A local personal trainer has the answer for anyone who feels like they indulged in a little too much Easter chocolate.

P.J. Wren, who runs Fitness with P.J. in Tsawwassen, is starting her fourth Weight Loss Challenge this weekend.

The challenge pits contest entrants against each other to see who can lose the highest percentage of weight. The top three "losers" will win a portion of the entry fees.

In the three challenges so far, participants have lost a combined 900 pounds and Wren has given away more than $4,000 in prize money.

"With the challenge I am trying to get Delta moving and fit and prizes, like money, motivate people," Wren said.

"Gaining weight is easy. Losing it is tough. Turn it into a game, and it is a lot more fun," said Steve Dotto, who has taken part in every challenge.

The fourth installment starts with a weigh in on May 1 and over the following six weeks entrants will try to lose weight following a fitness and diet plan of their choosing, although Wren discourages losing more than five pounds a week.

"I have been in contact with my top three of each challenge and they have all managed to keep it off. I am very proud of these groups," Wren said.

"P.J.'s Weight Loss Challenge was the catalyst to get me started," said participant Brad Smith. "Although I began with a simple personal goal (to fit into my tuxedo on an upcoming cruise) I soon realized I could and wanted to do much better... The challenge was just the beginning; I used this opportunity to change how I lived and how I ate. After the first six weeks I was in a solid workout pattern and drastically changed my eating habits and continued to lose an additional 15 pounds for a total of 42 pounds to date."

The first weigh in for this Weight Loss Challenge is in the gym of the Tsawwassen Alliance Church. Participants will be weighed between 4:30 and 5 p.m.

Participation costs $50.

The winners are determined by measuring weight loss as a percentage of each participant's overall weight, instead of total pounds lost, in order to ensure a level playing field, Wren said, since statistically men lose weight faster than women.

For more information on the Weight Loss Challenge, contact P.J. Wren at pj@fitnesswithpj.com or visit www.fitnesswithpj.com and look under "Coming Events."