HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO: Health Expo is GetFIT Finale

By Kimberly R. Simmons, The Lima News, Ohio

Mar. 27–LIMA — As people poured into the 2006 Health and Fitness Expo in Veterans Memorial Civic Center, they were handed souvenir bags filled with information and coupons all centered around bettering their health. Attendees were also treated to a free healthy snack from Lima Memorial Health System’s Nutrition Service department. Cups full of whole wheat cereal, dried berries, pretzels, nuts and dark chocolate were on display for anyone who wanted a treat. “Dark chocolate has cleansing agents for the body and it satisfies the sweet tooth,” said Liz Johnson, assistant director of food and nutrition. Johnson said when dieters eat highfiber snacks, it sustains their hunger. She also said dried berries are the best to use because they’re good for brain power. The recipe for the mix was handed out so attendees could make the healthy snack themselves. A featured appearance by Pete Thomas and his wife Pam brought some out to the event. “I came to see Pete Thomas. I always watch the ‘Biggest Loser’ and I was impressed with the way he stuck with the program,” Michele Simmonds said. Thomas, a contestant on the “Biggest Loser 2″ television show, spoke at various intervals during the seminar on topics ranging from life on the ranch to his success story. Thomas’ wife, Pam, shared how she shed more than 70 pounds after her husband returned home from the ranch and taught her all the things he learned. From that moment, dieting was no longer a problem for her. “It made my life easier. It made it easier to lose,” she said. Thomas and his wife have been spreading the good news that all dieters want to hear. “It’s about modification not starvation,” Mrs. Thomas said. Good health for adults wasn’t the only topic at the expo. Dave Harsh, fitness instructor at the Lima YMCA held fiveminute exercise demonstrations for children. “There’s so much child obesity today that they need to move. We need to teach them that this (exercise) is the right thing to do,” he said. Harsh taught the children what muscle groups they used when they did various resistance exercises. The sponsors of this year’s expo were The Lima News, YMCA, Lima Memorial Healthy System, St. Rita’s Medical Center, Northwest Physical Therapy and Thin & Healthy’s Total Solutions.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Lima News, Ohio

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