To Pete Edwards Editor for The People News "What do you think?"

What do I think?

About the Wellness Steps article.

First off, The Wellness Steps Program is a great ...No...Awesome opportunity and of great benefit for ordinary people ...just like me. Yes, I am a current participant of the 2nd phase that runs for 10 weeks. I have just completed the fourth week and have already lost weight and am even fitting back into clothes I have not been able to wear in 9 years. Besides that I have gained muscle, learned how to eat right, exercise safely and feel better about myself, my health and my body overall. It has boosted my self esteem helped me with my depression and anxiety as well as my arthritis in just these few short weeks. Another thing it has done for me is my left shoulder was broken as a young teen in a car accident and it would not raise up straight after that...it is much straighter now and I believe by the end of the 10 weeks it will be as fully recovered as it can be. I really could go on and on about the knowledge I have gained about a healthy lifestyle but, I wanted to address some other things stated in your article were not facts but assumptions. Maurice Saliba may be the owner of Spectrum a local fitness center but, that only serves to show he has the experience and credentials and knowledge to actually perform the task at hand. He has never in any way shape or form promoted Spectrum to those of us in the Wellness Steps. What he does do is give freely of his time to train, educate, encourage and inspire me as well as many others to "Stay The Course" and become happier healthier and smarter citizens of Bradley Co.

Also stated in your article was that Maurice was "likely" to receive funding from the proceeds of the sale of Bradley memorial Hospital ..."Likely" leads people to believe this is pretty much fact...which it is not. I also know people who were in the first phase, one was my own mother whom was able to fit back into jeans she had worn over 10 years ago and who had had some muscular pains that are now no longer bothering her. "Padding the figures?" I think not...I was at the graduation for the first phase and clearly the figures are not padded nor false in any way. The 2003 lbs were actually lost in the first phase. I not only believe the data presented was correct but, have actually met many of the first stage participants and have heard many success stories. It is not a "potentially" beneficial program it IS a beneficial program. In closing I'd like to add my sincere appreciation to Maurice Saliba, Mayor Davis, Cookes Food Store and the many others involved in making this awesome program happen but, most of all to Maurice for inspiring, encouraging and helping us to help ourselves. Thank You Maurice!

Wellness Steps Phase 2 Participant

Davina Prill

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