Three women have been lifting, running, biking and sweating their way to a lose weight and achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Through the Healthy Woman Lose to Win program held by the Sunbury Community Hospital, the women have been working with three different training facilities to see who can lose the most pounds and inches, as well as reach personal goals they set for themselves prior to the February start date.

An upcoming event for those involved will be held by the hospital and members will learn their final counts.

All three women have said they applied for the contest because they had health problems they wanted to get under control, as well as just to make life a little easier.

‘Step it up’

Lori Seebold has been working with physical program director Toni Mudge at the Sunbury YMCA since February and said her initial reasons for applying to the program were health-related.

Recently being placed on blood pressure medicine was one reason, she said. She also has two teenagers — Dylan, 16, and Brianne, 12 — who count on her for a variety of things, and she helps take care of her in-laws.

“I’ve gone to many exercise programs, but it’s really great to have a trainer,” Seebold, 44 of Middleburg, said. “I felt accountable. If I was told to step it up a notch, I did it.”

Her goals were to lose weight and inches. She also has a favorite blouse that she couldn’t button any more. She wanted that to fit again.

After having a consultation and learning the machines, Mudge set up a personal and individualized program for Seebold, learning her likes and dislikes.

Seebold focused her time on both cardio and weight-training which she did both at the gym and on her own time, walking and running a few miles at home.

“I used to do a two-mile route,” she said, “now I walk over four and run a mile or so.”

She also watches more of what she eats which is a big factor in achieving the healthy lifestyle.

Mudge is thrilled with the time and effort that Seebold dedicates to the program.

“Her motivation is fabulous,” she said. “Her enthusiasm has increased. It’s not making it a chore but making it a temporary challenge.”

“You just have to keep trying,” Seebold said. “Push yourself, take it up one more notch. You will see results.”

‘Everything is possible’

Lenora Springfield said she hasn’t been successful as losing weight on her own, and thought having a trainer was the way to go.

At 59 years old, the Shamokin Dam resident said she’s getting pain in her joints and hoped to be able to perform daily activities easier once the program was completed.

Working with Bonnie Schuck, a trainer at Champs Gym and Fitness, Springfield said her main goals entering the program was todo regular routines better, ride her motorcycle and keep up with her grandkids.

She said she began learning things as she went and everyday she can do a little more then the day before.

“I work really hard, and did things I was asked to do and didn’t think I could,” she said.

She also has learned to watch her eating habits and writes down the food she eats each day to keep track.

Schuck said nothing she ever asked of Springfield wasn’t done or couldn’t be done. She made her realize that she needed to push herself and not settle.

“This is for the rest of your life, not just four months,” Schuck said. “She gave 100 percent every time. You need a good attitude to do well.”

Since starting the program, Springfield said she has seen a huge difference — including being able to use exercise machines from more than 30 minutes, when originally she couldn’t do two minutes.

Springfield said anyone who thinks they are too old, should realize they are not.

“I never expected this level of activity, it makes me realize I can do it and everything is possible,” she said. “... It’s hard to take the weight off, but easy to put it on. I need to always remember that.”

‘I wanted to get healthier’

Kelli Tyler said family health problems — ranging from cancer to heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol — encouraged her to apply herself to get healthier. She also gives her son, Logan, 5, credit for her dedication.

“I can’t keep up with him,” Tyler, 39 of Selinsgrove, said. “I wanted to get healthier cause of him and my family, the weight loss was just an added bonus.”

By completing cross training of cardio and strength training, Tyler and her trainer, Maria Riccardi, have been working since February at Pulse in Shamokin Dam and she had found herself practicing the routines at home as well as at work.

“My goal was to lose 20 pounds,” Tyler said, “and I’d like to lose another 20. That would be the weight I was at in high school.”

She remembered the first time using the Stepper machine and said she could barely make it three minutes. Now she’s going well over 15 minutes each time.

She’s discovering that she can breathe easier and sleep easier since the program began. She also is watching what she eats and has encouraged her family to eat healthier at home, too.

“She leaped right into it,” said Riccardi. “Her strength is better, she does a lot of new things and tries all kinds of exercises so she doesn’t get bored.”

Tyler also walks at home and constantly tries to keep moving.

Riccardi said Tyler has been 100 percent consistent with her workouts and has never fallen behind since the beginning. She said that dedication is what it takes to be successful

“She was ready,” she said, “she put her heart and soul into it, and now it’s a part of her life.”