Archive for June, 2008

Kevin Mayburn was the child in the piece you didn’t get to meet -I had gone up to Wellspring Academy, just outside of Asheville, NC this year to see Kevin and cheer him on. His journey’s been nothing less than amazing -single Mom (hospice nurse -angels on Earth), two sons, a father that died from alcoholism way too early and a boy that began eating his pain away. I’m so grateful to be able to share this kids current successes with you -read on and please, log on, make a donation and pass our website along-

Quick brief update…..Kevin has now lost 132# as of last Monday the 9th of June.  He told me that all of the “X’s are out of his life.”  I asked for clarification. (I’m thinking trouble in school) but what he said was “I am now wearing a large tee shirt, not and XLarge, but just a large.”  I couldn’t believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He went down to camp wearing a 5X from Men’s Big and Tall shop.  When they say 5X they mean 5X!!!  If my math is correct Kevin weighs about 228#’s ………..down from 360 as of January 14h, 08.  I still making every effort to stay on track.  I got out my HOPS book last night to help me stay focused.  I have lost 45# ………….much slower than Kevin.  My trip down to Wellsprings for Family work shop helped me get more focused.

The response from the kids in our Fit Club program this summer here in Charleston has been overwhelming. From community partners like WCIV ABC News 4 Charleston, Piggly Wiggly of Carolina, MUSC Health -it’s been one great partnership after another.

15 title-1 school children are getting a lot of fun (really fun) exercise and some really excellent behavioral counseling two times a week for 2.5 hours each time. The lessons are fun -the kids are really participating on the calls and we still have our original 17 kids!!

Keep sending those comments and look for a post soon from one of recent most successful kids about his own weight-loss journey -we’re so proud of Kevin Mayburn and his Mom Denise and can’t wait to share more of Kevin’s story with the world.

Fighting obesity …one child (one family) at a time!
Cheers!
Louis 

Fit Club’ is a newly designed and custom tailored program (developed by Louie’s Kids and Wellspring Academy) that incorporates research based interventions and ongoing support to fight childhood obesity. The plan includes nutritional education; a daily regimen of physical activity; ongoing monitoring via a website; tracking through daily journaling; family engagement; weekly conference calls with a clinician; and meetings at the school for encouragement and support for approximately six hours per week. In partnership with Wellspring Academy, Louie’s Kids has developed this 4-month customized solution that will be implemented through collaborative efforts with school administrators and staff at Mitchell Elementary School in Charleston.

With the support of the school nurse and school administrators, 20 children will be identified who are clinically obese (BMI of 30 or higher). The program will begin in June and conclude in late September. Each week, selected children (ages xx-xx) will meet with the Program Coordinator at Mitchell Elementary School. Various activities will include an exercise regimen, nutritional counseling, utilizing the school computer lab for filling out food journals, and parent education. Children will learn how to manage a healthy weight by making healthy choices including how to snack healthy, how to cook healthy, how to incorporate physical activity in ones daily lives, how keeping a journal can help them in their journey to a healthier lifestyle, and will receive clinical support from a trained, licensed clinician from Wellspring Academy.

Hours are 4-6 pm Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at Mitchell Elementary. One hour each meeting will have a physical fitness component and a behavioral counseling session with a trained and licensed weight-loss counselor.

Download Press Release (pdf)