With the holiday season approaching, Jenny Craig and PowerHouse Gym are teaming up to help battle the temptation.
The Weight Loss and Fitness Challenge begins Monday and will continue for four weeks, getting a jump start on the season of overindulging.
Participants can sign up as individuals or teams of five and need not be a member of Jenny Craig nor the gym. However, members are invited to participate as well.
"It's fun. It's a challenge. It only lasts four weeks," encouraged Debbie Aronds, Jenny Craig consultant-program director. "What have you got to lose?"
Well, pounds.
She said an average person exerting average effort can expect to lose about one or two pounds per week. But if someone hits it really hard, she said, it could be possible to lose up to 20 pounds in this four-week period.
"That would be really, really concentrating on losing weight," she explained. "It all depends on the effort you put into it."
Registration begins Monday and runs through Friday. The first 100 people to sign-up receive a gift bag.
In the competition, men will compete against men, women against women and teams against teams.
Winners from each group will receive prizes.
A fundraiser will also run simultaneously. Aronds said participants are encouraged to find sponsors who will donate to Food For Thought, a local nonprofit organization that provides homeless children with food to take home.
Whoever secures the highest donation to Food for Thought will also receive a prize.
Among services available to contestants will be hypnotist Dan Kim.
• Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.