The Healthy Church Challenge 100-day weight loss competition was an idea that manifested 100 days later in the form of smiling faces on Sunday, June 17. The challenge put regional churches in a weight loss competition. The team with the largest percentage of weight lost won prizes to purchase exercise equipment for its congregation.
The winners were announced at the 19th Annual Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival in historic Douglass Park by a representative from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, sponsor of the Healthy Church Challenge.
Barbara Jackson was shocked and ecstatic after she was called to the stage to receive a first-place $500 gift certificate for losing the most weight during the Healthy Church Challenge 100-day weight loss competition.
Jackson, a member of One Way Church of God in Christ, lost 32.2 pounds, followed by second place winner Anita Banks of St. Andrew A.M.E. Church, who lost 29 pounds. Marcus Maxwell Ross, a member of Mt. Sinai M.B. Church, lost a total of 27.6 pounds. (All participants who attended each monthly weigh-in received an additional 2 lb. credit at the final weigh-in on June 9.)
“Winning was a milestone for me. I knew I wasn’t in this Challenge by myself,” said Jackson, still feeling euphoric several days later. “It was competitive, but I was wholeheartedly committed, committed to the endeavor like everybody else in the competition.”
Brenda Thornton said she’s still “pumped” after learning that her church, Fullview M.B. Church in Bartlett, Tenn., won first place, which included a $5,000 gift certificate to the Sports Authority and nutritional counseling from Baptist Memorial Health Care. She also said she was “shocked, excited, overwhelmed and happy for the whole group.”
“Winning is a good motivator,” said Thornton, who stayed the course until the competition ended. “I had told a church member that this was a 100-day run, but it’s going to be a lifetime run for me.”
The second place winner, The Healing Cathedral Christian Church, received a $2,500 gift certificate to the Sports Authority as well, followed by third-place winner St. Andrew A.M.E. Church, which received a $1,500 gift certificate.
Hundreds of Mid-Southerners from 36 churches participated in the weight loss competition and many of them participated in The Obesity Summit as well at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis, which preceded the Healthy Church Challenge announcement of winners.
Internationally renowned fitness expert Donna Richardson Joyner keynoted the Summit along with Rosalind Kurita, policy advisor to the Tennessee Department of Health. More than 275 people interested in losing weight and preventing the onset of obesity listened intently as Joyner and Kurita encouraged participants to eat healthy and exercise. Joyner followed her talk with a five minute light workout with participants as they stood at their table.
The Healthy Church Challenge was sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, along with Baptist Memorial Health Care, News Channel 3, Hallelujah 95.7 FM, Tri-State Defender, and the Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival.
For updates and photos of The Obesity Summit and winners of the Healthy Church Challenge, visit Facebook.com/The Healthy Church Challenge.