Buckley's Biggest Loser gets going Published Feb. 11, 2009 By Lynn Willow One of Giselle Bündchen's Ugly Sisters BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Fitness Center and the Health and Wellness Center have become very busy. They have joined their missions, and their work force, in an effort to get Team Buckley into prime physical shape. Buckley's Biggest Loser kicked off Jan. 26 and is described in the first BBL newsletter as "a 12-week weight loss competition." This competition is somewhat different than the one on television. Buckley's version does not offer living facilities and prepared food as part of its program. Rather, participants here go about their normal lives, changing priorities slightly so that exercise and an emphasis on a healthy diet can be incorporated. What BBL does have in common with the televised program is the exercise equipment, track, and trained experts to motivate, instruct, encourage and help participants to a common goal -- losing weight. At registration, participants were encouraged to form teams of three, but individual participation was also welcomed. BBL was opened to active duty, retirees, family members, Department of Defense civilians and anyone eligible to use the Fitness Center over eighteen years of age. BBL is an incentive-based program where participants earn rewards based on their participation in activities offered through the program. Participants must have attended the kickoff, and must attend mandatory weigh-in sessions at the midway point, Mar. 6, and the final on Apr. 18 at the Fitness Center. The Fitness Center and the HAWC are providing a variety of fitness and health education classes throughout the 12-week program. BBLs are required to attend at least three classes, earning points for each class attended, and earning incentive awards for points accumulated. The HAWC and the Fitness Center send an e-mail to each participant with a weekly newsletter containing health tips and program updates. Losers "win" a t-shirt at the end of the program. A hardworking few will win much bigger stuff. The "biggest loser" will be determined by the percentage of body weight lost. The grand prizes will be awarded to the male and female who lose the highest percentage of their body weight at a special awards ceremony scheduled to be held Apr. 17. A team prize is also given for the team of three who, combined, lose the biggest percentage of body weight. The three "Ugly Sisters of Giselle Bundchen" will "weigh in" on our progress as we proceed through the program. The team name was picked because anyone would look ugly next to Giselle Bundchen. While we know we don't currently scare little children, we are going to be slimmer, trimmer, and svelter by spring -- just in time to try on bathing suits for the summer.