By Ofelia Saenz, Staff Writer
Long Beach advocate and fitness expert Justin Rudd is looking for the biggest losers in Long Beach.
The Long Beach Losers Team Challenge starts Wednesday, Aug. 1, with a weigh-in between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the boat launch on the beach at 1 Granada Avenue in Belmont Shore. Participants can also weigh in at Runner’s High, located at 5338 East Second Street in Belmont Shore, during regular store hours.
Teams of five people will compete to lose the highest percentage of body weight. Cash prizes will be given out each week and grand prizes will be awarded to the top teams and individuals at the end of 12 weeks.
Organized by Rudd and sponsored by his Sand Challenge beach fitness classes, the goal of the competition, he said, is to “promote healthier lifestyles, prevent illness and better manage chronic diseases in the Long Beach area.”
Participants are required to weigh in and pay $5 every Wednesday for the duration of the program. For every pound gained after the start of the competition, team members must pay $2. All fees collected from team members are distributed to the winners and participants.
Teams are allowed to vote a member off should the member either fail to consistently weigh in or if the member continually gains weight each week. Only one member per team can be voted off.
“It’s all about teamwork, camaraderie and accountability,” said Rudd. “It’s the best way to face diet and exercise because you have teammates to answer to.”
The competition will culminate with a final weigh-in on Wednesday, Oct. 24, and an award ceremony on the beach at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25.
Although team members choose their own diet and exercise program, competitors can take advantage of Rudd’s Wednesday evening Beach Body fitness class for half-off the regular $10 fee. The 60-minute class takes place at 7 p.m. at the Granada Avenue weigh-in location.
Rudd said he was inspired to implement the competition after reading that Long Beach was recently named the 11th fattest city in the United States by “Men’s Fitness” magazine.
“I’d like to take Long Beach from being the 11th fattest city to being the 11th fittest,” Rudd said. “I’m looking for winners–and losers.”
For information or if a team would like to participate but is unable to attend the appointed weigh-in time, contact Justin Rudd at (562) 439-3316 or visit www.JustinRudd.com.
