Borderland residents who set New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and get in shape can get an extra boost through a weight loss competition organized by the International Falls Fire Department and Curves.

The second annual “Biggest Loser Contest” is modeled after the television reality show “The Biggest Loser.”

Jerry Jensen, Falls ambulance and fire chief, and Becky Olson, owner of Curves, are taking the reins of the contest, which began Thursday. Both Jensen and Olson hope the financial and health incentives will inspire the participants to keep the competitive spirit alive through the contest.

“A lot of people who were part of the first contest maintained their weight loss,” Jensen said. “That right there is a huge winner.”

Jensen, who also serves as community health officer, noted that the fire station’s role in organizing the contest stems from the idea that the department helps people.

“I look at this contest as the same thing,” he said. “Sometimes putting something like this out there is the extra boost people need.”

Olson said the idea for Curves to become involved came from several of the women who work out at the facility.

“They wanted a second place to weigh in,” Olson said. “I thought that if Curves became involved with the competition, we could get more teams.”

Each participant will pay $25 to enter the contest. If any team gains weight for the week there will be a $15 penalty assessed to the team. If a team member does not make weigh-ins for the week, their team will be penalized $5 per person who doesn’t weigh in and their weight from the previous week will be used.

The contest will run 14 weeks and will end April 5. Teams will be judged, as they are on “The Biggest Loser,” by the percentage of weight lost as a team.

Jensen explained that while each individual will be weighed weekly, only the team’s percentage change in weight will be used to track the team’s progress and determine the winner. Individuals’ weights will be kept confidential, but a witness at the scale will record the pounds of each participant. Teams can weigh in at Curves or the fire hall, however, Jensen said the weigh-in spot for teams must be consistent throughout the duration of the contest.

The four teams that lose the most combined percentage change in weight will take home cash prizes.

“People can benefit from this by motivating each other,” Jensen explained.

Olson echoed Jensen’s outlook. “The main goal of this contest is to make the community healthy and support local gyms. When you are on a team, you don’t want to let your teammates down and you work harder towards your goal.”

Many of the current teams are made of employees of the city, emergency and law enforcement services, Boise employees, and other friends and coworkers.

“We do not make a profit from this contest,” Jensen said. “We are just trying to find ways to make the community healthier. It is not just about eating right, it is about getting an exercise program together, too.”

Although the contest started Thursday, Jensen said teams looking to join can contact him at 283-2929.