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Tuesday, January 08, 2008

The Longview Police Department 911 Challenge team is hoping to lose about a person by the end of 12 weeks. Brant Smith, Chris Clark, Anthony Boone and Bill Howell have a team weight loss goal of 120 pounds.

"(That's) a small officer," Clark said.

Rachel Phelps/News-Journal Photo

Sandy Hudman, general manager for Physical Impact Gym and Fitness, weighs Officer Brant Smith of the Longview Police Department on Monday. The team will participate in the 10th annual 911 Fitness Challenge through April 1.

The officers declined to reveal the team's total weight on Monday.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the 911 Fitness Challenge, a 12-week challenge for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMS workers, military personnel, corrections workers, nurses and physicians to lose weight and gain muscle. 911 Fitness is an organization promoting education and exercise to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life, according to the organization's Web site.

Howell said he received an e-mail in mid-December from 911 Fitness, informing him of the deadline for the 2008 challenge. He recruited the other officers to form their team, which they named the Rockin' L Fatbusters. All four of the officers were nominal exercisers before, but are willing to make a strong effort for the contest.

"We got together a few nights ago and had a big pizza party, sort of an 'enjoy it while you can' thing," Howell said. "The next 12 weeks, we're going to be really focusing on nutrition and exercise."

The officers weighed in Monday at Physical Impact Gym and Fitness. Their check-in included weight, body fat percentage and a body age test that compared their real ages with how old their levels of fitness made them seem. Each of the officers has a body age of about 10 years older than his actual age.

"My goal is to get younger," Clark said.

Sandy Hudman, Physical Impact Gym and Fitness general manager, said it would be possible for the officers to have a younger body age than actual age. Although the men are not using trainers, she did give them some advice for their programs.

"For men, the best way to lose weight is weight training along with the cardiovascular," Hudman said. "And remember nutrition. Don't skip meals because you could actually lose muscle mass that way."

The Rockin' L Fatbusters will be weighing in every week to check on their progress.

Smith is planning to exercise five days a week and modify his eating habits to lose the weight. He said the best part of the program will be the challenge.

"I pretty much have to (stick to it). My wife held me to it before this came about," Smith said.

Boone said the dieting will not be as difficult for him as getting the motivation to do his daily running. After a moment's reflection, he did come up with a diet problem.

"I'll miss my mother-in-law's desserts," he said.

Howell said one of the contest rules is that if a team member loses muscle instead of fat the team will be disqualified.

The team with the most fat loss and muscle gain will receive $5,000 and a trip to Las Vegas. Although that prize is on their minds, the officers have other goals as well.

"The demands of law enforcement make it so that the better shape we're in, the better we can do our jobs," Howell said.

Clark, on the other hand, had a more light-hearted goal.

"I'll look better on the motorcycle," Clark said.

The contest ends April 1.

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