FAIRHOPE, Ala. - As part of Scale Back Alabama, the Fairhope Recreation Center will serve as a weigh-in site for the statewide contest designed to encourage Alabamians to get healthy and to have fun while doing it.

Scale Back Alabama is free, lasts 10 weeks and is open to teams of four from families, municipalities, businesses, clubs, or neighborhood groups.

Participants must weigh in between Jan. 19-25 to be eligible. The competition ends the week of April 6 with final weigh-ins. Winning teams are eligible to win up to $4,000 in cash prizes. In addition the weight-loss part of the contest, there is a contest for the best team name.

“Scale Back Alabama is a great way to kick-start your weight loss,” Fairhope Recreation Center Coordinator Nate Lami said. "We hope by the City’s Recreation Center participating in this program it will encourage residents to participate and do what they can to improve their health by losing weight and exercising.

“Last year as part of this program, we began opening the indoor walking track at the Rec Center to the public, free of charge and it has been very successful.” said Lami. “The indoor walking track allows residents a safe place to walk even when it is raining, too cold or too hot.”

“We already have some good programs and facilities in place in Fairhope to make this easy for folks: the city Rec Center, many privately owned gyms and wellness centers and good walking and biking tracks and trails,” said Mayor Tim Kant. “I have encouraged our employees to participate in Scaleback Alabama and hope our community will too.”

The contest, sponsored by the Alabama Hospital Association and the Alabama Department of Public Health, has helped Alabamians lose more than 900,000 pounds.

The Recreation Center is located on Greeno Road and open Monday – Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. To register or learn more, visit www.scalebackalabama.com or call Nate Lami at the Fairhope Recreation Center at 251-928-7270 or stop by.