CAMBRIDGE, Md.- Obesity is a problem being faced nationwide. In Maryland, 65 percent of the state's overall population is overweight or obese. That percentage is even higher if you look at just the Eastern Shore.
It is just another morning at Five-Fold Crossfit Gym in Cambridge. There, young and old work toward better health.
"Everyone sees the workout for the day, but then it can be scaled to meet each individual's ability, so you could have seven people in a class doing the same workout, but a variation of the workout for each person," said Michael Hurley, owner of the gym.
At Maryland Healthy Weighs, staffers there say the Eastern Shore has a higher rate of obesity than the state average.
"We've gotten really good at sitting still and doing work while not moving. So physical activity has disappeared, diet has gotten worse, and it's a real challenge for people to get healthy," said Brie Breland, executive director of the group.
That's not to say it's impossible to lose weight. Donnie Gowe of St. Michaels is proof of that. He lost 168 pounds in 13 months.
"It's a lifestyle of stopping for lunch to get the cheesesteak subs and the cheeseburgers with fries, and you just fall into this way of eating that's out here in our particular culture on the Eastern Shore," said Gowe.
Maryland Healthy Weighs uses meal replacements to train customers how to eat better. But they say exercise is important too.
"Maybe you've heard of parking at the back of the grocery store lot to walk the full distance to the store," said Healthy Weighs' Health Educator Spencer Hacker. "Throughout the day whenever I get the opportunity, I'll do laps around the building."
Programs like Crossfit, can help in that regard.
"It's not like going to your traditional gym where you're going back and forth between machines. This is getting you engaged in the community and having a great time doing it," said Hurley.
It may be hard, but Donnie says it's worth it.
"It's not a fad. You have to make it a way of life, so that's what you have to do. It's worked out for me," said Gowe.
Maryland healthy weighs says 70 percent of people on the Eastern Shore are overweight or obese compared to the state average of 65 percent. They say you have to look big picture, and think about the future, whether that be climbing up and down stairs easily, or being able to play with grandkids.
