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50 Million Pound Challenge Teams up with Prince George’s Classic to bring Fans Football, Fitness & Fun
50 Million Pound Challenge Teams up with Prince George’s Classic to bring Fans Football, Fitness & Fun
Challenge teams launched for nine fall football Classics, fans can score own fitness goals, win $1,000 prize
Bowie, MD - Tuesday, Oct. 7 – Dr. Ian Smith’s 50 Million Pound Challenge—the free national campaign rallying people to “Give up the pounds, not the fight"—joined Prince George’s County health leaders Saturday to host a free day of fitness and fun to kick off the 5th Annual Prince George’s Classic football game. Fans got a chance to score their own personal health goals by coming together to participate in a 5K Challenge walk, a free health & wellness fair set up by county officials, join Challenge teams and hip hop to better health to tunes from legendary DJ Biz Markie.
Launched April 2007, The Challenge has already inspired 675,000 people to take control of their health and take off almost 2.8 million pounds to fight the epidemic of excess weight taking so many U.S. lives. “It is extremely inspiring and rewarding to see people shed pounds and gain self-esteem, health and happiness because of their participation in The Challenge,” said Dr. Ian Smith, initiative founder, physician, author of the NY Times #1 best-seller The Fat Smash Diet and diet expert for VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. “Whether it’s on the field of play or in the places we pray, Americans are teaming up to take The Challenge and turn back these deadly health trends. The Challenge has 15,000 teams helping members lose on average 25% more weight. That’s a winning formula.”
Dr. Ian praised the Prince George’s Classic and county health officials for helping people focus on better fitness and food choices. He urged attendees to join The Challenge’s online support community at 50millionpounds.com and use its free diet, tools and teams to lead healthier, happier lives.
Dr, Donald Shell, Health Officer, Prince George’s County Health Department commended The Challenge and health fair’s efforts at Bowie State, saying, "The first step to living a healthier lifestyle is acknowledging the need to be healthier. The second step is including physical activity and healthy diet choices in our daily routine. The best way to improve or prevent high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol is regular physical activity and health eating habits."
Dr. Ian joined Bowie State President Mickey Burnim on the field at half-time during the game (Bowie Bulldogs won 28-2) to urge the near-capacity crowd of 7,500 to show their team spirit by joining a special Challenge teams competition. Fans can support their football teams and score their own fitness goals by joining BSU Alumni Bulldogs, LU Alumni Lions or other Challenge teams at 50millionpounds.com. Similar challenges will take place at eight other Classic gridiron contests nationwide this fall. Once registered, people can join or start any team they like, and teams adding the most members can win $1,000 for their school.
Show Your Team Spirit – Join the Challenge Teams Contest for Fall Gridiron Classics – Oct-Nov. 2008
Gridiron Classic Game Location Date Competing School Football Teams Sign up for Competing Challenge Fitness Teams
Backed by hundreds of civic and celebrity champions, elected officials, churches, colleges, cities, and national health and civic groups, The Challenge is one of the most far-reaching initiatives of its kind. Anyone can join at 50millionpounds.com.. The site offers free resources including a 30-day diet plan and personal weight and activity trackers to make fitness easier and more fun.
About The 50 Million Pound Challenge:
Dr. Ian Smith’s 50 Million Pound Challenge is a national health initiative encouraging people to come together and take control of their health by getting fit, losing excess weight and turning back the deadly toll of weight-related diseases that threaten nearly half of Americans and hits the African-American community especially hard. The Challenge, a free campaign supported and endorsed in name and deed by national civic and health., is sponsored by State Farm.
About Dr. Ian Smith:
Dr. Ian is a diet expert on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club and author of the NY Times #1 best-sellers Fat Smash Diet and Extreme Fat Smash Diet, and other works of fiction and non-fiction. He hosts his own TV and radio shows, BET’s Meet the Faith and HealthWatch on American Urban Radio Network. Dr. Ian is a contributor to The View and Men’s Health Magazine. He has filed reports and written for NBC Nightly News, Today Show, Essence, Ebony, People, Cosmopolitan and the University of Chicago’s Medicine on the Midway.