Too much time in the office and not enough time in a fitness regimen—it’s an equation that many Americans can identify with.

It’s also a succinct description of Garrett Lalich’s 60-pound weight gain over the past two years. And as the Regional Sales and Marketing Director of Five Seasons Family Sports Club, Lalich is uniquely positioned to serve as the club’s 2012 “I Lost it at the Club” Ambassador.

The program began January 9 and goes through March 3. At Five Seasons, 6901 S. Madison, nearly 100 people have signed up to participate in the program. The eight-week motivational weight loss program is administered by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).

At Five Seasons, it includes two half-hour sessions of group training a week, with nine time slots from which to choose between Monday and Friday.

Andy Pitock, Five Seasons director of fitness, said that in addition to Five Seasons team members, like Lalich, members of the club who have signed on to “I Lost It” range from those in their 20s to seniors, with multiple husband-and-wife teams.

“I would like to see a cumulative loss of at least 1,500 pounds,” Pitock says. “If everyone loses a few pounds a month—and some will lose much more—then we can get there. Beyond the numbers, though, the club’s goal is to help our members form healthier habits that serve them well in the long run.”

Over the eight-week program, Lalich will work with the club’s personal trainers and pursue his initial goal of shedding 25 pounds in time for a beach vacation. He also plans to keep a log of his diet so that he can more effectively spur on his progress.

For the 29-year-old, fitness has played a major role in his life. Among other endeavors, he continues to serve in the U.S. Army, in a Reserves role.

A former personal trainer, the 6-foot-2 Lalich weighed about 210 to 220 pounds when he was at his conditioning peak. Little by little—two or three pounds a month—his weight crept up to 285 as his waist size expanded from 34 inches to 42. When he recently saw a photo of himself during that leaner timeframe, Lalich was moved to get into the “I Lost It” mode.

“It was an emotional trigger for me to go ahead and start this journey,” Lalich says. “Even with the knowledge that I have about diet and training, there still needs to be accountability and I’m excited to get going.”

For more information about “I Lost it the Club” or any other program at Five Seasons, contact the club at 630-570-5200 or online at http://www.facebook.com/FiveSeasonsBurrRidge.