Organiser of the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon, Sonja Falvo (pictured) from Real Body Enterprises in Brisbane, is aiming to help 4,000 Australians lose 24,000 kilos and raise $250,000 for charity by 25 April 2010. In addition to shedding those excess kilos of body fat, participants in the event also have the chance to win a share of more than $13,000 in cash and prizes.
With a focus on healthy eating and regular exercise, the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon is a 12-week online program developed by Real Body Enterprises and includes meal plans, recipes and exercise plans. Participation in the program costs just $10 and those interested in participating can register at www.fatlossathon.com up until 28th February 2010.
Organiser of the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon, Sonja Falvo says a healthy diet and regular exercise is the only way to lose weight in the long-term and remain fit and healthy.
Sonja told Australian Women Online, “I’m very anti-dieting and unfortunately the weight loss industry is misleading a lot of people. When you don’t have enough food, over time you will slow down your metabolism and as you get older, it will get harder and harder to lose weight. I think the government has allowed the weight loss industry too much leeway to tell fibs.”
Determined to address this issue from within the industry, Sonja Falvo has developed an effective weight loss program for all Australians that can be accessed online in exchange for a small donation to charity.
“Everyone entering the Fat-Loss-A-Thon gets 12 weeks of meal planners and any recipes that are in the meal planners are online as well, so everything is provided online. There are vegetarian options and we’ve tried to cater for all different types of meal preferences. There is also an exercise journal so if they’re not currently with a health club or personal trainer, they can use it at home or at a gym,” said Sonja.
The program also includes free email support provided by the team at Real Body Enterprises.
Additionally, Australian Women Online has offered all participants in the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon access to free social networking tools so they can connect with others who are participating in the program. The National Fat-Loss-A-Thon Group on AWO Connect is free and includes an online forum where participants can chat with each other and the event organiser, Sonja Falvo. If there is sufficient interest from participants in the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon, we will also schedule live chats on the site. For more information visit australianwomenonline.com/community
An experienced personal trainer and the author of two books about weight loss, Sonja Falvo first came up with the idea for a Fat-Loss-A-Thon in aid of charity, eighteen months ago.
“When I was in the midst of getting my business ready for launch, Real Body Enterprises, I thought one of the things I would like to be able to do is give back to the community,” she said.
Money raised from the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon will be donated to The Sports Rewards Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports local sporting clubs, schools and charities.
During her years as a personal trainer, Sonja tells me that she became somewhat disillusioned with the fitness industry as far as weight loss is concerned.
“I would see the same people doing the same things every week and not getting any results,” she said.
To address this issue, Sonja has recruited 75 health clubs and personal training studios around Australia will also to participate in the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon.
“It’s great to have a fantastic exercise program but without the right nutritional program to support it, people just don’t get the results they should be getting. So this is a win-win situation because health clubs and personal training studios will get access to a nutritional program that wasn’t going to cost them anything and for us, it’s a way of getting the word out about the Fat-Loss-A-Thon.”
However, as you’ll see on the website at www.fatlossathon.com most of the participating health clubs are independently owned and operated.
“The only health club chains that would come on board were Anytime Fitness and Genesis,” said Sonja. “Some of the bigger health clubs already have their own 12 week program and so they didn’t want to do the charity one as it might conflict with what they’re already doing.”
For more information about the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon, visit the website www.fatlossathon.com
