HATTIESBURG AMERICAN


Article published Jun 13, 2006
Healthy success
By Jeannie Peng

It's been five weeks since 12 people began a journey toward becoming physically fit, and already, 102 pounds have been shed.

More pounds are expected to be lost as The Pine Belt's Healthiest Success program, brainchild of Michelle Banks, continues for seven more weeks.

You can call it a spin-off of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" reality show where two teams of six people engage in a fierce competition to see which team loses the most weight.

Banks said she was inspired by the show and wanted to see if Pine Belt residents had what it takes.

"I was watching the news and everyone was getting staples, diets pills and surgery," Banks said. "I wondered if anyone had any willpower left. I also wanted to reach out to the community."

And the Pine Belt responded when Banks started recruiting teams.

"I was contacted by about three people who really wanted to shed pounds the natural way," Banks said. "They didn't know each other. I just felt like this was divine."

The recruitment

It didn't take long before Banks had 12 participants and started recruiting trainers, dietitians, mind, body and spirit coaches, life coaches and a doctor.

For $300, each participant receives individual attention at 24/7 Fitness Studio and Peak Fitness five to six nights a week, bonuses such as Wal-Mart gift certificates and Smoothie King multi-vitamins, plus extra activities like three weekends bike riding at the Long Leaf Trace.

Red team member Traci Stovall, 35, already has lost 15 pounds.

The Oak Grove resident said she actually applied to be a contestant on "The Biggest Loser."

"The show appealed to me because you got to leave your life behind and focus just on that. But this is a good alternative to it," Stovall said. "I work at a church and one of the members knew Michelle and suggested I join the program."

She admits she was semi-prepared for what was to come.

"During the first week, I knew it was going to be hard work and that I'd have to dive in," Stovall said. "Was it difficult? Oh my gosh, yes. It's one of the most strenuous things I've done. The trainers definitely push us. I felt as if I couldn't even walk last week because I was so sore."

Stovall said she is burning about 1,200 calories a day.

"I'm focused and determined," she said.

Blue team member Karen Odum, 49, of Petal, has lost 14 pounds.

"My biggest challenge is not having exercised in the last 20 years," Odum said. "I'm trying to get my body back in shape and it's hard. I keep wanting to say that I can't do it. My trainers said that that word (can't) is not in my vocabulary anymore."

A competition

Being part of a competitive team, with team members who count on one another to win, also helps, Odum said.

"My office manager at work is on the red team, so we are very competitive," Odum said. "We'll joke about spiking drinks with sugar and putting Hershey Kisses on my desk."

Eating healthier has also helped, Odum said.

"I've cut out a lot of fried foods and high sugar foods," she said. "Our diet doesn't allow for this - no bread, no sugar. It has been an adjustment."

A University of Alabama at Birmingham press release suggests the way a person thinks can sabotage a diet. By exercising and avoiding trigger foods - tasty foods that cause an uncontrollable appetite - the brain can learn to cooperate with a person's diet.

Alice Simmons, a blue team trainer, said it's her job to make sure her team reaches their goal.

"I think up until this first weigh-in, they were discouraged and were tired of the way they were eating," Simmons said. "But the first weigh-in really showed them that there was progress made."

The group's first weigh-in was on June 3.

"Now they are so fired up," Simmons said. "The biggest thing that impressed me about them is that I'd ask them to do 10 reps and they would do 12. They do more than what's asked. They are in the mindset of 'This is for me, if I don't do it, it's only going to hurt myself'."

Simmons said she hopes each individual will continue what they've learned after the 12 weeks are over.

"It's about a permanent lifestyle change," Simmons said. "It's not about diets or pills. It's about eating the right foods and exercising. My biggest thing is get off your butt and quit being so sedentary."