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Losing that extra weight gained during the holiday season is the New Year’s resolution most often made… and broken.

“It’s hard to stick with a diet, especially when you are doing it alone,” said Abby Peters, Pike County Extension coordinator. “So, the State of Alabama has a statewide weight-loss campaign that is designed to encourage Alabamians to get healthy and to have fun while doing it.”

Peters said the Scale Back Alabama weight-loss campaign is geared toward adults and challenges individuals to compete on teams of two to win the chance at cash prizes.

The Pike County Extension Office and Troy Regional Medical Center have teamed to challenge Pike Countians to join the statewide weight-loss campaign and drop those unhealthy pounds and, by doing so, get their names in the drawing for up to $1,000.

To be eligible for team prizes, each team member must lose at lease 10 pounds during the 9-week challenge. The weight loss must be recorded at either, the local extension office or TRMC Scale Back sites.

The winning teams will be determined by a drawing from all eligible teams, statewide.

The first three teams drawn will win $1,000 per member or $2,000 for the team. The second teams drawn will win $500 for each team member and the final three teams drawn will win $250 per team member.

Individual prizes will also be awarded and all individuals who lose 10 pounds will be eligible.

Individuals that are drawn for team prizes will not be eligible.

Forty achievement prizes of $100 will be awarded.

“The cash prizes will be great rewards for losing those extra pounds,” Peters said. “But the greatest rewards will be the weight loss and the commitment to a healthier lifestyle.”

The statewide weigh-ins are from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. January 21 through January 24. The weigh-outs are from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. April 8 through 10.

The Pike County Extension Office and the TRMC Marketing Office are the local Scale Back Alabama weigh-in and weight-out sites.

“Teams are welcome to come to the Pike County Extension Office each week to track weight loss but it is not required,” Peters said. “The extension office will have handouts, recipe suggestions and other incentives available for participants.”