ALPENA — The Bay Athletic Club has brought back its Thinner Winner weight loss competition after a two-year hiatus.

The Bay Athletic Club’s decade-long tradition of uniting the community in movement came to a halt in 2020, as the onset of COVID-19 caused restrictions on gatherings. The contest kicked off its return on Saturday with new additions to the program, including a new food guide and points system.

Over the next six weeks, teams of four to six people will compete against each other to lose the largest percentage of body weight and inches with a cash prize of $1,000 awarded to the winning team. While some teams are made up of friends and family, others are made up of solo participants that the club helped connect to each other.

Throughout the competition, teams will not only have access to the gym and all classes at the Bay Athletic Club, but can also attend Thinner Winner-exclusive classes twice a week.

The Bay Athletic Club will provide email coaching to participants along the way with nutrition support and fitness guides.

Cash is not the only incentive for Thinner Winner participants. Many people join the competition because it helps them kickstart a healthier lifestyle and foster new friendships.

“People want to move and people want to feel better,” Amanda Freeland, Bay Athletic Club’s director of membership and nutrition, said.

While people may sign up for Thinner Winner to lose weight, they walk away from the experience having gained confidence and skills they can take with them anywhere. The resulting happiness has had a ripple effect on the community.

“Happy people make better employees, parents, friends, and coworkers,” Freeland said. The contest ends on Nov. 11.

Folks are encouraged to check in with the Bay Athletic Club’s social media to stay up to date on the latest contest news.