Starting Monday, January 5th, area residents are invited to Feel Fine In '09, as the Smith Mountain Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church presents an eight week series of fun and heart-healthy programs at the Moneta Community Center.

Beginning each evening at 6:45 pm, attendees will have the opportunity for a free and simple screening of health indicators such as blood pressure, body fat percentage, and body mass index. The main program, starting at 7:00 pm, will include presentations by local physicians and health professionals, a "Bedford's Biggest Loser" competition, practical fitness and exercise tips, heart-healthy cooking demonstrations, and weekly tastings.

Cooking segments will focus on real-world ways to maintain moderation in the diet, including heart-healthy restaurant choices and tasty yet guilt-free snacks for the big Super Bowl party. "Perhaps the most fun part of the program will be the tastings," notes Danny Poff, Pastor. "Many people think healthy food means tasteless food, but our chefs will correct that misunderstanding in a hurry."

The goal of the program is not simply to show people how to lose a few pounds, but to help build long-term healthy habits, according to Poff. "I'm sure lots of us are eager to lose that holiday weight, but the truth is that most of us will just go back to our old less-than-healthy lifestyles within a few weeks or months. Real change requires a change in attitude and a sustainable approach."

The benefits of a healthy lifestyle have been emphasized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church since its founding in 1863. In fact, in a recent National Geographic cover story entitled "The Secrets of Living Longer," writer Dan Buettner found that Seventh-day Adventists living in Loma Linda, California outlived their American counterparts by about 10 years on average. "We're proud that several of our members are in their nineties-and many still drive themselves to church!" says Poff. "It's clear to us that healthy habits often lead to long, happy lives. Our goal is to inspire and teach others how to enjoy these same benefits in their lives."

Last year's program, Feel Great in '08, was truly a success. The "Bedford's Biggest Loser" attracted more than 25 contestants. The group was divided into two teams, the Red Team and the Blue Team. Each week every member of the team would have to weigh in to see how mush weight they had lost (or gained) that week. This, along with an onsite challenge and a take-home challenge determined which team would win for the week. It was a tight competition. The Red Team won the first week, and the Blue Team won the second week. The teams continued to alternate winning and losing until the very end. It came down to the very last week to determine which team would be the champions, and the Blue Team took that title!

Debbie Bonds, a local school bus driver, took home the title "Bedford's Biggest Loser" by losing the greatest percentage of body weight. She lost 8.61% of her body weight in just eight weeks. Following her closely in percentage was Ginger Bell. She lost an incredible 25 pounds in the two months of being a part of this program. Randy Holden came in third, followed by Molly Kaufman and Gretchen Johnson. All of the participants were winners because they all lost weight. In total, the teams lost 142 pounds.

Prizes for the final episode of "Bedford's Biggest Loser" were donated by the following local businesses: The Microscope Store, Allsport Chiropractic Care, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Curves, Good Looks Salon, Davidson's Clothing, Brenda's Pack-n-Ship, Kroger, Vita-Zen, Personal Best Skin Care, BB&T Banking, Federated Insurance, Halcyon, and the Rocky Mount Lifestyle Center. Prizes included gift certificates, beauty treatments, and fitness equipment.

Feel Fine In '09 is free of charge and all are welcome. The program will be held on Monday nights throughout January and February at the Moneta Community Center on Rucker Road, next to the Moneta YMCA. Health screenings begin at 6:45 pm. The main program begins at 7:00 pm.