WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Meet our Shape Up Showdown Participants
Member Center:
JEFF MORROW
Age: 25
WAFB Weather Forecaster
Single
"I think the biggest about participating in the Shape-Up Showdown was the fact that I've seen myself from the progression from when I started here at WAFB to now. Clothes don't fit and it's made me self conscious about being on-air. So it's important to me to get back to the that freshman weight from when I first started here."
"I think my biggest challenge is motivation. It's always been motivation. Whether it is keep on with the diet or keep on with a plan of what to eat and not to eat. Also, keeping active and keeping that exercise schedule continuous because I always find that a bump in the road, that holiday or trip and you go and splurge on those unhealthy habits. When you come back home or when that event is over, you find yourself not motivated again to continue with the healthy choices that you've made."
"My goals in the Shape-Up Showdown are just to try and live a healthy lifestyle for once. I think it's been too long since I've done that, been active. I'd like go out and enjoy a walk or enjoy a run and not feel so winded. Feeling fit, that is what I want out of this. I want to feel fit."
ANGELA
Age: 35
Medicaid Program Monitor
Married, mother of four, including 7 month old twins.
"I signed up for the Shape-Up Showdown to get healthy and get in shape. I've gained a lot of weight lately and so I would like to lose the weight and be healthier. I have twins and I have two older children. I'd like to be able to play around with them and be healthy for them."
Angela is a working mother. She has tried diet programs but once she stopped, she regained her weight. She has tried diet pills and other quick fixes but only to regain the weight after discontinuing those as well. Sticking with an exercise program for an extended time has been a struggle for her. By participating in the Shape-Up Showdown, Angela hopes to establish a routine for living healthier for her and her family.
BOB
Age: 38
Married
Self-Employed
"We started planning a family vacation at the end of the year and I've got kids 9 and 7. I want to be able to take them to Blue Bayou and not be self conscious about my weight. My weight hasn't affected my ability to work, but I think my weight has affected my ability in getting hired. That is my two motivations, family and business and of course, business is so that I can provide for my family, so the two go together."
Bob's work schedule as a DJ and audio/visual specialist calls for late nights and long shifts. At times, he turns to the fast food drive-thru when on the go from appointment to appointment. One of Bob's desires in participating in the Shape-Up Showdown is to improve his eating habits.
"Late night snacking. If Little Debbie's or snack cakes are in the house, I'm going to grab one. Something sweet in the evening, I've been doing a lot of that."
Bob hopes that if he makes a change to a healthier lifestyle now, his family will feel the effects in the long run.
BRITTANY
Age: 22
Single
Student
"When I saw the opportunity to sign up, I thought it was something different and something that probably would work for me. I like a challenge, so being able to get a nutritionist and trainer will help me out to lose my weight. I think the biggest challenge for me is probably portion control and the motivation to get up and exercise."
Brittany's weight is limiting her ability to enjoy her life to the fullest. She enjoys shopping, but struggles to walk the mall without getting winded and needing a break. She has friends and family with similar diet issues to hers and hopes that participating the in Shape-Up Showdown will be an inspiration for those around her.
"The inspiration is to show them that it is possible (to lose weight). You don't have to be this way your whole life, you can lose the weight. You can change."
DEBI
Age: 58
Married
Division Director, Dept. of Education
"I've been struggling for the last couple of years trying to figure out a way to take off weight that had crept back on in the last six or seven years. Through different kinds of exercise, different kinds of diets, and I never found the complete package. Coca-colas, my mother will tell you that I used developed those bad habits in high school. I used to walk out of the door in high school, developing those bad habits, with a coke and a biscuit, call it the breakfast of champions… (laughs)."
Debi admits to not eating enough fruits and vegetables. She counts calories and is tired playing, mental gymnastics with her eating habits. She feels that her eating habits have improved, but by participating in the Shape-Up Showdown she'll learn the right mix to get where she wants to be.
"The ultimate goal is both medical and physical for me. I truly believe that becoming healthier, and along with that, the weight loss will have some very positive impacts on some medical conditions, that although they are managed at this point. I think they might be able to be managed without medication and that would be a goal – that would be a great goal."
