AARP'S Fat-To-Fit Weight Loss Program Challenges Participants to Lose 10,000 lbs

"Fat-To-Fit" Program to Track Weight Loss and Lifestyle Changes Over Three-Month Challenge

WASHINGTON, June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP today launched its second annual "Fat-to-Fit Weight Loss Challenge," an online program challenging people to make positive, permanent life changes to improve their health. AARP's Fat-to-Fit challenge will be hosted on AARP's website (www.aarp.org/fat2fit).  Fitness expert and author Carole Carson, who lost more than 60 pounds at age 60, will lead Fat-to-Fit's online community members through the 11-week program.

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Studies show people are more likely to stick to exercise plans when they have support and the Fat-to-Fit program will focus on personal interaction with both Carson and other participants through the Fat-to-Fit online community, which already boasts more than 4,200 members from last year's challenge. Here participants will be able to access free diet and fitness tips, Carson's columns and blogs, videos, recipes and more.

"I'm living proof that you're never too old to get fit," said Carson. "Unlike diets and other weight-loss programs, Fat-to-Fit is intended to help people make permanent, positive life changes – not just drop 10 pounds and then return to their former lifestyles. Our hope is to help people break the diet-relapse cycle for good."

Beginning today, visitors to AARP.org will be invited to join the Fat-to-Fit Summer Weight Loss Challenge. Participants record their weight and activity, and strive to lose pounds. Every time a user updates his/her weight, the Fat-to-Fit site shows how much weight has been lost since joining, and how many pounds the Fat-to-Fit community has lost collectively. Participation in the Fat-to-Fit online community is key to the contest. Participants are urged to post frequent updates and to exchange ideas, encouragement, recipes and moral support.

The challenge will run through Sept. 6, 2010. Throughout the challenge Carson will select weekly prize winners and, when the challenge ends, she will select the top five overall winners. Winners will be selected on three criteria: serving as a role model for the entire community, facing and overcoming challenges, and demonstrating the principles of the Fat-to-Fit program.  The 1st place winner will win a one-year Gold's Gym membership, with six months of personal training and also receive a trip to Orlando, FL where the winner will participate in a health session alongside Carson at AARP's Orlando@50+ National Event and Expo., Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2010. Official rules and details are available at www.aarp.org/fat2fit.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.7 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP