Dalton program celebrates big losers

DALTON, Ga. — At 6 a.m. on a chilly Saturday, more than 40 feet tracked along a wooded path on Dug Gap Mountain in search of weight loss.

These early risers were embroiled in a Saturday Challenge, part of fitness trainer Minnette Lusk’s Biggest Loser program, also known as Get Fit Challenge 2009.

This is Mrs. Lusk’s second 12-week session modeled in part after the NBC TV show “Biggest Loser.” In the Dalton program, two teams of 10 people square off to win points in challenges to lose the most — not just pounds, but body fat and inches.

Saturday Challenges, which happen every other week, feature fitness training competitions, healthy cooking contests and educational sessions.

Contestants don’t know what the challenge will be until Friday, said Mrs. Lusk, 34. In addition to Saturday Challenges, the effort requires early-morning workouts at the Creative Arts Guild, where Mrs. Lusk is the Living Well director, and weekly weigh-ins.

This is the second year in the program for Jessica Nix, 33. Mrs. Nix said she has lost more than 100 pounds in eight years, but her Biggest Loser effort last year provided a major boost to her well-being.

“I never thought I would get the results I got,” Mrs. Nix said. “I lost right at 20 inches (around my waist) and people that knew me would have sworn I’d lost 50 pounds.”

Mrs. Nix said “clean eating” is a big part of the success of the program.

Mrs. Lusk, a mother of four who has a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Brigham Young University, said she plans another Get Fit Challenge in January 2010.