Lucas County focuses on physical fitness

What a great way to start out the new year, focusing on physical fitness. The story below reprinted from the Toledo Blade chronicles the new fitness program being instituted by the county with the unofficial "weight loss czar" being named.

I'm interested in other components to the program, as obesity and lack of conditioning affect many in NW Ohio and obviously leads to more serious health care concerns including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and others. Just think how much money could be saved and think of the better quality of life that could be led by citizens in NW Ohio and elsewhere with even a 10 percent drop in the number of folks suffering the affects of obesity.

Healthy eating habits and daily exercise are essential to good health and these are life style choices that my wife and I are trying to instill in our daughters who are now 7 and 4 years of age. Here's to "Looking fine in 2009" and beyond from Dansack District 46.


Panel puts its weight behind new officialCommissioners OK 'loss czar' appointee

By JC REINDLBLADE STAFF WRITER

For the record, no spandex, leg-warmers, or magenta tights were in sight when Lucas County commissioners met yesterday. So with 325 pounds on his 5-foot-9-inch frame, the county's new "weight loss czar" stood before commissioners and stated the obvious: He is no Jane Fonda.

That's just the point. Andrew Zepeda, known as Andrew "Z" on his 92.5 WVKS morning show, said that experiencing firsthand the tribulations of losing weight will help him push residents to achieve the county's goal of dropping a total of a million pounds in 2009.

"Why not somebody that's in shape?," Mr. Zepeda asked aloud. "It's because I'm going through the struggles that everybody goes through on a daily basis. Every meal is a struggle that you don't overeat."

The commissioners seemed convinced and voted 3-0 to appoint him the county's first such czar. Mr. Zepeda lost about 80 pounds in the past 12 months through diet, exercise, and a surgical procedure and is trying to lose more.

Commissioner Ben Konop said Mr. Zepeda's appointment is the first step in a comprehensive weight-loss program for residents, with more details to come this month.

The program will have a jingly theme: "Looking fine in 2009."

"This is a pretty ambitious program for Lucas County," said Mr. Konop, who noted that statistically, each citizen would have to lose just over 2 pounds to achieve the million-pound goal.