FRED
Age: 60
Married
Retired
"Basically, I know I'm overweight and it is discouraging when you go into your closet and most of the clothes you have in there don't fit you. I'm a retired coach/teacher, two and a half years now, so I haven't been working. My activity level has reduced a great deal, so as a result I've spent too much time eating when I shouldn't be eating. Outside of doing some work around the house, I spend my time doing radio on weekends and seeing my daughter (cheerleader) perform at ball games or things, but I'm not as active as I used to be since I retired."
Fred feels more fatigued in doing his daily routine. He feels that carrying extra weight around his mid-section is the cause of pain in his back, legs and knees. He recognizes what he is doing wrong and plans to change.
"I know I eat too often, I eat between meals when I shouldn't because I got this time. When you got free time and you are sitting home then there is food there, you tend to eat more than you should and when you shouldn't."
JANET
Age: 26
Single mother of two
Medical Assistant
"I have two daughters a 5 year-old and 3 year-old. They are the best thing ever. They are finally to an age where they are fun and I want to be able to keep up with them. "
Like most parents today, Janet juggles the responsibilities of children, work and quality family time. There doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to focus on eating healthier.
"My daily challenges are running late to work in the morning, so I stop at McDonald's and lunch time at work. We have lunch that is brought in to us by representatives. Lunch that we are very grateful for, we sit down and eat then we chit chat for the hour and go back to work. My main challenge is lunch time, not going to McDonald's, not going to the restaurants around the corner to get something quick. To plan something to bring for lunch is going to be the challenge."
LAURINA
Age: 47
Married, mother of four
Primary Caregiver for young cancer survivor
"I took this challenge because I felt it was time for me to focus on my health. I've been over weight for a couple of years, blood pressure going up and I was feeling a lot older than I really am. I've been the primary caregiver for my youngest son who is a cancer patient at St. Jude. To watch him battle this life threatening illness with a smile on his face and looking forward to living life for every moment that. I felt like I owed it to my family to be in the healthiest position I could be so that we could all live life. So in a way it's kind of selfish, it's time for me. By taking care of myself I can also take care of my family when they need me."
Laurina's expects plenty of support from her family as she incorporates a healthier live style from the guidance provided through the Shape-Up Showdown.
"When I told them I was selected, they were very excited. Which kind of surprised me because I have high school kids and their mother is going to be on TV and going through this program. They were really excited that I was taking this time myself and willing to put myself out there as an example to others, that if I can do it, then just about anybody can do it. It just takes a little initiative."
RANEN
Age: 24
Single
Employment Hunting
"The reason I need to be in the Shape-Up Showdown is to live longer for my family and for myself. At the rate I'm going, my life span isn't as long as people with normal weight. My family did have a history of health related issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. My grandmother is actually the most ill right now from it."
Ranen has slowly gained weight in high school and his friends were the first two tell him about it.
"Honestly, I didn't know my weight has changed until I got into high school and people started calling me ‘Big Ray' instead of just ‘Ray.' And that's when I noticed, ‘Well maybe I am kind of big.' At first I embraced it – like oh yeah, that's me, ‘Big Ray.' But after awhile, I became to notice how I was more fatigued, and there were more things I couldn't do."
"The main thing that motivates me is the health of my family. I found out that I'm at a prime age to start developing the problems associated with overweight young people. I think it's time to just ‘get it right – get it tight'."
SID
Age: 47
Married, father of four
High School Coach/Teacher
"As a coach, I've coached thousands of other kids and I need some coaching. A lot of times, I don't take time for myself to take care of myself and I thought, ‘What a great idea, what a great concept.' You know, to get involved in the Shape-Up Showdown, I saw it as an opportunity to get better. I have a wife and four children, 21 is my oldest, 19 in college and 2 autistic children, who are with me at home. Pretty much other than coaching and teaching, my time is dedicated at home. I don't have a whole lot of hobbies out there or time to recreate, so my career and my family is where it's at for me."
Sid's routine is never a 9 to 5. "You can be going down one roadway that day and it takes 8 different turns." This fluid schedule challenges his ability to eat right and exercise. "I'm in terrible shape. I mean for a football coach, for a guy that teaches and coaches kids, you would think, "Well, that guy should be in decent shape, I mean, that's what he does for a living." It's quite the opposite. If I had to walk up a flight of stairs right now, I'd be worried about making it back down. On the average I put in 60 to 70 hours a week at work. From a health standpoint, if you are not on top of your game, sort of speak. If you don't have a plan, a month can turn into a year, into 10 years of just eating terribly and not taking care of yourself."
