THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601230432
SECTION: REAL LIFE PAGE: K3 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: FITNESS QUEST
The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star asked for volunteers to join a
six-month weight-loss and fitness program.
SOURCE: BY DEBRA GORDON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
CHRISTY BECKNELL of Norfolk was just one of more than 1,300 people in Hampton Roads who signed on to Fitness Quest six months ago.
The 30-year-old elementary school teacher weighed 310 pounds in April 1995 when shooting back-and-leg pains sent her to the doctor. Many tests later, she learned she had two herniated discs. The damage was so severe, she wrote in a letter to The Virginian-Pilot, that the doctor said her back resembled a 65-year-old's spine.
Because of her weight, surgery was not an option, doctors said. She had to lose the weight.
With her doctor's help, she joined a local hospital's weight-loss program and began a liquid diet. She began swimming. And the pounds came off. By September, she had lost 50 pounds and decided it was time to try regular food again.
During her fasting time, she wrote, she had researched food products so she could make smarter choices when she began eating again. And the result: she's lost another 25 pounds on her own and is still losing.
Becknell was one of about 60 people who wrote to tell us about their success during Fitness Quest.
People like Billy Grimsley. Grimsley writes: ``My Quest started July 28, 1995, at a weight of 389 pounds.'' On Dec. 28, Billy's 42nd birthday, he had lost 58 pounds and eight pant sizes.
``I walk every night for about 1 1/2 miles,'' he continues in his letter. ``I also cut back on my fat intake by counting fat grams. My new goal for 1996 is 40 pounds by April 1.''
Candi Holloway of Norfolk wrote to tell us she's not only lost more than 20 pounds, but has learned line dancing and feels a lot better about herself. ``I'm on a roll now and I'm not going to stop.''
Don Stull of Virginia Beach let us know he's lost more than 80 pounds and his body fat has dropped from 38 percent to 21 percent. He now wears size 38 pants instead of 44.
Norfolk's Jerry Moxley lost more than 60 pounds, but more importantly, she writes, ``I have been taken off all my diabetes medicine, and my blood pressure medicine has been drastically reduced. I feel a lot better. The hardest challenge ahead is not to return to old habits.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
HOW OUR TRIO MEASURED UP
Carolyn Sawyer
Weight (June): 190 pounds
Weight (January): 181 1/2 pounds
Waist (June): 35 inches
Waist (January): 33 1/2 inches
Hips (June): 47 1/4 inches
Hips (January): 45 3/4 inches
Body fat (June): more than 44 percent
Body fat (January): 42 percent
Flexibility (June): 18.7 inches
Flexibility (January): 21 inches
Situps (June): 11
Situps (January): 33
Pushups (June): 6
Pushups (January): 20
1-mile walk time (June): 15 minutes, 47 seconds
1-mile walk time (January): 14 minutes, 42 seconds
1-mile heart rate (June): 162 beats per minute
1-mile heart rate (January): 166 beats per minute
Dawne Brooks
Weight (June): 263 pounds
Weight (January): 229 1/4 pounds
Waist (June): 45 inches
Waist (January): 42 1/4 inches
Hips (June): 57 1/4 inches
Hips (January): 53 inches
Body fat (June): More than 44 percent
Body fat (January): more than 44 percent
Flexibility (June): 16 1/2 inches
Flexibility (January): 20 inches
Situps (June): 9
Situps (January): 37
Pushups (June): none
Pushups (January): 9
1-mile walk time (June): 20 minutes, 30 seconds
1-mile walk time (January): 18 minutes, 16 seconds
1-mile heart rate (June): 136 beats per minute
1-mile heart rate (January): 140 beats per minute
Reggie Towns
Weight (June): 251 1/2 pounds
Weight (January): 242 1/2 pounds
Waist (June): 42 inches
Waist (January): 41 inches
Hips (June): 46 1/4 inches
Hips (January): 44 1/2 inches
Body fat (June): 23 percent
Body fat (January): 22 percent
Flexibility (June): 17 1/2 inches
Flexibility (January): 18 1/2 inches
Situps (June): 42
Situps (January): 46
Pushups (June): 30
Pushups (January): 40
1-mile walk time (June): 15 minutes, 15 seconds
1-mile walk time (January): 13 minutes, 58 seconds
1-mile heart rate (June): 124 beats per minute
1-mile heart rate (January): 156 beats per minute
by CNB