When Renee Ford first joined the Losing It Across The Alleghenies program, she felt fat and tired.

The Centre County woman was at her heaviest weight and needed help to regain her health, especially because her schedule was very full. Ford is the pastor at two Methodist churches, has a teenage son, is studying for a doctorate degree at Penn State, plus works at the university.

"Everybody says they're busy, but she's one of those people that truly, truly has a hectic schedule," said her trainer, Scott Ludwig.

She said Ludwig and the Fitness Circuit in State College came to her rescue. The gym is a personalized fitness facility and Ford was able to work out five times a week.

Despite a nagging nerve condition in her foot, Ford lost 10 pounds and inches in a few months. But, it was her travel schedule over the summer and a subsequent injury in the same foot that almost led to her undoing. The pain -- and her work commitments -- kept her from the gym for weeks.

But, thanks to what she learned from the Fitness Circuit, Ford not only maintained her weight loss but is now 15 pounds lighter, exercising at home and making better food choices.

"In my book that's definitely an accomplishment. I was thinking for sure that I would have gained 4 or 5 pounds, in all of the craziness," Renee said. "There are certainly moments when I thought, 'What was I thinking?' But it was really a Godsend. … The payoff for me isn't vanity -- that's not up there anywhere on my radar screen as important. It's health and it's being able to live up to our potential."

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