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MCKENZIE – Approximately 50 McKenzie-area
residents are participating in the Rural
Health Fitness Challenge. This is the third
week of the challenge.
McKenzie resident Phil Campbell, fitness and
strength training expert, kicked off the
event in early January in a community
challenge to improve one’s health, fitness,
and reduce weight. In cooperation with the
McKenzie Regional Hospital, body mass index,
cholesterol, and blood pressure values were
established during the hospital’s health
fair as a comparison benchmark. After eight
weeks, the participants will again be
monitored for changes, hopefully
improvements. All participants self monitor
during the initial eight-week period.
Three McKenzians are allowing The Banner
to monitor their progress. Jan Latimer,
Renae Cupples, and Kenny Carr are each
participating in the Sprint 8 program
developed by Campbell and featured in major
fitness magazines and Oprah’s “O” magazine.
In the two weeks, Kenny Carr, pastor of Long
Heights Baptist Church, has lost 13 pounds
on the Sprint 8. Renae Cupples, a
self-employed interior decorator, has lost
one pound to add to the nice weight loss she
had already accomplished through a program
at First Baptist Church. Jan Latimer,
student services director at the Tennessee
Technology Center in Paris, has lost three
pounds. Mrs. Latimer said her goal is to
increase ”my energy level and build muscle
mass. Any weight I lose will just be a
bonus.
“I started the sprints two weeks ago and
could only run four the first time I tried.
During the course of the past two weeks I
have built that up to six sprints, four
times a week.”
Ty Butler, with McKenzie Regional Hospital,
said participants will again be monitored at
the hospital on March 10. According to
state-provided statistics, Carroll County is
ranked 72nd of the 95 counties concerning
health and fitness and 95th of 95 in health
behaviors.
Campbell travels throughout the states and
internationally teaching athletes how to
increase their speed, stamina, and maintain
their weight and fitness. Additionally, he
conducts fitness seminars for persons who
want better and long-lasting health.
Campbell’s Sprint 8 fitness program requires
20 minutes, three times weekly. It requires
the participant to get completely “winded”
for 30-second periods, slow down for two
minutes, and repeat the sprint. Campbell has
developed some special equipment to perform
these exercises or one can perform on their
own equipment, which can be anything, “even
climbing a tree,” said Campbell. |
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