Also See: Operation Health Check Faithful Talk About Benefits of the Program (02/28) Operation Health Check Encourages Participants to "Get Pumped for a New Century of Better Health" (02/28) OHC 2000 Includes Two New Screenings (02/28) Incredible Reading Rally Begins Today at Nanny’s Nursery (02/28) Fit & Fun with Missy Kane Missy's Fitness Library

This winter our "Get on Track" walking program headed indoors and downtown.

Church Street United Methodist Church allowed us to hold two one-hour classes back-to-back in the gym and on the walking track. We filled up within days and had good turnouts for each of the six classes. The 12:30 class was designed for those who needed to lose 25 pounds or more.

Besides walking and going through some 50 Plus Fitness-type range of motion and strength exercises, we talked in each class about some aspect of weight loss. Registered nutritionist Martha Reynolds helped us with the facts, not fads, of weight loss, and M.C. Reddick came to share about her ongoing quest to get fit and lose weight. To date M.C. has lost 90 pounds!

Ed Howley from the U.T. exercise science department explained how walking regularly and adding some strength work can help you stay fit, firm, and reduce the chance of heart disease and osteoporosis.

The camaraderie between folks who are all struggling to lose weight and stay motivated to exercise was beneficial. My other two teachers Cindy Sugg and Maureen Ferris both agreed this was a special group of people who were eager to implement lifestyle changes. Many in the class not only walked with the class every Tuesday, they also took 50 Plus Fitness classes and exercised with me on Fit and Fun on public television, channels 2 and 15, weekdays at 7 a.m.

M.C. Reddick will be on again tomorrow to give us a report on her weight loss success. And Clarissa Johnson from Covenant Health's Operation Health Check will be on Wednesday explaining how a complete health check is a good way to start your health and fitness plan.

P.S. Our "Get on Trails" hiking series will be every Wednesday in April. It's a great way to see the wild flowers and hike the trails while helping Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Call 541-4500 or check www.covenanthealth.com for more information..