Michelle, our ever dedicated FitTeens program director, received a moving thank-you note from one of the teachers at Grady HS. Here is an excerpt:

” . . . I have come to realize how working out (and suffering) elbow to elbow with others breaks down a lot of boundaries and creates a new level of community. So thank you–I hope FitWit continues to challenge and strengthen the good people of Grady. Your dedication is indeed making a difference. . . .

FitWit and The FitWit Foundation are indeed creating a new level of community!

.

When I was cc’d on this email I knew I had to share it. It’s from Erin to Michelle regarding a former student of Erin’s turned FitTeen at Grady HS. The origins of FitTeens can be seen in Erin’s “Fit for Life” (catchy title!) class when she taught middle school.
~BT

Hey Michelle -

I just wanted to pass along a really sweet message I received from a parent of one of my former students. I taught J. at Atlanta Charter Middle School when she was in 6th and 7th grade, and she was really on the road to unhealthiness. I remember her being such a sweet and committed girl, but her confidence was SUPER low because of her physical appearance. When I incorporated some FitWit style stuff into the Fit for Life class, J. dove in head first and committed 100%. She LOVED it. Unfortunately, she always seemed to suffer from injuries common to those who don’t exercise regularly (ankle sprains, etc.), but she never gave up. I keep in touch with her mom via Facebook and got this message this morning:

“Just wanted to tell you that J. is loving your Fitwit program at Grady, she lost about 100lbs in the last 14 months, and it is helping her finish the process of toning up. Josh real has a great business!” – M.

She also attached a picture of J. from about 3 months ago, which I guess only makes sense to me because I knew her before she lost all the weight. She looks fabulous…and, best of all, really happy!

Just wanted to pass it along! Tell J. that Ms. Guerrieri sends a big hug and a “congratulations!”
Erin
–
Erin Guerrieri
The FitWit Foundation
www.thehttp://thefitwitfoundation.org.org
erin@fitwit.com

Take a look at Kentavius- yes, even in a yoga pose- a great smile! And a rare pic of all your trainers- in one spot- at the same time!!!

Perfect burpee kick out form from Michelle R.- Senior at Grady HS. Team Grady now reaches the half-way point of fitness camp and with forms like this, the fitness levels are on the rise! Grady FitTeens will continue through May 20th and will end with awards, recognition, pride and some top notch prizes.

Our fitness hats are off to Grady!

The Foundation is proud, pleased and very excited to begin the first FitTeens camp at Henry Grady High School in Midtwon Atlanta. It has been a great kick-off to a new school. Thanks to FitWit- campers- Grady HS- and many other supporters of the Foundation for allowing this growth to happen!

The Foundation just completed another successful six week fitness camp at Decatur High School on Friday April 1st. This was truly a camp that lead both teens and teachers/staff to some new levels of fitness; in fact, “transformations” was the word some of the teens chose to use for the camp experience!

Decatur High School is such a strong partner for the Foundation and the energy and commitment to the camp ran the course of the entire six weeks.

So many great supporters made this camp possible- including incredible interns, FitWit trainers, DHS administrators, Decatur teachers, Josh and Erin and many more. Thanks to the entire team!

Pictured with Ben and Michelle is the teen “OVERALL CAMP WINNER”; Thanishia B. age 16 and a first-time attender to FitTeens. Thanishia improved her overall fitness ability by 51% in six weeks!

And how about the best body rows you have seen in awhile in the attached photo? FitTeens at Decatur High School is now in its’ fourth week and the attendance, the scores, the energy, the fun and the fitness blast continues. The Foundation will conduct the six-week program through April 1st and then hold an exciting awards banquet that afternoon at DHS! All the fitness payoffs recognized and celebrated. Way to go DHS!

( In the pic- Ashley and Ashley with some perfect form body rows)

It has begun- an incredible first week of FitTeens at Decatur High School. This is a record for the Foundation and DHS- an impressive 42 on the roster! Just as newbies do, the teens/teachers/staff have begun to master those prized exercises: push ups, sit ups, squats, superheroes- all with smiles (mostly) on their faces!

This teen camp runs from Feb 21- Arpil 1st 2011. We are so grateful for an amazing school system in which to conduct these programs! If you have a day to volunteer or simply want to come and cheer a teen on, email michelle@fitwit.com.

Thanks to DHS administration, great teachers, and the entire FitWit Nation for making all this work and work well!

Thanks to the entire FitWit Nation, volunteers, area sponsors, Zoo Atlanta and Foundation staff- the FitWit Banquet was a great celebration for another year of FitWit and FitTeens. Held at Zoo Atlanta this past Sunday evening- (yes even with flurries and wind) well over 170 FitWitters, friends and guests attended a delicious dinner from “Six Fee Under” and made bids on over 100 items for the Foundation Silent Auction.

In addition to the evenings festivities, guest speakers- FitTeen Stephany E. and Ms. Erica Hall- from Maynard Jackson High School- thanked FitWit for the opportunity to attend FitTeens and what an impact it has had on their lives.

Another year of fitness, health, empowerment, connection and community!

FitWit has been a fan of Taubes for a while.  Taubes diligently seeks out the why of obesity.  Why do people take in more energy than they expend?  Or more to the point, why do people not expend the energy they’ve taken in? That is to ask, what mechanisms are at work that promote energy storage and suppress utilization of stored energy?  The answers to these questions are far more complicated than “calories in; calories out.”

The blog:  http://www.garytaubes.com/blog/

New book:  http://www.garytaubes.com/writing/books/why-get-fat/