Incirlik’s Biggest Loser: The trek begins

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Twelve seasons into NBC's hit television series The Biggest Loser, Incirlik Air Base is embarking on its own rendition of the show that pushes contestants to reach and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

The 58 participants are ready to travel on a 14-week strengthening, challenging and motivating mind and body journey with the guidance of Health and Wellness Center professionals. Open to all authorized fitness center users 16 years and older, participants will toil through fitness classes, informative sessions and weigh-ins to fight to be the biggest loser.

Winners in two categories, Individual Male and Individual Female, will be awarded for the greatest percentage of overall body weight lost.

Throughout the program, members are encouraged to attend HAWC classes, 39th Force Support Squadron fitness events and fitness center classes to not only better themselves, but also to rack up milestone points to receive prizes at certain points throughout the program. Those points are also used at the final weigh-in to break a tie between members with the same body weight percentage lost.

While Jillian Michaels may not be barking up their trees, the prizes awarded throughout the program and to the winners are motivation enough to kick these participants into gear. Keep an eye out for articles to follow that highlight the ups and (hopefully) downs during participants' pursuit to be Incirlik's biggest loser.

(This is the first in a series following some of the 58 participants through Incirlik's Fall 2011 Biggest Loser program.)