Three pounds down and health is on the way.
Linda Bobbitt, 65, is 3 pounds closer to her goal of feeling better and shopping for some smaller clothes thanks in part to the Lowndes County Shrinkdown, a health and weight loss program being orchestrated by the Columbus YMCA.
The Shrinkdown began Jan. 8 with 383 participants. The group meets every Friday at lunch to check everyone”s progress and receive a quick health lesson. Friday at Baptist Memorial-Hospital Golden Triangle clinical dietitian Becky Monahan gave the group some eye-opening information on calorie consumption: The average American eats 45 percent of meals away from home, and increased portion sizes have bumped up average calorie intake by 300 calories a day since 1985, she noted.
Bobbitt, who works at Edward Jones Investments in Columbus, is hoping to internalize such facts to help kick her unhealthy eating habits.
“I”m a junk-food junkie. I snack all the time,” she confessed. “So I”m trying not to snack as much, but when I snack I eat an apple.”
That”s a good start, but Bobbitt isn”t claiming to be a changed woman. She admits the changes will have to take place incrementally.
For instance, she still revisits her favorite drinks now and again.
“I”ve always done Diet Coke. And sweet tea. And I mean sweet tea. That was my go-to drink for the most part, and I still do those some,” said Bobbitt.
When it comes to her sweet tooth, she”ll munch a few dark chocolate Hershey”s Kisses. Plus she”s keeping an eye on her portion sizes and eating more vegetables.
Other participants are fighting the urge to indulge as well.
“I”m avoiding sodas. I love a Pepsi. And sweets,” says Maxine Allen of Columbus. “I”m doing good. I hope I can keep going because that”s my downfall.”
Allen and her friend Denise Malone are both making an effort to drink more water. Malone says she”s also trying to consume healthy proteins she can burn while exercising four times a week.
That”s a step in the right direction, because as Monahan pointed out, diet alone isn”t effective for most. Exercise has to be part of the equation, which puts Bobbitt in an awkward position considering she”s never exercised before.
“When I was a cheerleader in high school we didn”t do the gymnastics. We jumped a little bit and yelled and had rhymes,” she recalled.
Luckily, she may have found her ideal workout.
“I”m doing Zumba. It”s a Latin dance-inspired exercise class that the Y is having,” she said. “It”s so much fun. I”ve always loved to dance and this gives you the opportunity to do those dance steps. A little calypso, a little meringue and salsa.”
The Shrinkdown club will continue to meet weekly for the next six weeks before the final weigh-in. The participant to lose the highest percentage of weight will receive $250 in cash and a six-month membership to the YMCA.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
