Posted Feb 14, 2011
Raeanne Sisson’s business card speaks for itself.
The “before” and “after” pictures show the transformation of 100 pounds lost since March 2009 with healthy eating and a commitment to regular exercise. It’s not a “diet.”
“It’s permanent,” said Sisson, a teacher at Argenta-Oreana Elementary School, who is also a coach for Team Beachbody and attributes her success to a group of friends’ support and accountability. “It’s for life.”
One of those friends is Brian Bell, a graphic designer who lost 135 pounds over eight months and now is committed to regular runs and weight maintenance. He said he had to learn portion control and a mental adjustment to how he viewed food, but running is what put him over the top.
In fact, nearly all the friends run and ran together in the 2 Miles to Miles 5K and fun run Dec. 31 at the Greater Decatur Y. Several of them first met at the Shoreline Classic in June.
“If you want to see fast results, running will do it,” said Amanda Juarez, who works with Sisson at Argenta-Oreana. She’s a former college athlete who, now that she’s past her 30th birthday, needed a way to stay fit and feel competitive without organized sports. Running is her choice as well, even if her only competitor is herself.
Yet they all stress that running is not the only exercise. The idea is to do something, anything, as long as it gets you off the couch and moving, and you should enjoy it, so you’ll stick with it.
Sisson and her friends meet at the Y on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. for a group workout and do something different each time — yoga, P90X, Zumba and one called Insanity. It’s free and anybody can come. They’ve had as many as 40 or 50 and as few as 10. The rest of the week, participants work out on their own, in whatever activity appeals to them.
All ages, body types and fitness levels attend, said Lisa Koehler. Her mother, Diana, has attended.
“I’m so proud of her,” Koehler said.
The group will begin The 90-day Challenge on Jan. 19. Prior to that, an information meeting will be 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Avon Theatre.
Sisson was on two medications to control high blood pressure and no longer takes either one. She’s gone from running a mere 30 seconds to being able to run a 5K. Bell has run 12 races this year.
“One of the great things for me is, people become like family,” said Diana Koehler. “It’s so great to get out and get involved with all these great people.”
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