Happy Petry

Congratulations to Happy! She is the Team Beaufort winner of the Battle of the Bulge!

Gym: Omni Health & Fitness Center, Beaufort

Start weight: 290 lbs.

Current weight: 259 lbs.

Weight goal: "Much less."

Inches lost: 34.5

Happy's blog on beaufortgazette.com

Happy's Entry: I do not even know where begin telling you how important it is to me to be a participant in the Beaufort County Battle of the Bulge program. I have always had a weight issue. In my youth, it wasn't as big a deal because I was very athletic and active. As I grew older, married and had two beautiful children, the active lifestyle took a backseat to work, children, household chores and just plain exhaustion.

I have an incredible life with a fantastic and very supportive husband, two health and happy children and a very rewarding job. I am limited in my ability to enjoy all the great gifts of life because of my weight. Although I am still relatively healthy, I am borderline on having health related problems because of my weight. I don't want to be this heavy and this miserable any more, yet I cannot seem to find the motivation I need from within myself.

When I saw your request for participants in today's Beaufort Gazette I was hesitant to reply. Being overweight is embarrassing and humiliating. But I want to change my lifestyle (and save my life), so I decided to take a step in the right direction and send in my plea for you to choose me as one of the participants.

If chosen, I will be dedicated to the program. Previous programs have failed me because I have not had anything or anyone to hold me accountable. Providing the tools for my success will enable my success. Offering to pay for the fitness center and personal trainer is such a relief since money is always an issue. The extras tend to get put on the back burner or tossed as the necessities prevail. I promise to put the time necessary into the program and take full advantage of the 12 weeks of exercise, nutrition and weight-loss! And the year membership to the fitness center. I also look forward to being the winner and enjoying the shopping spree to buy new, smaller sized clothes, and the makeover package!

I am willing to be videotaped and photographed (though not eager) because I know that my enthusiasm and success really can be an asset to others. I will gladly maintain an online blog or web log of my activities and progress as I know this, too, will help others.

I am a 43-year-old white female that weighs . . . Oh my! Do I really have to put this in writing?????? Here goes (278). UUUGGGGHHHH!! I have no earthly idea how I got so heavy. Please choose me to do this program. I have a lot to lose!!! And gain from this!!!! My goal is to be healthy and active. Of course, I would like to lose weight, but have no idea what goal weight that would be. I truly just want to be healthy and I know that I am not at this current weight. I believe your program can get me going and lead to success!

Happy's Photos

Kip gave me an interesting assignment to implement over the weekend. He requested that I take one corner of my home and clean it out. I immediately thought of my desk area. It is a space that I work in daily so the clutter is great. I did not know how he knew about the mess in this particular corner – very scary! I took before pictures, cleaned the area and then took after pictures. The goal, he explained, was to de-clutter an area of my life, embrace this success and recognize that the workout program I have been doing is in the past and this week everything is new. Very cool thinking. Not an “I’ve already done four weeks,” but an open and positive attitude of starting anew. Kip is cool in very intelligent ways. Sometimes I think he surprises himself!

Posted 3/7: Happy's desk before the clean.

Posted 3/7: Happy's desk after the clean.

Posted 3/7: Happy's desk before the clean.

Posted 3/7: Happy's desk after the clean.

Posted 2/1: Beaufort's Battle of the Bulge contestants: Angela Gardner, Dalceada Williams, Happy Petry, Derrick Moon and Jack Little

Posted 2/1: Happy Petry

Posted 2/1: Beaufort's Battle of the Bulge contestants show off their T-shirts.