Patrons of the Clark Sports Center are about to find out that losing a few pounds can be a great way to gain a few bucks.

The Sports Center's "Pound by Pound" weight loss challenge begins next week and for every pound participants shed, they'll save $2 off the cost of their next membership fee.

"It's a fun little kick start to the new year," said Kathy Graham, the center's membership director. "Money is always a nice incentive (for losing weight)."

Weigh-ins officially begin Monday down in the fitness center and people will have until Jan. 16 to sign up. Weigh-offs will extend from April 3 to 9. Participants may not want to wait to get their weight however.

"There are advantages to weighing in early," said Rich Jantzi, health and fitness director. He pointed out that people who sign in sooner have that much extra time to start losing.

Graham and Jantzi developed and started the program in 2005, which saw 175 participants in its first year. Graham said 77 people weighed in after it was over with a net loss of 616 pounds, an average of eight per person. Staff members are eligible to participate as well, and for every two pounds they lose they get an extra hour of time off, she said.

"We thought it was very successful last year so we decided to do it again," she said.

Graham said they participants don't have to be members of the fitness center to take part in the challenge and that members can lose the weight by participating in any of the center's activities. She said at the start of the challenge, they offer participants a free voucher for one of the many fitness classes available at the center.

She said they raffle off personal training tickets for participants once a week or so throughout the program and also put fliers up every few weeks offering encouragement or weight-loss tips to keep them motivated.

"It sort of makes it fun," Graham said.

Graham said they hope to bring in a nutritionist to put on a program in the first few weeks to give challengers diet tips to accompany their exercises.

The program is open to all members of the Sports Center, including people who join while the weigh-in is in progress. Graham said they are currently offering a deal for new members in which they take 10 percent off their first payment. Those who pay the full membership price right away save the most, she said.

Graham thinks the program will be an even bigger success this year and hopes to see at least 200 people sign up. She said people who do not lose weight during the challenge have nothing to fear.

"We don't penalize them," she said laughing.

She said the most important thing about the program is to get people feeling healthy again.

"Even if they lose 5 pounds it makes a difference and gives them a little kick start to get motivated and get healthy," she said.