JANUARY 10 - 16, 2019 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
New Year, New You? Time for a Body Makeover
Diet and exercise. It’s the go-to strategy most doctors recommend to lose weight and stay healthy. But does it really work? Mac Mitchell had his doubts. Now in his 60s, the Beaufort contractor had been living on a steady diet of fast food and snacks for most of his life. Long past the years when he worked in the field with his construction crew, his job was no longer providing him with the physical activity that had kept him in shape in his 20s and 30s. “When you become the boss, mostly you’re just pointing,” he quipped. Mitchell knew he had packed on a few extra pounds, but he didn’t realize just how far he had let himself go until his wife signed them up for the Body Makeover program at Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s LifeFit Wellness Center. “I was shocked to learn I was 261 pounds,” says Mitch-
Mac Mitchell lost 24 pounds after the first 12 weeks of Beaufort Memorial's 12-week wellness program. ell, who is 6-foot-1. Worse than that, an analysis of his health at the beginning of the program revealed his blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol were all high. Just one lap around the gym’s quarter-mile track left him breathless. “I couldn’t even do a pushup,” Mitchell admits. “I was a train wreck.” Back in the Groove “Losing weight isn’t easy,
but the payoff for your health can be huge,” said Ricca Callis, Beaufort Memorial Life Fit Wellness coach. “In order to help folks start the process, we created our Body Makeover program to provide the tools they need to take off the pounds—and keep them off.” Designed to help participants create lifelong healthy-eating and exercise habits that will put them on track to lose weight and get
fit, the program includes small-group exercise sessions with a wellness coach three times a week, nutrition counseling and special events, including cooking demonstrations and a shopping trip to the grocery store to learn how to choose foods wisely. As for Mitchell, he enjoyed the grocery store field trip and cooking demos that were part of the program, but the workouts were brutal. “During those first two weeks, I wanted to quit every day I walked into the gym,” he recalls. “I felt awkward being in a room full of strangers trying to work out for the first time in 30 years.” But the program’s smallgroup format provided the personal attention, accountability, structure and social support that he needed to help him meet his goals. “To keep participants motivated, the program is set up as a friendly competition
Plunging into 2019
where teams earn points for attending classes and events, reducing inches, improving their fitness performance and keeping a food log,” said Callis, who designed and continues to manage the Body Makeover program at Beaufort Memorial. “It culminates with a final fitness challenge and awards banquet.” For Mitchell, the work paid off. After the first 12 weeks, he had lost 24 pounds and seven inches from his waist. His total cholesterol had dropped from 195 to 182; his triglycerides from 235 to 130. “It was tough, but that’s the point,” he said. “If it’s not difficult, your body is not going to change.” He was so thrilled with the results, he signed up for a second Body Makeover session. After a few months, he had dropped to 206 pounds and lowered his total cholesterol to 176 and his triglycerides to 91. While he had started
out wearing a size 44, he got down to a 36. Now a few years into his new lifestyle, Mitchell has maintained his weight, kept his cholesterol and triglycerides low, and even lost a few more inches. He and his wife Nancy continue to eat healthy and work out at the LifeFit gym on a regular basis. “I feel so much better,” says the father of three. “I’ve got grandkids now. I want to be able to play and have fun with them.” If you’re ready for your own body makeover, the next session of Beaufort Memorial’s 12-week wellness program begins Jan. 21, with an orientation on Jan. 17. The registration deadline is Monday, Jan. 14. To learn more, visit BeaufortMemorial.org or call 843-522-5635.
County Council members sworn in, leadership elected
Record numbers turn out for annual Pelican Plunge
Seated Left to Right: Flewelling, Sommerville, Rodman, Dawson, Howard. Standing Left to Right: Passiment, Hervochon, Covert, Glover, McElynn, Lawson.
An estimated 1,000 people — participants and spectators — showed up for the annual Pelican Plunge on Tuesday, Jan. 1. Here, participants of all ages make their way into the surf. Water temperature was a mild 58 degrees. Photos by Bob Sofaly. Nearly 1,000 people took advantage of warmer-than-average weather Tuesday, Jan. 1, for the 10th annual Pelican Plunge at Hunting Island State Park. The temperature in Northern Beaufort County reached
an unseasonable 79 degrees. Water temperature in the surf at the popular state park was a tepid 58 degrees, drawing the biggest crowd in recent memory. “Many of those were spectators”, according to Crys-
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
tal Mason, treasurer for the non-profit Friend of Hunting Island, which is kicking off its 26th year. Mason said the group sold 479 tickets, though some of the prospective participants turned away and went
back home because of a lack of parking. The event raised about $3,500, which will be given back to Hunting Island through beach programs and helping with maintenance costs.
IT’S RESTAURANT WEEK!
School Board seats six new members, elects slate of officers.
Local restaurants offering special menus, pricing during 10-day event.
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The Beaufort County Council has been sworn in for the new terms and new leadership has been elected after an initial mishap. New County Council Members Chris Hervochon (District 8), Mark Lawson (District 9) and Joseph F. Passiment, Jr. (District 6), were sworn in on Jan. 2, while re-elected Council Members Stewart H. Rodman (District 11) and Alice Howard (District 4) reaffirmed their oaths. On December 21, new Council Member Larry McElynn (District 10) was sworn in and Council Member D. Paul Sommerville (District 2) reaffirmed his oath. At the Jan. 2 meeting, the council voted to elect Brian Flewelling (District 5) as the new chairman and Michael
E. Covert (District 7) as vice chair. However, three representatives were not present at the time of the vote, resulting in a procedural error that required a re-vote on Jan. 7. At that time, Rodman was elected chairman and Sommerville was elected vice chairman. Both will serve two-year terms in the leadership positions. Beaufort County Council meetings are open to the public. To sign up for public comment, contact the Clerk to Council’s office at 843-255-2180. Beaufort County Council meetings are broadcast live on The County Channel at www. bcgov.net and on Comcast Channel 2, Hargray channels 9 and 113, and Spectrum Channel 1304.
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Morningside of Beaufort
Thursday, January 17th, 5:30-7:00 pm presents
ISLAND GIRLS NIGHT OUT
109 Old Salem Rd. • Beaufort
Call us for Directions!
843-982-0220
chef prepared hors d’oeuvres, free prizes, our signature winter cocktail