MEET JESSICA, 18 years old
Hi, I’m Jessica. 

Throughout my life, I have always been a heavyset person.  Growing up, I was never an outgoing person.  I had friends at school, but at home I wouldn’t go outside and play.  When I was by myself, I’d eat when I was bored.  As a little girl, my classmates were not so kind to me because of my weight and it caused me to have very little self-esteem.

Being from a family of five kids, our diet consisted of quick and easy to prepare foods that came a lot from boxes, because my mom works hard. I loved to go to fast food places and drank a lot of orange juice. Between ages 15 and 17, I tried to lose weight and my mom bought me every infomercial workout tape she would see, but I didn’t stick with them.  People would always tell me I needed to lose weight, so I’d try, but it was always for them--never for me. 

The problem is, my dream is to have a career as a firefighter.  I have to get in shape.

In my final months of my senior year, I was in the school lunch line when I noticed a poster for students to get involved in the “Stay fit. Eat right. Looking good, California!” campaign’s Reality Fitness Challenge.  I applied to the program and they interviewed me and my mom to make sure we would both stick with it.  Students would be chosen to receive personal trainers and nutrition plans to help them get healthy and fit. So, here I am!

The first thing I did was meet with Donna and Lori Ann, my trainers.  They put together an easy beginner’s fitness program, mostly walking and getting used to using gym equipment. 

Then, they started turning me on to the outdoors---WOW, that is REALLY different for me.  Lori Ann (my trainer) actually took me KAYAKING.  And my mom went, too. 

It’s been over a month that I’ve been on the fitness “beginner” program.  The next step is meeting with Ann, the registered Dietician who’s helping our family learn how to eat better. 

My Personal Trainer

Stay fit.

Eat right.

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