DECATUR - It's that time of year again. Waistbands seem just a little bit tighter, and with the holidays over, that pudgy roll is anything but jolly.

If that's not enough to make you uneasy, bathing suit season is right around the corner.

It's time to make a change. But weight loss, getting healthier and seeing desired fitness results often seem slow, especially when taking on the task alone.

That's where the Herald & Review's fitness and weight loss program, Lose to Win, comes in. We're looking for a few good men and women who want to be role models in the next cycle of the 12-week program, which begins in February.

One of last year's competitors, Janice Christie, 66, saw some information about the program in the newspaper and decided she'd like to try it. She sent in a letter, not expecting to hear back, and was surprised when she was selected to have her efforts chronicled.

"I'd been struggling with my weight for a long time," Christie said. She decided to participate with her sister, Jackie Bender, 56. Christie said having a buddy to hold her accountable and being able to check her progress in the newspaper along with other Lose to Win participants helped her succeed.

"You just kind of feed off each other," Christie said.

"We just thought that we both needed to turn over a new leaf, so we decided to give it a whirl," Bender said.

Between the two sisters, they had been to WeightWatchers, Jenny Craig, a combined Bible study and diet at church and other programs. Christie said there was something about Lose to Win that kept her coming back for more success. The sisters said the fact that their story and photographs would be published in the newspaper was a motivator.

"I think we all struggle with our weight," Christie said. "We try everything."

One thing the sisters agreed would make an improvement to the program was more interaction between the program's panel of experts and its participants. Christie said she would have liked to ask the experts, ranging from a dietitians to counselors, more questions and directly voice concerns. Otherwise, Christie said, the experience helped her make many long-term changes.

"One of the things that I changed was my portion control," Christie said. The sisters started to use small plates instead of large dinner plates. After putting on a few pounds recently, Christie said she started right back to the habits she learned during the program. Bender said that after several health setbacks, changing her eating habits was the easiest part of the Lose to Win.

"You've got to be motivated, not for anybody but yourself," Bender said. "You won't lose weight if you aren't motivated for yourself."

Christie keeps a food journal, another habit she developed during her participation in Lose to Win.

"I just found it great," Christie said. "My sister and I just really enjoyed it."

Several weeks ago, Laura Sechrest, director of food and nutrition services at St. Mary's Hospital, staffed a booth at the Decatur Indoor Sports Center open house. Sechrest has served as a panel member since Lose to Win started in 2003, and she said she's ready to be involved again.

"People need to understand what they're eating," she said, as she showed visitors to her booth the tubes containing substances meant to show the pure fat, salt and sugar content of their favorite foods.

"I don't think you're too young or too old," Christie said, adding that she and her sister fell at the top of the age group last year. Although they didn't lose weight as quickly as younger people in the program, Christie said, they continued to shed pounds throughout the process.

"A lot of times, we just think we're too old to do this or to learn new things, but that's just not so," Christie said. "It really sparked us up."

She said the aspects of last year's Lose to Win that helped her most were the emphasis on portion control, food journaling and camaraderie with fellow competitors. She said she thinks about the other participants often and reflects on their successes as well as her own. Christie and Bender said they are looking forward to seeing how the next group does.

"Being together as a group, it really keeps you in focus," Bender said.

Christie said her favorite moments during Lose to Win were when she achieved the goals she had set at the beginning. She remembers a triumphant walk around the entire basin of the lake, more than four miles.

"I just think it was very worthwhile," Christie said. "It was worth our time and effort."

Annie Getsinger can be reached at agetsinger@herald-review.com or 421-6968.

Would you be interested in giving your weight-loss goals a running start? Are you willing to allow others to read about your own successes and progress in the newspaper?

The Herald & Review will select three Lose to Win role models to follow during the 12-week program. Role models could be anyone from families, roommates, individuals or couples seeking to get fit together. We'll see them take on new habits and positive lifestyle changes such as eating a more balanced diet, maintaining an exercise regimen and keeping up with the body's hydration needs.

You must be willing to have your progress, story, weight and photographs published in the Herald & Review throughout the course of the program. Each team will have a leader who reports on its progress and weekly weigh-ins.

Whether you join us for the journey in the newspaper or try our tips at home, be sure to clear your participation in the program with your doctor.

Tell us in 250 words or less why you want to get fit. Include your name, age, weight, address and phone number (the last two will not be published). For teams, include the name, hometown, age, weight and phone number of each member, which will not be published. Don't wait. Make a change.

Mail entry letters to Annie Getsinger, 601 E. William St., Decatur IL 62523 or e-mail agetsinger@herald-review.com.