Mississippi has developed the reputation as the country’s fattest state with 33% adult obesity rate, as well as the highest rate of childhood obesity and one man is sick of it.
Paul Lacoste, a former NFL player turned fitness coach who grew up in Mississippi, is using his fitness knowledge to help change the state’s bloated reputation.
He is leading 12-week fitness program called “2011 Paul Lacoste Sports Fit 4 Change Challenge” to turn obesity into opportunity, saying:
“We are literally the heaviest people on the planet and it’s not something to brag about, so why not turn it into an opportunity to make our state better?”
The fitness coach has invited state government employees and civilians to participate in hour-long, intense fitness sessions four times a week, which are paying off in a BIG way.
Since beginning this year’s program on January 11th, participants have lost a total of combined total of 2,017 pounds.
That number proves the rest of the state is as sick of their reputation as Paul is because the amount of total pounds participants lost in 6 weeks alone has already surpassed what participants lost in all of 2010!
What’s the secret to the programs success? According to Paul:
“I train these guys as intensely as I would train a pro athlete. We work on cardio, building strength, speed agility and quickness training and we have tough workouts.”
55-year-old Democrat State Rep. Steve Holland lost 143 pounds when he participated in the program last year and plans to continue his success this year. Since losing the weight, he feels great, explaining:
“Like many people, I let myself go and gained a lot of weight over the years. I used to have a lot of health problems when I was heavy, but now that I’ve dropped my weight, I’m as healthy as an ox and feel great.”
At the end of the program, participants will run a 5k race ending at the state capitol. He hopes to attract celebrities who hail from the great state of Mississippi, like Oprah Winfrey or Faith Hill, to come out and cheer on the runners.
Paul isn’t stopping with Mississippi either. He plans on taking this program nationwide, saying:
“My ultimate goal is to get our U.S. Congress on board and encourage them be a part of this fitness challenge, too, so they can show the country and the world what is possible.”
Your our hero, Paul! The movement you have created in Mississippi is so inspiring and we hope it sweeps through the rest of the states as well.
[Image via AP Images.]