The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

WITH the belief that it takes a village to build a healthy nation, members at the Club One Fitness Centre are trying to create fun events to get Bahamians to be more active.

One of the events was the recently held fifth annual Battle of the Sexes – the culmination of the Sexy Summer Slim-Down eight-week weight loss programme.

Organisers said Club One hosts these types of events because they believe in creating friendships within the community, to assist persons in finding a support system to help make the necessary changes for a healthy lifestyle.

Participants included radio personalities Shenique Miler, Leyvon Miller, Naughty,and Mary Jane, fashion expert Bianca Nygard, entertainer Nehemiah Hield, health coach Sha King, and Bahamaslocal.com representative Vanessa Mott.

They were all given a full fitness assessment, a nutrition guide, weekly classes, social media support, special activities, and access to Jimmy Norious as their certified group trainer. Their daily fitness and nutrition challenges were posted on the Battle of the Sexes Facebook group where they received points for challenges completed.

“Battle of the Sexes was designed to increase self-confidence, increase knowledge in fitness and nutrition, help create healthy habits, as well as create a supportive community among men and women in the Bahamas,” said Dianne Gibson, assistant manager and certified personal trainer at Club One.

“At Club One we know that the motivation behind why we exercise is very important to the success of the fitness programme.”

Above all, she said the programme’s first step is to encourage people to always love and accept themselves as they are, no matter what age, shape or size. The fitness professional believes when a person has self-confidence they are happy and are more likely to adhere to a fitness and nutrition plan because they are aware that they are worth it, and deserve to be healthy and the best version of themselves.

Ms Gibson said the goal was to do their part in lowering the nation’s obesity rate by providing the necessary tools and education to the public about healthy eating habits and exercise in an entertaining, motivating and fun way. 

“The challenge is especially important now as is seems the obesity rate in the Bahamas is spiralling out of control. In January it was reported that the Bahamas has the sixth highest obesity rate in the world and we are suffering from preventable illnesses at younger ages than ever before. At Club One, as one of the leaders in the health and fitness industry, we felt we had to make some serious efforts to help the nation as a whole get in shape,” she said.

Ms Gibson said every year the challenge becomes bigger and more exciting with added elements to make each summer feel different from the last. Five years ago, when it was first launched, the Sexy Summer Slim-Down was an all-women weight loss programme. This year, they decided to challenge the women and bring a team of men on board to spice up the competition.