Whether it’s a few pounds that need to be dropped or a ton of weight, one of the best ways to shed those pounds is by participating in the Scale Back Alabama program.

Weigh-ins for the statewide program began on Monday and will continue through Thursday. Weigh -in times are 2 a.m. until noon today and from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Thursday in the basement of the Charles Henderson Child Health Center (CHCHC) in Troy. There will be no weigh-ins on Friday.

Scale Back Alabama is designed on the team concept and each team is made up of four members. Each member is challenged to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks. Those who reach their individual goals and the team goal will have their names entered in a statewide drawing for cash prizes.

The Scale Back Alabama program is directed locally by Steps to a Healthier AL and the CHCHC.

Adam Dubose, Steps program coordinator, said weigh-ins have been a little behind last year but he expects more teams to weigh-in during the last couple of days.

“Weights are kept confidential so there should be no concern about that,” Dubose said. “Team members support and encourage each other and, too, each member is accountable to the others, and that’s a great motivating factor.”

Tara Norris, health program adviser, said many teams that participated in last year’s Scale Back Alabama program were successful in losing their desired weight.

“The teams lost a total of 2,000 pounds last year,” she said. “Based on that, our goal for 2009 will be 2009 pounds and, if the teams are dedicated and stay with the program, we can reach the goal.”

And, individuals, who lose at least 10 pounds, will have their names entered in the statewide drawing for one of 50 state prizes of $100 each. The teams whose four members lose at least 10 pounds each will be entered in the drawing for even bigger bucks. The first team drawn will win $250 per member. The second team drawn will win $500 each and the third team drawn will win $1,000 each.

And that should appeal to all participants in the Scale Back Alabama program at the Charles Henderson Child Health Center.

Norris said those who don’t have a team but want to participate are encouraged to come weigh in and form a team with others who are not yet members of a team.