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Record Turnout in Atlanta Turns It On for The Challenge
ATL Turns Out a Crowd & Turns on the Charm for the 8th Stop on The 50 Million Pound Challenge Tour
The hits just keep on coming. Only a week after the campaign's biggest event to date, Atlanta showed it wouldn't be bested. Thousands more avid Challenge fans turned up the heat and turned out in new record numbers at Centennial Olympic Park on Saturday as Atlanta gaveThe50 Million Pound Challenge a taste of southern hospitality with a hip hop edge. Hot performances from a very cool cast set the tone and gave the crowd a great afternoon of live music & entertainment, as well as a chance to 'give up the pounds, not the fight.'
Led by Dr. Ian Smith-author of the NY Times #1 bestsellerExtreme Fat Smash Diet and expert on VH1'sCelebrity Fit Club-The Challenge made the 8th stop on its 14-city tour across America to mobilize people to take control of their health and turn back the deadly toll of weight-related diseases. Joining Dr. Ian in Atlanta was an all-star celebrity line-up including R&B stars Keith Sweat, Omarion, Jagged Edge, rapper Bone Crusher, radio host Steve Harvey, Atlanta Falcons Tight End Alge Crumpler, and renowned DJ Biz Markie.
The event drew a crowd that site officials estimated as exceeding 15,000. Attendees were cheered by and cheered on the performers all afternoon. They turned out in unprecedented numbers to show support for and joinThe Challenge,and start their own personal campaigns to get fit and lose weight to live longer and look and feel great.
In just three and a half months since the initiative launched, more than 174,000 participants have signed up and lost more than 380,000 total pounds. This historic campaign & commitment by the African-American community continues on to St. Louis on Saturday, July 28 and Chicago on August 11. For more information, visit http://www.50millionpounds.com.
Key highlights and comments from Atlanta included:
- "We came to Atlanta to help people take control of their health, make healthier lifestyle choices and give up the pounds, not the fight," said Dr. Ian Smith. "The groundswell of support for this campaign continues to build. The record turnout in Atlanta helps us tell this story all across America . We're picking up steam and gaining momentum. What began as a simple challenge has become a remarkable commitment across the entire community. Working together, we will reverse these deadly health trends one small step at a time, get fit and lose the excess pounds. The reward is worth the weight-not only will it help you live longer, but you'll look and feel great."
- On behalf of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and Dr. Ian were presented withThe Phoenix Award from the City of Atlanta for exemplary efforts in helping people across America fight the epidemic of excess weight and lead healthier lives.
- American Music Award-winning R&B star Keith Sweat got the crowd in the mood with great tunes, saying, "The Challenge is helping us keep our feet on the ground while we reach for the sky. It's reminding us what we need to take care of if we want to make our dreams come true. No matter who you are, you've got to watch out for your health to stay in the game. We all have the power to lead healthier lives. The Challenge is giving us a great chance to use it. Respect your health-it's a commitment to be true to yourself and be there for the ones you love."
- Grammy-nominated R&B star Omarion got attendees hip-hopping to his new hits and said, "Sometimes the most important things in life are the hardest to talk about. Like the love and respect we have for each other, and the love and respect we need to show for ourselves by taking care of our health. The Challenge is giving us a great opportunity to come together and talk about our health. Too many of us are dying early because we're not making healthy lifestyle choices. It's time to take control of our health and make better choices in what we eat and staying active. The Challenge is helping show us the way. Together we're stronger and we'll live that much longer."
- Rapper Bone Crusher encouraged the crowd with his own personal story, "People ask me how I lost 60 pounds in two months on Celebrity Fit Club. I followed the same advice Dr. Ian gives you for The Challenge. You don't need to diet or starve the weight off. It's much healthier to eat the weight off. You can eat the food you like, just less of it. And work out-that's key. Some things in life are timeless, like good music. But the time we have on this earth isn't, especially if we get caught up in things that are destructive to our health. Too many people are dying early because they're not exercising and eating healthy. The good news is that staying healthy isn't that difficult if you do it right."
- Atlanta Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler encouraged the crowd to get in shape to reach their personal health goals, and signed autographs for long lines of Falcons fans at the event.
- Rounding out the day was more great music to move attendees' bodies and souls from the hip hop soul group Jagged Edge, and renowned DJ Biz Markie, and well as stand-up comedy from national radio host Steve Harvey.
- The day concluded with Dr. Ian and the celebrities joining thousands of participants in a Challenge walk around Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park to mark the first steps in their own commitment to start making better lifestyle choices and enjoy healthier, longer lives.