Q I read an article that said South Carolina has the fifth largest population of obese people in the United States, and that we can expect to have one of the highest incidences of heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses. Is that true? — SAMANTHA

A Not if I can help it! My game plan is to reverse that situation and to help as many people as I can. I’ve already sent a letter to Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts, and I’ll continue working with the Independent-Mail to educate the public on the benefits of fitness and proper nutrition, and how to lose weight and enjoy a better quality of life.

First and foremost, everybody needs to get involved by starting a fitness program. A quality program includes individually designed workouts and a nutrition program that addresses each person’s needs. The program must take into consideration many variables: fitness goals; health history; physical capabilities; injuries; allergies and how much time the person can devote to workouts.

A great program for weight loss, health and fitness would be a three- to four-day-a-week workout regimen, focusing predominantly on strength training movements. The diet must be specific and include certain foods that help the body recover and rebuild, establish a more efficient metabolic rate and produce ongoing results in fat loss and strength gains.

Most people believe that getting in shape simply means working out and burning calories. Absolutely not! If that were the case, we wouldn’t be seeing such a high incidence of obesity.

Exercise and nutrition is a science, and involves knowledge and accountability. That is why a qualified professional trainer can guarantee you a 20- to 25-pound weight loss in less than eight weeks, even if you failed to achieve that goal in the past.

You must ask yourself some questions:

1. Do I feel healthy and in good shape, and am I living the quality of life I want?

2. Do I have the knowledge necessary to lose weight and become healthy and fit?

3. Can I establish goals and a time frame and program to achieve those goals?

4. Do I know how to prevent injuries?

5. Am I educated enough to develop a nutritional program that complements my workouts, maximizes my ability to recover and stimulates my metabolic rate?

6. Do I know how to perform exercises properly for maximum results?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, e-mail me and send me your goals, your current diet and the best day and time for you to work out. I’ll make an assessment for you and e-mail you back to set up a free workout with a professional trainer.

Let’s make Anderson the healthiest city in South Carolina!