After four months, Scale Back Alabama, a statewide weight-loss program, has come to a close, but the scales are not being shelved.
Beginning Jan. 25, Auburn employees from a multitude of departments committed to losing 10 pounds in 10 weeks with the help and encouragement of a team partner.
Employees were excited to start the program and were thankful for the University’s support at the beginning. The weigh-ins started in the Walker Building in January and finished in the Walker Building this month.
Tammy Hollis, Healthy Tigers Wellness Initiative coordinator, said those who participated have accomplished much over the 10 weeks.
“We’ve told the competitors to not think of this as the end, but to keep going,” Hollis said. “Even if they didn’t reach their goals, we have encouraged them to keep going and keep trying.”
Hollis said weight loss takes different amounts of time for different people, and the process can be frustrating at moments, but to really see a difference, one has to keep striving to excel.
“It’s a journey, not a destination,” Hollis said.
This motto, repeatedly said by Hollis, has been an encouragement to partners Ruthie Spiers, director of University advising, and Michael Lee, academic adviser for exploratory advising. Spiers and Lee work in the same department, which has made accountability throughout the competition more convenient.
“The University has been great with putting on healthy luncheons and weight-loss events,” Lee said. “They are very supportive of our health.”
Spiers appreciated the availability of scales at campus buildings. This allowed the team to meet up and weigh in every Friday to keep up with their pound count.
Lee said the most successful strategy was avoiding high-calorie breakfasts. Before Scale Back, he chose Hardee’s or Chick-fil-A. Now he chooses healthier alternatives.
Spiers helped connect Lee to a group of men who play basketball every morning at 6 a.m. Lee said that has been a competitive and enjoyable way to lose weight.
“As long as you are even or losing when you weigh in, you’re doing good,” Lee said.
Spiers found the best way to lose weight and succeed in the challenge was to avoid snacking.
According to the team, the office where they both work has also begun to work toward healthier lifestyles.
“Our whole office has tried to be a little more fit,” Spiers said. “We all got Fitbits, and we do competitions. We got ellipticals under our desks and have started to meet to walk during meetings instead of sitting in the office.”
The team said Scale Back Alabama is not the end for them, and they plan to continue weighing in every Friday, exercising instead of sitting around and watching what they eat.
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