Long Beach Losers' Shed the Pounds for Hard Cash
LONG BEACH, Aug. 13, 2007 (KABC-TV) - Long Beach was recently named on the list of fattest cities in America. Some people there want to shed that dubious honor, so they are putting their money where their mouth is.
There's a competition underway where the team that loses the most weight takes home a chunk of cash.
Justin Rudd is a fitness instructor who is used to people paying him to whip them into shape. But he's trying something new by paying the self-proclaimed "Long Beach Losers" to slim down and shape up; and he wants the entire country to know it.
"Recently, Men's Fitness magazine came up with a list of the fattest cities in the country. Long Beach happened to be number 11 on the list," said Rudd.
"I'm not happy about that," laughed Lisa Bland, who is part of Rudd's exercise program.
That's what motivated Rudd to start his 12-week program to get Long Beach to lose weight.
Each team of five will monitor their weight and body fat loss. The best "Long Beach Losers" will split a jackpot of $13,000.
"They work together to try to come up with a plan to lose weight by diet and exercise, just encouraging each other; the camaraderie factor," explained Rudd.
These "Losers" agree they could use a little push and nothing motivates like a little cash.
"We're all shapes, sizes, and weights which makes it good, and it's very supportive, very educational and it's good -- it's a good cause," said one exerciser.
Eight-year-old Julia Bravo watches her mother work up a sweat but she doesn't care if her mom wins the money.
"She'll be able to play with us more because usually she'll be too tired," said Julia.
"I think there's always improvement that anybody can do wherever they are in their lifestyle," said Rudd. "So in that respect, everybody here is a winner."
Comments