LGBT Community Center of New Orleans' 2010 Weight Loss Challenge
Beginning January 10, 2010, the city of New Orleans will be involved in a special project in which this city has seen the likes of before. The LGBT Community Center of New Orleans is proud to sponsor the 2010 Weight Loss Challenge!
The LGBT Community Center of New Orleans has developed a contest that will promote the advancement of individual health throughout the Greater New Orleans Area.
The contest will kick off on Sunday, January 10, 2010 with an “Initial Weigh-In” to be held at the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans, 2114 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, and will continue until June 26, 2010, when a “Closing Weigh-In” will be conducted to determine the winner. On July 9, 2010, a banquet award ceremony will be held to announce the Challenge winner at Oceana Restaurant, 739 Rue Conti, located in the French Quarter.
The Weight Loss Challenge will be an all encompassing contest which will work with each contest to lose the weight that they have been trying so hard in the past to lose and for some reason just has not. The first Tuesday of each month a “Weigh-In” will be conducted by NO/AIDS Task Force’s Private Nutritionist Ginger Bovier. Each contestant will have access to Ms. Bouvier throughout the contest to address health and nutritional issues. After each Weigh-In, Ms. Bovier will hold a discussion group open to the general public during which guest speakers and specialist will discuss topics such as healthy food choices, heart health, cooking demonstrations and wine pairing.
The goal of the LGBT Community Center’s 2010 Weight Loss Challenge is to assist each contestant to lose the most percentage of body weight in a stable and healthy manner. Group exercise classes, derived and directed by professionals, are planned for the contestants at local fitness providers and outdoor locations throughout the Greater New Orleans Area. The exercise classes range from boot-camp training, spinning classes, tai chi yoga and water aerobics. Each week will consist of between two to five group activities for the contestants. The group exercise classes will be closed sessions. However, during the spring months, certain outdoor exercise classes are planned to be open to the general public. During the course of the contest, each contestant will be provided with the knowledge necessary to continue exercising in a private setting. Some of the amazing sponsors working with the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans by hosting group exercises classes are Balance Spa and Fitness in the Loews Hotel, Salire Fitness and Pilates Studio, and Tulane University’s Reily Center.
Unfortunately, having the determination to exercise alone is not the proper way to lose excess and maintain a healthy weight. New Orleans is the home of fried, dipped, smothered or drenched entrees. The LGBT Community Center has reached out to some of the biggest names in cuisine and developed a program to instruct the art of creating great tasting and yet still nutritious food. Each month a different restaurant will host the contestants of the 2010 Weight Loss Challenge where the chefs will create completely original healthy meal that has never been seen before in their restaurant. The contestants will have a chance at each “Dining Out Night” to taste these amazing and healthy meals and speak with the chefs to inquire about healthy cooking techniques. The amazing restaurants sponsoring dinners are: The Creole Skillet, 5FIFTY5, Grand Isle Restaurant, Maximo’s Bar and Grill, Oceana Restaurant, and Ralph’s on the Park.
On December 1, 2009, the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans will release the Official Six-Month Calendar of Events for the 2010 Weight Loss Challenge. Besides the “Dining Out Nights” and group exercise classes, other activities planned consist of: Mixing drinks at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, spending a weekend working with the St. Bernard Project, and private sessions with a Life Coach.
Starting on November 10, 2009, the general public can obtain a copy of the Contestant Application, along with a copy of the official rules of the contest at the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans’ website at www.lgbtccno.org/WLC or from the center. All applications must be received at the office of the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans located at 2114 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 before 6pm Central Standard Time on Wednesday, December 23, 2009, for consideration to become a contestant. The 2010 Weight Loss Challenge is open to the general public regardless of sex, sexuality, or gender identity, who is or will be at least 18 years of age on January 1, 2010.
What is a contest without prizes? Besides a banquet devoted to the winner and his or her struggles and victory, we have some amazing prizes such as a complete make-over, a one year membership to a local gym to continue their path to a healthier lifestyle and much more!
The LGBT Community Center of New Orleans will be hosting its Annual 12/12 Celebration where an opportunity to meet with Weight Loss Challenge sponsors, ask questions about the challenge or other center programs or events, take a look at the upcoming year’s Calendar of Events, and meet the Board of Directors of the Community Center. Applications and all information for the Weight Loss Challenge will be available at this event. 12/12 is held in honor of the day the Community Center first opened its doors back in 1992 as well as the day when the City of New Orleans Human Rights Ordinance was passed in 1991 which included “Gays and Lesbians,” and has been an Annual Event since 2007. At this event, the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans will take the time to honor a member of the Community here in New Orleans who has committed their life to making a difference in the lives of LGBT people.
For any questions on the 2010 Weight Loss Challenge, or to obtain any official forms or documents concern the 2010 Weight Loss Challenge, please contact Christopher Schlumbrecht (LGBT Community Center Board of Directors) at chris@lgbtccno.com or cjs71780@hotmail.com.
The official Press Release, including the names of the contestants will be available from the LGBT Community Center on January 5, 2010.
Christopher J. Schlumbrecht
Director
Co-Chair – PR and Marketing Committee
Co-Chair – Events and Fundraising Committee
LGBT Community Center of New Orleans
504-459-5084
cjs71780@hotmail.com
chris@lgbtccno.org
To obtain copies of the contest documents, click on the document name below:
Official Contest Rules
Weight Loss Challenge 2010 Application
