Suozzi Calls for Nassau County’s Participation in the Nationwide “The Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up
Nassau County Teams Up with NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” and MSN
Mineola, NY – Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi today called for County residents’ participation in “The Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up. As part of his Healthy Nassau initiative, Suozzi has teamed up with NBC and MSN to encourage County residents to lose weight and adopt healthier lifestyles. Bill Germanakos, last season’s (Season 4) winner of NBC’s hit reality series “The Biggest Loser” and his identical twin brother Jim, the Season 4 “at-home” winner, spoke about their weight-loss journey, and encouraged County residents to join the match-up challenge and lose weight. “The Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up is a challenge to America to pledge to lose one million pounds during the course of the show, “The Biggest Loser: Couples,” airing Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on NBC.
“In my State of the County address last year, I announced a plan to make Nassau the healthiest county in the nation by the year 2020 and we are almost there,” said Suozzi. “According to our Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Nassau County residents are healthier overall than others in the State and the rest of the country. However, we still need to lose weight, eat more fruits and vegetables, and be more physically active. I encourage all Americans to find a partner and sign up to participate in “The Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up and hope Nassau County residents, especially, will join this nationwide effort to eat healthier and exercise more.”
Healthy Nassau, Suozzi’s campaign to make Nassau the healthiest county in the nation, builds upon existing initiatives and adds new ones in order to sustain a healthy environment (focusing on air, land and water), while encouraging healthy living (tending to bodies, minds and spirits). Healthy Living programs include programs that encourage proper nutrition, physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices (including tobacco cessation). Last year the County Executive and the Unions that operate in the county sponsored an employee weight-loss initiative, encouraged smoking cessation and passed a trans-fat ban in the County that takes effect in April of 2008.
From February 11, 2008 through March 11, 2008, Nassau County residents have the opportunity to register with a workout partner on BiggestLoser.msn.com and compete in “The Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up, inspired by NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Couples.” Participants will be able to test their fitness knowledge and receive expert fitness advice from “The Biggest Loser” trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels as well as from MSN Health & Fitness experts, and will have the chance to win daily prizes. Using Windows Live Spaces, participants can document their weight loss journey, connect with other participants in their area and help support each other in a virtual community. The top five teams will win a trip to Los Angeles for NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Couples” finale, and the winning team will get a personal trainer for a year. Participants can visit http://biggestloser.msn.com to review full rules and details and sign up for the contest.
