New weight loss group forming

Published 7:14 pm Tuesday, April 17, 2018

A Vicksburg woman is starting a program geared towards those who want to break free from the prison walls of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Pamela Cooper has been struggling with weight issues and in an attempt to help others, the inaugural meeting of Ladies Under New Construction & Health, L.U.N.C.H with Purpose will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, at Merit Health River Region, 2100 Highway 61 N. in classroom D.

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Cooper said she had previously participated in weight loss programs but unfortunately they became expensive.

“The weight loss programs cost, and I could not always afford them, especially when you have to go monthly, the cost started adding up,” she said.

So after much prayer, an answer finally came.

“I had been praying for some help, and one night God gave me this dream,” Cooper said.

The dream was to start a free program focusing on healing body, mind and spirit and offer it to other women like her.

“It is essential,” Cooper said, to address all issues related to weight gain otherwise one would just be treating the weight loss and not be receiving healing from within.

“We need to find out what it is that caused us to overeat and run to food for comfort,” she said.

L.U.N.C.H with Purpose is designed to empower women from all walks of life, Cooper said, and will include learning how to build permanent healthy habits, increase fitness level, monitor food intake, conduct monthly weigh-in and hold recipe swaps.

Merit Health River Region family practice specialist Dr. Gloria Butler, will serve as the guest speaker, Saturday.

“This is awesome,” Butler said, of the newly formed L.U.N.C.H. with Purpose.

“I know that there are groups that have really made an impact on some of my patients, but I believe this support group is going to focus on the mind body and soul,” Butler said.

“Pamela is going to make sure that all three parts play a role with our success.”

Butler said in addition to encouraging those who attend and reminding them that a lifestyle change will need to take place for them to move forward, some of the specific information she will emphasize will include how to “self care” and charting out individual goals.

“This is not a race against one another, but a race together,” Butler said.

“I want to stress that the group encourage one another and help one another,” she said.

L.U.N.C.H. with Purpose will meet every third Saturday of the month and this week, in addition to Butler serving as the guest speaker, the meal will be provided by Newk’s Eatery.

For more information, call 601-415-0724 or email ms.ppcooper@gmail.com.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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