Eren Tataragasi

Richmond County Daily Journal

It’s been nearly five months since the New Year, New You contestants had their final weigh-ins and some of them have used the lessons they learned during the challenge to continue their new, healthy lifestyles, Others have had a hard time keeping up as life continues to throw in obstacles.

Eight Richmond County residents were chosen to participate in the program sponsored by First Health Richmond Memorial Center for Health and Fitness and The Daily Journal. The program kicked off Feb. 3 and lasted for 13 weeks. It included a full membership to the fitness center, access to physical trainers and nutrition classes.

Judy Lovin, lost 9.7 pounds during the challenge, and while she said she is doing good now, her weight loss took a back burner to her job search. In the spring Lovin was laid off from her job and the stress of being unemployed and having two children was overwhelming.

“It wasn’t good for weight loss,” Lovin said. “The program was great, but I don’t go to the gym anymore. The program was working and the gym was working, but you have to go for it to work.”

Lovin said she gained the weight she’d lost back during her stint of unemployment. But Lovin started a new job in Wadesboro as a nurse so things are definitely looking up.

Michael Skinner, lost 35.8 pounds during the program, and while he’s still trying to make healthier eating choices he’s no longer working out at the gym.

“But I’m still going out and spending time with my kids hiking and we’ve been to amusement parks and my clothes fit a little bit better,” Skinner said. “Since I’m not working out every day, I’m not where I was but I still feel healthier than before I started the program.”

Skinner said summertime is usually a busy time for him, but now that the weather has turned and winter is on the way, he said he may return to the gym again. He said he has gained some of his weight back because he hasn’t been to the gym.

“I struggle just like everyone else,” he said. “But I definitely feel healthier. I make healthier choices, but I don’t do it every day. I’m still fighting the battle but I need to get back to it.”

Maria Smith, said things are going well for her now that she’s got a routine established.

“I’ve never had anything like that before that lasted this long,” Smith said.

Smith isn’t going to the gym anymore either, but her husband bought her a treadmill so she’s able to work out on her own time.

“I still have my support at home,” she said. “I haven’t met my final goal, but I’m pretty close, still working on it.”

Smith lost 25 pounds during the New Year, New You program, exceeding her goal of 20 pounds, but says she wanted to lose about 20 more and is giving herself until February to get it off.

“I’m not in a hurry,” she said. “I don’t want to do it quick and get in trouble again. I’m happy where I am. I’m grateful for the knowledge because I know more now than I ever have, not one single moment was lost. I’m really proud of myself for that.”

Smith said she’s continuing to eat healthier and when she grocery shops she buys healthier things so her whole family is benefiting.

Others who participated in the program, but were unavailable for comment were Carrie Watkins Grant who lost 8.6 pounds during the program, Frances Davis who lost 31.1 pounds, Robert Baxley who lost 26.3 pounds and Wilma Huey who lost 6.8 pounds.

Director of the Richmond Memorial Fitness Center Patti Friedman said Baxley is the only one she still sees at the gym on a regular basis and added that he’s one of the ones who has managed to stay off of his medication since embracing his new, healthy lifestyle.

“Right after the program ended, three or four continued but then six months out they stopped,” Friedman said.

Friedman said she and her personal trainers were all pleased with the program as a whole.

“We really enjoyed it,” she said. “And the participants got a lot of out it. They learned the importance of exercise, took nutritional value classes, took field trips to the grocery store so they learned how to eat and shop healthy.”

Friedman said several of the participants were able to reduce or go off of their medications completely, which was a huge mark of progress.

“Overall I’m extremely pleased,” she said. “Everyone saw results, so that was exciting and they were able to meet goals they set for themselves.”

This was the first year the Daily Journal and First Health partnered to do this program, and Friedman said she’d do it again.

“The challenge is after the program is over, how will you take what you’ve learned and implement it into your daily life and keep it,” Friedman said. “For the ones who have succeeded and made that lifestyle change I’m happy we were able to do that for them because they weren’t able to do it before.”

Every year the staff of the Health and Fitness Center sees an influx of new members around January and February, but by March and April, they’re back down to their regular crowd. To avoid this cyclical behavior, Friedman said there are several important elements to hold onto.

“The key is to workout with a buddy, find a friend and hold each other accountable so when one of you is tired and doesn’t want to go, the other says ‘come on,’” Friedman said.

The other key to success is creating a visual. Friedman suggested setting a goal each month for the number of times you want to go to the gym and marking those days off on the calendar every day. At the end of the month when you see that you’ve reached your goal, reward yourself with an exercise class, a dinner out with friends, etc., but a real reward, something you’ll enjoy. The calendar visual will also remind you if you’ve been slacking and need to pick it back up.

“Once you get into a routine, then you’re successful,” she said.

The third key to success is making new friends at the gym so you can think of it as a social thing and not something to dread.

Friedman also suggested that for those who aren’t self-starters, join an aerobics class. It is another great way to stay motivated because the classes are on a schedule and you can plan on them. Plus, you’ll make new friends while you’re there who will also help keep you accountable.