A Crossville resident earned the title of the Take Off Pounds Sensibly Tennessee King after implementing a dedicated regimen of regular exercise and dietary changes.
Brian Jewhurst said he began his journey by using an exercise bike for one hour every morning to accommodate physical limitations. Jewhurst said he broke both of his hips in 2023, which made traditional forms of exercise like walking or running difficult to perform.
“I started going to exercise classes at the senior center, doing chair yoga and chair aerobics,” Jehurst said, “And then I joined a water aerobics group and do that. So I’m getting lots of exercise, I’m eating healthier, which, you know, you can exercise all you want if you don’t eat healthy, obviously, you’re going to have too many calories to burn.”
Jewhurst said the program provides the necessary education, accountability and motivation for individuals who are serious about weight loss.
“I’ve been diabetic since I was 33, taking two to five shots every day, and so I started limiting my carbs, then I was taking less shots and that’s helped me lose weight,” Jewhurst said. “Obviously, if you cut down on the carbs, you’re going to lose weight. It’s a big known secret that nobody seems to want to practice. If you cut down the carbs, you got to lose weight, you don’t have the calories to burn. Carbs are the kind of the empty calories.”
Jewhurst said he manages his long-term diabetes by keeping a mental journal of his food intake to ensure he does not reach insulin overload. Jewhurst said if he eats something outside of his plan, he immediately adjusts his insulin and reduces his carbohydrate intake for the remainder of the day.
“Oh, it’s- it’s kind of, I guess it’s an act of pride, I’m proud of the fact I lost the weight,” Jewhurst said. “Even if I hadn’t been named king, I would have still lost the weight, and that would be the important thing, but it’s nice to be recognized by your peers.”
Jewhurst said the support of the organization helps members stay committed even when their weight fluctuates due to normal metabolism.
“The big thing is don’t give up,” Brian said. “You know, I mean we all know that, you know, our weight varies from day to day and some days I get up and I’m a pound heavier than I was when I went to bed, and I feel bad about it, and so but it’s just normal metabolism. But if you stay on it, eventually you find a new set weight and you’ll stay there as long as you keep your exercise and your food intake in proper proportion.”