Family Fitness Challenge
Dec. 20, 2009— -- Are you and your family planning to throw your diet and exercise routine out the window this holiday season? Or are you going to challenge yourselves to stick to it?
One overweight family in Parkville, Md., has volunteered to participate in "Good Morning America Weekend's" "Family Fitness Challenge" to lose weight over the next month. Shaequan "Shae" Edmonds, 17, and his mother Sherie Henry, 37, have struggled with obesity for many years. Now they are challenging themselves to lose 10 pounds over the holidays.
This four-week "Family Fitness Challenge" started Monday, Dec. 14 and concludes Monday, Jan. 18. You can follow Sherie and Shae's progress by reading their weekly blog. They will update us on their weight, their successes and setbacks.
Sherie Henry: Mom age 37.
Starting weight: 298 pounds
Weight Loss Goal: 10 pounds
Shae Edmonds: Son, age 17
Starting weight: 201
Weight Loss Goal: 10 pounds
Shae Edmonds, 17, is no stranger to weight loss challenges. This summer, he and two other overweight teens, Andrea "Poqui" Bergara, 13, of Austin, Texas, and Tori-Osha Lyas, 15, of Hattiesburg, Miss., attended an intensive weight loss camp where they exercised daily and followed a strict portion-control diet.
They all were trying to lose as much weight as they could in just three weeks, and Shae was the winner. He lost 10.1 percent of his body weight -- going from 227 pounds to 204 pounds.
Five months later, Shae has lost a few more pounds, and he is setting his sights on a higher goal for the next month. Shae said he weighs 201 pounds now and plans to lose 10 more by mid-January.
But Shae won't be doing this alone. His mom Sherie Henry will join in and challenge him.
Sherie has struggled with her weight for more than 10 years. She tried but lacked the willpower to lose weight until she saw Shae being crowned the "GMA" "Kid Fit Challenge" champion this summer.
"I actually cried when I first saw him," she said. "I was actually, like, 'Is that my son?' He inspired me to get on the right path. If my son can do it, I can do it!"
