Sun City’s annual weight loss program returns - Bluffton Today

Sun City’s wildly popular long-running weight loss program returns in 2020 with new features and the same promise to help residents achieve better health.

Space is filling up fast in the health and wellness department’s annual Choose to Lose program, which will run 9-10 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays Jan. 8 through Feb. 14 at the Pinckney Hall ballroom. The program is $125. Residents may register at any fitness center or online at www.SunCityHiltonHead.org.

To register online, log into the community website and click Register for Classes under the Events & Tickets section. You will be redirected to eTrak, where you will select Fitness, Fitness Programs and Register.

As it has been structured in years past, each Wednesday will be dedicated to health discussions and Fitness Fridays will get participants moving in a fun group exercise class.

Wellness coordinator Kristen Hatcher says joining a program like Choose to Lose helps lay the foundation of knowledge for a healthy lifestyle while also providing accountability. Participants will keep a journal of their daily food intake and share the information with their peers every week.

“Keeping and sharing a food journal will hold you more accountable for what you are eating and how much you are eating. Research has shown that those who journal lose about twice as much weight as those who do not,” she said.

Weekly discussions will tackle recent dieting trends such as intermittent fasting, the ketogenic diet, new research on dementia prevention and how to stop self-sabotaging your efforts for a healthier life.

Plus, there’s a fun, new activity for this year’s participants as they take part in an Iron Chef-inspired challenge. Residents will be tasked with creating a healthy and delicious meal using limited ingredients that are commonly found in most pantries and refrigerators.

“Learning how to stock your kitchen and use those ingredients to make a good meal will help participants achieve long-term success,” Hatcher said.

Also new to the program is a hands-on introduction to the new TRX small group training sessions that will debut to the community in 2020. Participants will sample the TRX suspension trainers and get a feel for personalized sessions with a certified TRX trainer.

The program offers participants a free group fitness pass for the duration of the program, allowing them to attend any classes they want. Plus, Fitness Fridays will introduce them to a different group exercise class every week.

“Every year we look at new research and literature to make sure we are providing the most up-to-date information possible. We try to target all facets of wellness to make sure we deliver a well-rounded program to participants,” Hatcher said.