Diamond Jenkins
Staff Writer
The Walter Payton Center is looking for 25 female students interested in losing extra pounds and learning a healthier way of life.
A new program, DO IT, kicks off Jan. 9, 2012 and will continue for 12 weeks until March 31. In addition to weight loss and nutrition sessions, the contestants will be filmed during the competition and the sessions will be aired as a television show.
Twenty-five female students will be selected to compete in the weight-loss program that will partner exercise and fitness training along with nutritional counseling, expert sessions and a healthy dose of competition. Contestants also will participate in a finale 5K run on March 31.
Applications are currently being accepted and final selection of contestants will be made Dec. 9. Applications are available at the Payton Center and in campus residence halls.
Rachel Cowan, director of the Payton Center at Jackson State University, is the program contact. She stated: “This fitness program is directed towards female students primarily because we are trying to build a culture. They will be mothers and providers and they will have to prepare meals to nurture their families. And, if it is instilled in them now, it will make them healthy overall.”
She added: “These young ladies will experience nutrition coaching, cardiovascular workouts and psychological sessions, because obesity is mental. They will be learning how to cook and prepare healthy meals and we will be also grocery shopping. In order to be eligible for the program, these young ladies have to be obese. They have to be mentally prepared because we want the 25 girls that start, to finish the program. This will also allow us to add data to the stats to show the campus, if you stick through it, losing weight can be accomplished.”
For more information on DO IT, contact Cowan at 601-979- 1368 or stop by the Walter Payton Center.
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