By CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Alabamians lost a collective 57,761 pounds while participating in Scale Back Alabama last year, and it’s almost time for the annual event to kick off again. For those who resolved to lose weight or get more fit in the New Year, it’s time to make a plan.

Scale Back Alabama is a free statewide weight-loss program designed to encourage Alabamians to get healthy and to have fun while doing it.

The kick-off for the event will be this Tues., Jan. 9, and the first weigh-in week starting two weeks later.

Participants are asked to team up with one other person. The program is fee, and starting and ending weights will be kept confidential.

Participants will “weigh out” on Tues., April 17. Teams that have lost a minimum of 10 pounds, as determined by official weigh-in sites, will be eligible for cash prizes.

Winning teams are determined by a random drawing from all eligible teams.

The first three teams drawn win $1,000 per team member, or a total of $2,000 for the entire team.

The second three teams drawn win $500 per team member, or a total of $1,000 for the entire team.

The final three teams drawn win $250 per team member, or a total of $500 for the entire team.

In Covington County, the Mizell Wellness Center and Andalusia Health will participate as weigh-in sites.