Annual "IRE Biggest Loser Challenge"

Students of Iron Range Engineering held a general fitness competition during the spring 2013 semester. The goal for this competition was to encourage and give added incentive for students to stay in shape and be active during the winter months of the year.

There were three different challenges for students to compete in. The first was a presidential fitness competition in which all participants were tested on their strength, stamina and flexibility; evaluation was made by percent improvement at the end of the semester, which included both male and female victors.  The second challenge was evaluated by determining who had the greatest percentage body fat loss. This was managed by each student personally (via electric impedance scale provided by IRE), as to not invade privacy. The last challenge was based off of total time spent exercising. Each student interested in participating was required to record their time they spent during each work out and a small description of the workout.

The parameters will most likely change in the future to increase fairness, encourage participation and positive community morale.  The four winners of the competition received $150 Visa gift cards for their hard work and persistence. IRE intends to continue the Biggest Loser challenge next year and make it an annual tradition.

“For me life is continuously being hungry. The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger 

by Case Goodyear