The Alarm Watch biggest loser competitors include (from left) Nick Watt, Graeme McKenzie, Connor Cuff, Sam Walker, Taylor Webster and Jesse Hooks. Photo / Bevan Conley
The Alarm Watch biggest loser competitors include (from left) Nick Watt, Graeme McKenzie, Connor Cuff, Sam Walker, Taylor Webster and Jesse Hooks. Photo / Bevan Conley
Seventeen staff at Alarm Watch in Whanganui have signed up to improve their health in a 'biggest loser' competition.
Organiser Jesse Hooks said staff kicked off their competition on January 29, inspired by past successes at the security company.
"Back in 2014 we had a biggest loser competition which wasreally successful," Mr Hooks said.
"The company has now about twice the number of staff and the competition has come up in conversation with new staff members. There was a lot of interest in running it again."
The 12-week contest requires participants to weigh in every week, with the winner being the person who has lost the greatest percentage of their starting body weight by the end of the competition.
"We have a group Facebook page where people are sharing what they are doing and giving tips to others," Mr Hooks said.
"A lot of our staff are really excited about it and some people are getting together to exercise. For the winners it's really worth it because there are cash prizes from the entry fee, plus money that Alarm Watch is putting in.
"There's a really good relationship between staff members and a lot of support from everyone competing for everyone else. Even though we are all working different shifts, we have the right kind of workplace rapport for it."
Staff from across the company are involved, from the general manager and technical manager to monitoring operators. Ages range from early 20s to early 50s with more women than men participating.
Mr Hooks won the Alarm Watch biggest loser competition in 2014 when he was working in the company's Auckland satellite office while studying at university.
"That time I did it almost solely by exercise because I was on a meal plan where I was living so there weren't choices," he said.
"This time I'm doing more of a balance of a better diet and exercise as they work well together. In 2014 the competition was a really big motivator for me and when it was suggested we do another one I remembered how helpful it was for me."
Alarm Watch staff hope their efforts may inspire other Whanganui businesses to run similar events.
