They're at it again -- but this
time Miami-Dade and Broward county law enforcement officers weighing in
for the 911 Fitness weight-loss program have been joined by their
counterparts from across the state.
Jim Sayih, a city of Miami internal affairs detective and
director of 911 Fitness, has taken his program from an individual contest
among members of North Miami Beach police to a tri-county team
competition.
Florida police officers assembled recently at the North Miami Beach
Police Department to weigh in, get their fat measured, receive a seminar
on healthful eating and take ``before'' pictures as they prepared for the
eight-week fitness challenge. ``After'' photos will be taken when the
competition ends Dec. 12.
``We are at a time when fitness is growing across the board,'' Sayih
said about the contest, which is geared at helping police officers get in
shape and stay physically fit.
The program challenges police officers to become active, lose weight
and increase their lean muscle tissue. The team that loses the most weight
wins the competition and gets $5,000 from 911 Fitness.
``Fitness is a critical component of an organization,'' Sayih said.
Some of the teams include: the Gut Busters of Miami, Good Citations of
Seminole County, Dough Boys of Oakland Park, Team Hollywood of Hollywood,
Drunk & Disorderly of Tampa, P.I.G.S. of North Miami Beach, Gable GUTS
of Coral Gables, and Fat Attack of Crystal River.
The last challenge, which took place during the summer, was the first
911 Fitness team competition. During a 12-week period, 12 teams from Key
West to West Palm Beach got in shape, or at least tried. The winning team,
the Miami Police Department's Blue Monsters, received a $2,000 check.
Miami Detective Peter Pidermann, who lost 25 pounds and went from 24
percent to 12 percent body fat, and his two teammates split the reward.
The competition is not only to benefit police officers but children as
well. Proceeds from the last event -- $1,750 in corporate sponsorships --
went to the Shriner's Hospital for Children Endowment Fund of Mahi Shrine.
Sayih plans to donate $2,000 to the hospital.
