Winston-Salem, NC

Audra Souther lost 10 pounds and dropped a record four pant sizes. Frank Ellis lost 15 pounds and dropped both his waist size and fat percentage. Michelle West lost five pounds and went from a size 18-20 to a size 14-16.

Such personal triumphs earned Souther, Ellis, West and others a place in the "Winner's Circle," a ground-breaking fat-loss program adapted by and presented at the Gateway YWCA Sports and Wellness Complex. The eight-week program ended April 19; the next installment is June 28.

"I had been working out for months without seeing results," West said. "I went to this program, and now I feel amazing!"

Chris Clodfelter, the Gateway YWCA's Wellness Coordinator, said he based the fat-loss program on the "Metabolic Effect," a form of exercise developed by Winston-Salem Drs. Keoni and Jade Teta, the latter Clodfelter's own strength and conditioning coach.

The Metabolic Effect, Clodfelter said, differs from traditional approaches by focusing on hormonal fat loss, not on sugar- or calorie burning weight loss. It also provides healthy-lifestyle training, including proper nutrition, stress reduction and sleep requirements. And, it's not just for overweight people, Clodfelter said.

"You can be a 'skinny' person but still have a high body-fat percentage, and you would be at risk for just as many health problems," Clodfelter said. "To really burn fat, you don't have to spend hours in a gym. You need 20 to 30 minutes of multi-joint, multi-muscle group exercises, plus cardio, to really see results."

Participants in the "Winners' Circle" attended two or three Metabolic Effect sessions weekly at the Gateway YWCA and walked 10,000 steps a day.  They also met on Saturdays for discussion, lifestyle training and a group workout.

"The clients really loved the program," Clodfelter said. "It definitely showed results."

In addition to Souther, Ellis and West, others welcomed into the Winner's Circle include:

Tracy Edwards - Dropped fat percentage from 37% to 29%, an 8% drop.

Kamisah Mcfadden - Dropped fat percentage from 46.8% to 39%.

Barbara Hart - Dropped fat percentage from 37% to 32%.

Linda Ellis - Dropped three pounds.

Beverly Hall - Lost 14 pounds and dropped fat percentage from 49% to 42%

Bill West - Lost 16 lbs., went down a pant size.

About the YWCA of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County

For 100 years, the YWCA of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, a nonprofit organization, has served the greater Forsyth County area with child care, fitness and service programs designed to change the lives of women, men and children. The YWCA is an inclusive organization that welcomes all people, regardless of gender, race, religion, economic status or sexual orientation.

Under the direction of Florence Corpening, the chief executive officer, today's YWCA carries out its mission through four service areas: a) Supportive Services for Women, such as Project New Start, which counsels and supports women and their families coming out of incarceration; and Hawley House, a licensed residential center providing housing and support for women recovering from the disease of addiction; b) Youth Services, whose comprehensive offerings include before- and after-school child care through Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools; Best Choice Center, which offers academics-driven after-school care; life-skills building for adjudicated and high-risk children; mentoring and intervention services, and several other youth-oriented programs; c) Health and Wellness, through two member-based fitness facilities, the state-of-the-art Gateway YWCA and the landmark Glade Street YWCA; and Health Disparities programs, which work to eliminate health disparities among women and youth; and d) Race Relations, through education programs and school tours at historic Oak Grove School and Sisters Undivided," a diversity dinner dialogue group for women.