AMHERST – If you can’t find the willpower needed to get into shape because you don’t like the daily grind, the Cumberland YMCA will make the pursuit of fitness more fulfilling during their fourth annual Commit to Fit Weight Loss Fitness Challenge.
“Many people stop at a certain point and go back to their old lifestyle, but the goal here is to make it as enjoyable as we can and get people addicted to a healthy lifestyle,” said Laura Coleman, health, fitness and recreation manager at the Cumberland YMCA in Amherst.
This year’s commit to fit begins Jan. 14 and runs for 12 weeks. Coleman says that should be enough time to get people addicted to fitness.
“Last year it was eight weeks and this year it’s 12 weeks to give people a bigger window of opportunity to change their lifestyle,” said Coleman. “Also, it takes at least three weeks to form a habit, so we thought we’d do it a little longer this year.”
Coleman says the Cumberland YMCA have staff and programs in place to help make a life of fitness more appealing.
“We have amazing volunteers who are fitness leaders here at the Y and, along with the staff, everybody is on the same page,” said Coleman. “We’re motivators. We’re here to help people and motivate them.
“We’re doing a lot of one-on-one personal training this year and orientation to the facility, so a lot of education is being offered with Commit to Fit,” she added “People want to be comfortable with their surroundings and know what’s going on and understand why people are doing what they’re doing.”
Classes offered in the fitness challenge include: swimming, zumba, cycle fit, yoga, and power pump, which is a kind of weight training led by an instructor.
Coleman says the Y recently held their first power pump class and they’ve had to multiply the number of classes because of its popularity.
“It incorporates weightlifting, so you get both men and women participating,” she said.
Simply for Life in Amherst is a supporter of the Commit to Fit program and anybody joining Commit to Fit will have their three-month registration fee waived at Simply for Life.
Commit to Fit is open to members and non-members of the YMCA.
“Non-members have access to the weight and cardio room three times a week, plus six different fitness classes, so they could be here every day,” said Coleman. “And sessions will be held morning, afternoon and evening, so hopefully it will fit everybody’s schedule.”
It is also open to individuals and teams.
“You can have up to five people per team,” said Coleman.
Prizes are presented to both teams and individuals who lose the highest percentage of weight.
Last year’s individual winner lost 8.38 percent of their original weight.
Registration is Jan. 7, at 6:30 p.m., and the challenge starts Jan. 14, giving participants one week to get weighed in, measured and familiar with the fitness equipment before the challenge begins.
To join Commit to Fit, or for more information call the YMCA at 667-9112 or email fitness@ymcaofcumberland.com
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