By JON BAKER

PROVIDENCE — Do you look in the mirror after waking each morning and think, “Wow, did I eat too much during the holidays! I’ve got to lose some weight.”

Or have you pondered making a late New Year’s resolution to shed some pounds but aren’t quite sure how to go about it?
Rajiv Kumar and Ray Rickman claim they have the perfect solution, and it’s called “Shape Up-RI,” a statewide, team-based exercise and weight challenge program that has in its three-year history inspired 20,000 participants to lose more than 39,000 pounds.
Just last year, over 12,000 people representing 1,400 teams (from companies and organizations) and all 39 Rhode Island cities and towns logged 339,000 exercise hours and 2.6 million miles walked. Likewise, the average individual lost 7 pounds, exercised for 58.1 hours and walked approximately 225 miles in 2008.
“It’s more than unique; it’s fabulous,” said Rickman, not only senior consultant to Shape Up-RI, but himself a team captain. “This is designed to give each person who signs up a lot of flexibility as to how they will alter their own lifestyle.
“Frankly, I believe we’re in trouble as a society because of our lifestyles,” he added. “Rajiv designed this to help anyone interested in getting healthier to fix that lifestyle … When I was a kid back in 1960, 80 percent of all children would walk to school. In 2006, 82 percent of all school children rode the bus. That shows you where the problem lies.
“I mean, just go to the nearest health food store, and you will notice people almost getting into a car accident because they’re trying to find the closest parking spot. Rajiv has said that, if someone parks on the far side of the lot, they could end up taking 600-700 steps instead of just 100. If you put that into caloric terms, someone could walk off half the bagel he had for breakfast, take it off the waistline.
“Think back to when your grandfather worked in a factory or on a farm. He’d walk to work, then work the entire day, then walk back home. Children would go out and play all day, or several hours after school. That’s why very few people had a weight problem way back when. Then again, they also didn’t go to (fast-food eateries) for burgers, fries and shakes.
“The point is, not many of us have an active lifestyle, and we eat unhealthy foods. Rajiv (a Brown University Medical School student) created this back in 2005 to provide people the opportunity to change their lifestyles in a team-like atmosphere.”

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Really, the notion is quite simple: Anyone interested in registering is asked to assemble a squad of friends, colleagues, family members and the like (no less than five or more than 11), and sign up on the Web site (www.shapeupri.org).
On the site, registrants may choose to take part in one or all of three segments, including weight loss, exercise minutes and/or pedometer steps.
Each participant will receive, for the $20 registration fee, a digital pedometer (a $19 retail value); a Shape Up-RI reminder wrist band; a digital logbook; access to the online TeamTracker system; weekly e-mails with important health tips; and free access to over 250 health education events.
Sign-ups for the 12-week program began on Jan. 5, and will continue through Jan. 31. A kickoff event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7, with the competition slated to start on Monday, Feb. 9.
So far, 5,000 residents around the state have registered, but officials are looking for another 15,000, as they’ve set a goal to smash last year’s total of 12,000.
“I myself will compete in all three events, but people can choose as to how many events they want to enter,” Rickman offered. “The great part about this is you don’t need equipment — all of it is provided to you. I know, when you put on a pedometer, it encourages you to walk more.”
Rickman then pulled out his own, stating proudly that he already had strolled 4,800 steps, equivalent to 2.5 miles. (He still hadn’t opened what he called a healthy lunch).
He also noted that registrants who don’t have access to a fitness center get a free, week-long pass to a number of gyms statewide. He maintained that the workshops include how to cook with olive oil; how to do proper sit-ups and push-ups; how to work out on certain machines; etc.
“Everything is computerized, too,” he said. “Look at Amica Insurance in Lincoln. It had 236 people sign up in the last two days, and 36 teams have been formed. We actually called the human resources department to tell them, ‘Hey, it’s working.’ They have an average of seven people on a team so far, and they should end up with an average of 10.
“Also, 82 percent of the chief executives have signed up, and I think it’s because they want to set an example, but they too want to get healthier,” Rickman grinned. “I tell everyone I talk to that Rajiv has given the people of Rhode Island an incredible gift — the chance to get healthy in a fun way, as well as an understanding of how to live and eat healthier.
“Like I said, we don’t tell people what to do or what not to do,” he added. “They have to learn what works for them. We just try to educate them through our Web site and educational programs. Sometimes, we have up to 10 workshops a day at various sites around the state. The reason we’re able to do this is because Blue Cross and Lifespan have donated money to keep the price down, and also inform.”

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If you’re still questioning the idea, ponder this: Rickman, citing statistics, noted that there are people who, if they lost 4 pounds, could reduce their chances of becoming diabetic.
“There is a trigger, you know,” he said. “You could weigh 200 pounds, but if you brought that down to 195, there’s a better chance you wouldn’t be (diagnosed). It’s the same with high blood pressure. There are 52 diseases associated with obesity, or being overweight. Did you know 61 percent of Rhode Islanders are obese or overweight?
“Rajiv gives this fabulous lecture about social networking, and gives an example: If someone has a friend who is overweight, you’re more liable of being the same,” he continued. “Fact is, people end up being like close friends or relatives.
“When people sign up for ‘Shape Up’ and begin a healthier lifestyle, they tend to help their family members and friends do the same. There’s a filter-down effect.”
There’s more: Rickman maintained that only .4 percent of the 12,000 participants last year claimed they were unsatisfied with the program, while 1.7 percent indicated they were somewhat unsatisfied.
“Rajiv and I sat down at a table and called those unsatisfied people back, and you know what we found? The No. 1 reason they gave such a response was because they don’t like being on a team. Of course, there’s nothing we can do about that. We have statistical data that states, when people go it alone, they tend to fail. It’s all about working with, helping, others.”
Stated Kumar, who has several doctors in his own family: “The solution to our national obesity epidemic lies in the power of teamwork and peer support. Shape Up RI is the answer — a way to activate and engage Rhode Islanders, build a strong sense of community spirit and harness the power of teamwork to inspire us to change our attitudes and behaviors toward our health.”
For more information, refer to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call (401) 421-0608. To register, log onto www.shapeupri.org.