Shed fat with Sumter-Shaw Shrinkdown Published Dec. 26, 2006 By Senior Airman John Gordinier 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Shaw is participating in a statewide weight-loss program called the Sumter-Shaw Shrinkdown, which kicks off Jan. 8. "The Shrinkdown is a free, 10-week healthy living awareness program," said Tech. Sgt. Tedisha Baker, 20th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron health and wellness center NCO in charge. Everyone who registers for the event must attend the initial kickoff to weigh-in, the sergeant said. The kickoff is 8 to 10 a.m. or 2 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at the health and wellness center. People can also register between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Sumter Exhibition Center. After the initial weigh-in, participants will weigh-in each Friday from 8 to 10 a.m. or 2 to 3 p.m. at the health and wellness center or multiple locations throughout Sumter until the program ends March 17. The weigh-ins are a way to show and document weight-loss progression, Sergeant Baker said.The Sumter weigh-in sites are the YMCA, Tuomey Hospital main building, Tuomey Medical Park, Birnie HOPE Center and the University of South Carolina-Sumter campus. Support will be widely available, Sergeant Baker said. Every week participants will receive a healthy living guide, which offers nutrition, exercise and health information. Participants can also attend "Health Talks," which are weekly lectures by wellness and medical experts. The program was very successful throughout the local community last year, Sergeant Baker said. According to the Sumter-Shaw Shrinkdown Web site, more than 3,400 people from Sumter and Shaw participated in January 2006 and lost a combined weight of 11,275 pounds. "The 2007 program is expected to be even better," Sergeant Baker said. For more information, visit www.scshrinkdown.com or call the health and wellness center at 895-1216 or the Sumter YMCA at 773-1404.