226 Vance members shoot to lose 1,750 pounds Published Jan. 20, 2010 By 2nd Lt. Christopher Carrillo 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Two hundred and twenty six participants, weighing a collective 44,219 lbs, signed up for Vance AFB's annual Biggest Loser competition at the Health and Wellness Center Jan. 11. Kellie Jensen, fitness program manager, set a goal for the contestants to lose 1750 pounds during the length of the three month program, 150 pounds more than last year's participants lost. Ms. Jensen believes more specialized classes, the addition of Vance's Biggest Loser Extreme competition and the use of Enid's E-lose It, Enid's weight loss program, will help the slightly fewer in number, lose a greater percentage of weight than last year's group. Ms. Jensen said the Fitness Center received positive feedback from contestants for the Biggest Loser Extreme program, a points system that rewards participants for adopting healthy habits. Many Americans commit to a healthy lifestyle at the beginning of each year. But without help, keeping their promises can prove to be very difficult. One tool offered the Biggest Loser participants is keeping a journal. In his first journal submission, a current Biggest Loser participant who identified himself as "Clone," wrote "I had to find ways to be more accountable. So when my co-worker offered to become my accountability partner, I knew this was a step in the right direction." The teams weigh in again on Feb. 5 and March 5. The competition ends with a final weigh-in April 9. The team with the biggest percentage of weight lost will win the competition.