What does Santa and 3 Lyme Old Lyme High School Seniors have in Common?

Dave is one of twenty-seven challengers competing for a cash jackpot of over $2200 for this “biggest loser” - style competition.  Other competitors include two Mother-Daughter Teams, a Husband & Wife Team, a Mother & Son Team and three Seniors from Lyme Old Lyme High School who are pursuing a more healthy lifestyle as their senior project (and of course the jackpot would come in very handy for college books!)

The River Valley Slim Down is a 12 week Challenge which runs three times a year and combines the incentives of cash prizes and donations to good causes with an exercise, nutrition and support program to help participants lose weight, shape up and get back to a healthy lifestyle.  Participants pay a small registration and refundable drop out fee to ensure that they stick with the challenge.  Then they take a minimum of two to three exercise classes (or personal training sessions) per week and agree to a weekly weigh-in.  Mini Inspirational Workshops on subjects such as “Eating More to Weigh Less” and “Sugar, Sugar! Do you constantly crave sweets?” are presented by Lyme resident Penny Smith, CHHP, ADDP of New Beginnings Health Coaching.

The best bit about the challenge? Well if you talk to their clients the words “accountability”, “support”, “motivation” and “fun” are the ones that you will hear most often.  For Donna it is seeing our clients succeed from a wide range of age, shape and fitness levels. Classes include Gentle and Vigorous Yoga, Zumba, Spin, High Intensity Interval Training, CRI/Tabata Bootcamp and even a Balance and Tone class, which is conducted sitting down.  Early birds can start at 5.30am and Night Owls can complete their exercise at 9.00pm with everything in between.

“Since its inception, our challengers have shed over 500lbs between them and won over $6000 in prize money,”  as well as the cash prizes, participants received other prizes such as makeovers from Essence Center for Wellness & Beauty in Old Saybrook and Massages and Facials from Vitality Spa of Old Lyme.  “One incentive that our participants love is the donations they make to local good causes through their hard work and sweat.”  Four local charities have benefitted: Shoreline Soup Kitchen, Tri-Town Food Bank, Tri-Town Youth Services and Homeless to Helpful of New London.  Adams Hometown Market have partnered with the RVSD to stretch the donations to local food banks even further by providing canned and non-perishable goods at cost.

The next River Valley Slim Down Challenge will run from April 20^th to June 29^th and IFoundFitness is offering a FREE 5 Class Taster Pass for Challengers who sign up before April 1^st.  For more information contact me, Donna Scott on 860.961.4507 or visit us online at rivervalleyslimdown.com

So will Santa win the Challenge? “It’s an open field at the moment” said Scott, “each week we see someone succeed, each week we see someone make a break-through, we never know the winner until the last week … that’s part of the fun for everyone involved."