Fire and Police Compete to Lose Weight

A spring weight loss challenge pitted firefighter against police officer for bragging rights and prizes. The firefighters won out, losing more body fat over the eight-week program.

Hosted by Max Muscle Fairfax, the "Spring Into Shape Challenge," followed a similar contest within the fire department. Firefighters competed within their department to lose the most weight. As a group they lost 175 pounds, with Jeremy Whelpley of the B shift winning the individual contest. to read more about the winter challenge.

“Competition spurs results. Anytime someone creates a reason to focus, it gives us extra permission to go after our goals. It’s taking some of the healthy spirit of competition between them and focusing it on individual health and health of the department,” says Kristin Wood, owner of Max Muscle Fairfax.

The spring challenge paired nutritional support with fitness programs. Participants checked in with Max Muscle Fairfax every two weeks to have their body fat and muscle mass assessed.

And the results? The fire department won with a final overall body fat percentage of 19.19 percent. Their rivals, the police department, came in a close second with 19.75 percent average body fat.

“Max Muscle is all about working with the community. We do what we can to support City personnel because they do so much for us.  Plus, I now know that any emergency personnel will be able to find us easily if we need to make a 911 call,” joked Wood.   

Each department also had an individual winner. The fire department winner, Tim Stefanson, lost 2 percent body fat. The winner from the police department, Kevin Bowser, lost 2.4 percent body fat. Each winner received a $100 gift card to Max Muscle and a six-month free membership with unlimited classes to the Silverback Academy, a Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu School.

Everyone who completed the program won a $20 gift card to Max Muscles and a free month of training at Silverback Academy. Lastly, the City’s Station 3 won a brand new kitchen TV, donated by Best Buy Fair City Mall for outperforming Station 22 in the challenge.