*EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article is Part 2 in a series of articles on health, wellness and Zachary's Biggest Loser Challenge. The first was published July 11 and can be found at Zacharytoday.com - search 'Biggest Loser'.*

Nearly 100 employees from the City of Zachary, which include members of the Zachary Fire and Police Departments, Department of Public Works and City Hall, are participating in a weight loss challenge.

The 90-day Biggest Loser competition officially began July 6 with a weigh in at the City Council chambers, and the fitness competition officially ends in October.

City administration employees have named their team the CCC's (City Calorie Counters) and are proud to report they have lost 59 pounds collectively thus far!

Besides one overall winner of the Biggest Loser Challenge, Mayor David Amrhein, who is also in the competition, has enticed city workers and their teams by offering a personal day off for the team who collectively loses the most weight.

The CCC's seem to be in the lead of the other teams - The Gut Busters (Zachary Police), The Fat Extinguishers (Zachary Fire) and the Dept. of Public Works team (Team D.P.W. - Diet, Pounds, Weightloss).

The single winner of the Biggest Loser Challenge will receive $1,000 cash - $500 of which has been generously donated by L.I.F.E. (Living in Fitness Everyday) and $500 donated by Waste Management.

Laura O'Brien, owner of Fitness Design by Women and L.I.F.E. (a non-profit organization) is heading the Biggest Loser contest.

L.I.F.E. hosts three fitness programs: Fit Girl, an after school program that teaches young girls how to make positive choices, healthy decisions and opens the door to a lifetime of being fit. Fit Girl currently services girls in 3rd - 7th-grades within the Zachary Community School District.

Plant, Pick & Eat - A campaign designed to teach individuals and communities the benefits of gardening and growing what you eat. Its mission is to install vertical and box vegetable gardens in area schools.

W.O.W. (Wellness on Wheels) will be a mobile unit for underserved schools, parks, community centers and corporate and hospital events. The W.O.W. mobile will be used for onsite fitness classes, educational fitness topics, nutritional components and community/corporate fitness testing.

NEXT WEEK: Be sure to pick up a copy of the Aug. 1 issue of the Zachary Plainsman to fund out how city employees are losing the weight!