RTVF Student Plans to "Drop the L-B's"

Auburn University’s student activity center was just one the official sites where students and the public went to weigh-in last week as part of the state-wide Scale Back Alabama program. Scale Back Alabama, which lasts for 10 weeks, encourages participants to lose 10 pounds throughout the duration of the program for a chance to win money. Each team, consisting of four people, must have all members meet this goal in order to be eligible to be entered in the drawing. The first team name drawn will receive $250 per member, the second will receive $500 per member and the third will receive $1,000 per member.

Even if all members of a team are not able to reach the goal, individuals can still win an “achievement” prize of $100. Scale Back Alabama will give away 50 achievement prizes. Participants are to return to the location where they originally registered to weigh-out the week of April 12-16.

Brittany Leiter, a senior in radio, television and film, is one student participating in the program. Because she is getting married in May, she says that she is particularly motivated to lose the weight in a timely fashion and is thankful that Scale Back Alabama has provided her with a team of like-minded individuals who can help keep her on track.

“Although I have a membership at World Gym, I am much more likely to go if I have someone to exercise with me,” Leiter said. “I know that I can call another member on my Scale Back Alabama team and at least one person will want to work-out.”

Leiter’s team, “Dropping the L-B’s, or pounds,” as she explains, consists of two other Auburn students and one Auburn resident. When asked how she got involved in the program, Leiter said that that her roommate encouraged her to participate.

“We both did Scale Back Alabama two years ago and just missed the cut-off last year so when the time came to sign-up last week, she made sure that we both went the student act and turned in our information before it was too late,” said Leiter.

In addition to providing information on healthy recipes and other tips for staying fit, Scale Back Alabama also has classes every Wednesday at the student act that focus on different aspects of the weight-loss process. Last week’s class was about setting goals and this week’s class is about portion sizes. Other topics that will be addressed during the program include “Drinking Milk Won’t Make You Look Like a Cow,” “Using More Fruits and Vegetables,” “Screen Time Adds Up,” “Move It,” “Less Sugar,” Eat This Not That,” “Budget Meal Plans,” and “Changes for the Better.”

Leiter says that she won’t be able to make any of the classes since she interns during the times they are held each week, but is working out every other day and going on the Nutrisystem diet in order to lose her ten pounds.

“I just got my food package in the mail yesterday,” Leiter said.