LeBron helps Cleveland residents get into shape

The Cavs star is leading a Cleveland team in ‘The 50 Million Pound Challenge.’

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James wants Cleveland to shape up.

The Cavaliers star is challenging residents to lead healthier lifestyles and join “The 50 Million Pound Challenge.” James will kick off the challenge today with diet expert Dr. Ian Smith of VH1 “Celebrity Fit Club” fame.

“I’m setting an example because I think people know how hard I work,” James said Tuesday. “In my sport, you have to be in shape. It’s not like I’m telling people to get in shape and I’m 300-400 pounds.”

Smith started the national campaign last year and so far Americans have lost about 2 million pounds. He was inspired to do it because of the many viewers that wanted to be on “Celebrity Fit Club.”

“The 50 Million Pound Challenge” takes a team approach to losing weight to help people stay focused on their goals. Participants can form or join teams and compete against other teams for prizes.

“All studies show that those people who lose the most weight and keep it off, do it with some kind of support system,” Smith said.

That’s a concept that Lisa Cimperman, a clinical dietitian at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, said she always recommends to people to keep them on track.

“It always helps to have someone going through the same thing with you,” Cimperman said. “That whole team plan is definitely helpful. When you involve someone like LeBron James, a popular sports figure who people look up to, obviously, he’s bringing attention to this issue and helping motivate people.”

Cleveland has 99 teams participating in the challenge including one that James is leading, called “Fit 4 Cleveland.” The team is open for others to join and will compete with hundreds of teams around the country.

James hasn’t been on the court since the Cavaliers were eliminated from the playoffs a month ago, but the 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward said he doesn’t need to lose any weight in preparation for the Olympics in Beijing this August.

“I’m not that type of guy where I put on a bunch of pounds just because I’m not playing,” he said.