3. Anyone can register at the front desk of any of the YMCA locations or call 761-3225.