Florida Agenda

OAKLAND PARK – A local health and fitness entrepreneur is throwing down the gauntlet, metaphorically speaking, to motivate residents to shed their excess weight, and to do it for a good cause. “One in three Americans is either overweight or obese, making us the fattest nation in the world,” says Peter Jackson of Push Fitness.

To get residents off their couches and onto their feet, Jackson has organized the “Body Beach Challenge.”

“This is a grassroots effort to get people in our community to lose weight safely and make changes to live a healthier lifestyle,” Jackson says.

The Body Beach Challenge is an eightweek- long community-wide weight loss program targeting men, women and children aged 15 to 80 years old, whom Jackson would like to see shed their excess weight. The Challenge will kick off on April 7 and run through June 2–just in time for the arrival of summer.

Part of the event’s proceeds will benefit the 2012 Florida AIDS Walk and Music Festival. In addition, prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Jackson says his goal is to set up the participants to succeed, with an April 7 initial meeting at Push Fitness, at 1098 Floranada Road in Oakland Park. Participants will have their weight recorded and body fat measured. Those measurements will be taken again on Saturday, June 2. The individual with the most dramatic improvement— which will include average weight loss and body fat percentage decrease–will be declared the winner, with the grand prize including a $400 personal training package at Push Fitness.

“The $25 registration fee benefits the 2012 Florida AIDS Walk and Music Festival,” notes Jackson. Those who take part will also receive a Body Transformation Guide with weight loss and healthy living guidelines, as well as a spiral bound Daily Exercise and Nutrition Guidebook. For more information and to register, visit pushfitnessftl.com.

WILTON MANORS, FL – Bridges of Wellness and Push Fitness have joined forces on a groundbreaking pilot project designed to improve the overall mental and physical health of HIV men.

The 12-week program is called “Total Body Pozitive” and will include highly structured workshops on mental health issues such as Healthy Relationship, Basic Beliefs of Loving and Self and Health and Healing with strategic fitness programs encompassing strength, cardio and flexibility training.

The physical fitness portion of “Total Body Pozitive” will be handled through Push Fitness, a popular LGBT personal training gym which runs specialized fitness programs for HIV-positive men.

“Our goal is to provide a complete program for HIV positive men to take care of themselves physically and holistically, giving attention to the body, mind and spirit,” said Charles Geddes, president and founder of Bridges of Wellness. “I am convinced the participants in Total Body Pozitive will walk away after 12 weeks both physically and emotionally stronger than they have ever been,” he added.

“Combining an exercise program – essential for a healthy immune system – together with a program which promotes a new attitude and outlook on life is a winning combination,” said Peter Jackson, HIV fitness specialist and owner of Push Fitness. “The group fitness program, appropriate for all fitness levels, will improve strength, endurance and flexibility through a strategic series of exercises which take into consideration certain limitations such as joint pain and fatigue which often accompany HIV and its treatment,” Jackson said.

Only nine men will be accepted into the initial Total Body Pozitive program, which consists of two weekly 60-minute fitness classes and one 90-minute workshop. The program kicks off on May 3.

For more information and to apply for admission to the program, go online to www.PozFitness.com.