UCF RWC launches Biggest Loser program

Early mornings, tough workouts and new eating habits are just a few things that certain students have committed to for the first time this week.

The Recreation and Wellness Center launched the Biggest Loser program for the third consecutive year. After sending in a written application, an essay and a recent physical, 30 out of 50 individuals were chosen to participate in a week-long tryout that began this past Monday.

Kimberly Halliday, assistant director of fitness at the RWC, has worked with the program in the past and said that the tryouts are a chance to see the personalities of the students and to see who will push through tough times.

"Our main goal is for students to leave and continue on with a healthy lifestyle once the 12 weeks are over," Halliday said. "The key is to keep people hooked to stay long enough to see results."

After the tryout, 16 of the UCF students will get the chance to compete to win the title of the Biggest Loser. There will be two teams of eight students with one male and one female trainer working with them

The personal trainers, who are also UCF students, are looking for students with motivation, a positive attitude and the drive to make a change. The personal trainers are all certified in CPR and first aid, and they have put in a lot of time and effort to help and encourage the participating students. Along with workouts, eating habits and health information, the trainers provide basic tips such as form, breathing techniques and the proper way to perform exercises, which will help their team succeed.

The program is a model structure of the reality TV show with the same name. UCF's version roughly follows the same guidelines as the show by having teams, challenges, workouts, grocery shopping trips and weigh-ins. However, it does not host eliminations. Instead, a team will win at the end of the program based on total percentage lost.

Teresa Davis, fitness programs lead at the RWC, believes cohesiveness is an important trait a team needs to have in order to win.

"If they build better relationships with each other and with the trainers, they will have trust in their teammates and just have fun," Davis said. "They also need the will to push outside their comfort zone by doing things they have never done before. Self-motivation sets them apart from everyone and leads to success."

James Wilkening, RWC director, said that a main goal is having students continue with healthy habits after the event.

"I love the opportunity to assist students in transforming their lives into a healthier one," Wilkening said. "The best testament to the success of the program is a year later when you see a former student still using the RWC and still maintaining the progress they made."

Many interested students agree that tryouts will be tough. The competitors will not only work out — they will also soak up a lot of information in a short period of time. Even if some of the students do not make it through to the final round, they gain a lot of knowledge within the week, a free week of personal training and a free consultation with a nutritionist.

"I think the workouts will be my biggest challenge because it is a different challenge every day," said Shikyah Moten, health science major and Biggest Loser competitor. "I am also excited about being healthier and more knowledgeable about health and fitness."

Competitors will perform new exercises such as parking garage relays, around-the-campus-loop relays, endurance exercises, planks, obstacles, circuit workouts and cardio workouts.

"Getting up around 4:45 a.m. will be the hardest part for me," competitor and interdisciplinary studies major Tanya Pratt said. "The variety of challenges is what excites me about the program."

While the program is mostly about the health and fitness aspect, it is also about something more important than that.

"My favorite part of this program is when the participants form friendships and let their personalities shine and grow along the way," Davis said. "I want them to win and lose weight, but making friends is a great part of the process."