SAN DIEGO - Semper Fit aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San
Diego is hosting an eight-week Biggest Loser Competition
to help MCRD personnel start the new year off with a positive
loss.

Although there is no affiliation with the TV show “The
Biggest Loser,” the Fitness Center wanted to appeal to their
patrons’ New Year’s resolutions, said Ron Rivera, morning
supervisor, MCRD Fitness Center.

Weigh-ins began Jan. 12 in the Fitness Center followed by a special Biggest Loser workout. Rivera and Willie Covington, personal trainer, MCRD Fitness Center, instruct the Biggest Loser workout classes every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Participants have to weigh in before or after the workout sessions every Thursday. The participant with the biggest percentage of weight loss for that week is rewarded with a prize. By the end of the eight weeks, a grand prize is given to the overall biggest loser. Participants are only eligible for prizes if they are present the first and last week of the competition, said Rivera.

“This competition is structured for people who eat fast
food daily, and that are doing everything wrong when it
comes to trying to lose weight,” said Covington. “People with advanced fitness levels probably won’t benefit from the classes.”

More than 100 people have signed up for the Biggest Loser competition.

A small number of people showed up for the first Thursday morning session. The morning sessions are held inside the Fitness Center class room, while the afternoon class is held outside. Rivera offers advanced level workout for anyone that just wants to come in and workout. He also shows modifications for the Biggest Loser participants.

Covington said he likes to switch things up from the normal indoor workouts by taking the evening class outside.

He starts with warm ups and stretches ending the workout sessions with a cool down and stretches to emphasis the importance of warming up and cooling down your body for each workout. Covington’s Biggest Loser workout sessions switch between cardio and core, which are the most important part of losing weight, he said.

“After a few weeks of advancing the participants’ fitness levels, I like to add weight and resistance into the hour long workout to help switch things up so their weight doesn’t plateau,” said Covington.

At the end of each workout Covington and Rivera go over basic knowledge the participants may not know that will help them with their desired weight lose, which is the overall goal of the competition.

“I like to go over their water and calorie intake, nutrition and stretches and exercises they can do at home,” said Covington.

A few of the participants joined the competition with a partner to help motivate them. Martin Gallegos, a retired Marine, and his wife Yvette, joined to lose the weight they had gained during their first year of marriage, and to get back into marathon running. During the past year together they had gained 50 pounds.

“We joined this class to get back in shape,” said Yvette. “What better motivation than our partner. This way we hold one another accountable.”

After the first day of the Biggest Loser Competition, both Yvette and Martin said they would continue coming back since they enjoyed the first class. They were both amazed by how hard the class pushed them compared to how it would have a year ago.

Ron Rivera encourages anyone that wants to lose weight to come into the MCRD Fitness Center and sign up. Participants can also follow the competition on the MCRD Facebook, which gives a weakly workout routine, said Covington. The gym also offers one-on-one personal trainers and group fitness classes throughout the week that can help people maintain their weight or lose weight and tone up.