D. 65 Teachers, Staff 'Lose Big' in Health Challenge

More than 170 Evanston District 65 faculty and staff members have teamed up with the McGaw YMCA and the city to get in shape.

The Shed Weight Not Tears challenge is billed as being similar to the hit TV show "The Biggest Loser" — where contestants shed both weight and tears.

"I've met District 65 staff who have never worked out, or who haven't stepped foot in a workout facility in years," said Mira Kaiser, health and wellnes manager for the McGaw YMCA, "and now they are here."

The YMCA has been bustling with staff and faculty, who are taking classes and using facilities including the pool and workout rooms, the district said.

Participants have been given free access to the YMCA facilities and teams are sharing resources to motivate each other, school officials said. The winner and weight loss totals will be announced on March 28, and prizes donated by the YMCA will be awarded.

The promotion is sponsored by the District 65 Wellness Council, which was established in 2005. Kaiser said the challenge is intended to push the participants toward their health and wellness goals and connect them to a community that is working towards the same goals.