By KALEY LYON

klyon@dailynews.net

It's that time of year again -- area residents are preparing themselves to take the plunge.

To plunge pounds, that is.

Due to popular demand, Hays Medical Center's Center for Health Improvement is set to launch Pound Plunge 3, a weight loss contest similar to NBC's "The Biggest Loser."

"It's exciting," said CHI Director Stephanie Schaffer. "It's really exciting."

Registration for the third annual event has started and will continue until 11:59 p.m. Jan. 4. Participants must register online at www.poundplunge.com.

There is no registration fee, but participants should be included in a team of four.

The event will end April 2, and individuals who have shed the most pounds by that time will be recognized with a variety of prizes.

In the past, prizes were reserved for only a few teams. But this year, prizes also will be awarded to the 15 men and 15 women who have the highest percentage of weight loss.

Ultimately, however, the goal of the program is to spark a life-long pattern of healthy eating and exercise, Schaffer said.

"I think it's just being able to spread that knowledge," she said. "If we just change one person's life, if one person can take one thing from this program, I think that's important."

In keeping with this objective, CHI staff also will provide nutritional information, such as healthy meal and snack ideas.

Participants will be asked to weigh-in every Thursday evening, with Monday providing a second option for those unable to make it.

A group physical fitness activity also will be available free of charge on Thursdays at the CHI, and all participants will be welcome to use the center Sunday evenings.

Blood pressure and body fat percentage checks will be available at the beginning and end of the program.

The official start of the contest will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 8. Guest speaker Rick Salewske, who lost 300 pounds, will be present to tell his story.

When the program made its debut in 2007, hospital staff was surprised when about 1,500 signed on for the challenge.

Attendance peaked even higher last year, with almost 1,800 registering, and staff is preparing for what could be an even higher figure in 2009, Schaffer said, noting at least 20 teams have signed up.

While there likely will be some new faces, it also is anticipated many pound plunge veterans will return for a second, or even third, attempt.

"I think it's the anticipation, the excitement just to get them on track early in the new year, whether they need to lose weight or not," Schaffer said. "Just to do some fun activities and work out as a group ... just having that camaraderie and that motivation I think is really important."