By NewsChannel 3 and azfamily.com staff

Patti Milligan

Patti Milligan is a registered dietitian with 23 years of experience in nutritional science and preventive medicine. As a corporate nutritionist with Sprouts Farmers Market, Milligan, M.S., R.D., C.N.S., will offer community lectures, coordinate joint programs with health-care professionals and serve as a media liaison to help translate the myriad of current health and nutrition stories into practical, livable solutions for a vibrant life.

Milligan is familiar with the role of nutritionist for a community interested in healthy living. She spent 21 years in San Diego where her last assignment was working with the 20-store Henry's Marketplace chain where she was involved in the speaking circuit.

Prior to her work with Henry's Marketplace, she worked with cardiac surgeon Dr. Pat Daily in opening Daily's Fit and Fresh restaurants located in San Diego and Orange County. If you would like to contact Patti, call (480) 814-8016.

Contact: pattimilligan@sprouts.com

Chuck Carter

I believe as Helen Keller wrote, "Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all." With 14 years of experience as a personal trainer and coach, I have come to learn that a positive relationship with health and fitness is an essential component of a fulfilling life. My approach is to always balance the technical instruction I give to my clients with the opportunity each workout gives them to learn about their strengths and perceived limitations. This empowers them to keep moving forward toward positive goals in the face of the inevitable challenges along the way. I believe that the lessons that we learn about what makes us successful or holds us back in our quest for fitness are the very same things we can apply to all other areas of our lives. Pursuing a fitness goal is really about personal growth, not just physical changes.

I am a graduate of Portland State University in Portland, Ore., with a degree in exercise science and sports studies and am certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a personal trainer. I was part of the personal training team that opened the new Lifetime Fitness facility in Tempe in April 2003, and currently hold the position of personal training assistant department head.

Contact: (480) 735-5260, ext. 314, (602) 405-1998 or ccarter@lifetimefitness.com

Weight-loss contestant: Jessica Smith

Jessica Smith in her own words ...

I am a mother of three young children, 2, 4, 8 years old, need I say any more, I eat for sanity! I have been married for nine years to a wonderful and supportive husband, or is it the ice cream that supports me? I am the director of a non-profit organization that educates young people on the consequences of destructive behaviors, see the irony?

Weight has been an issue dating back to the sixth grade, or maybe it was an awkward stage, can you already see the excuses! I am a six foot one inch female so “you're just a big girl” has always been presented to me… and I have taken it as an excuse.

I have kept on the excess weight gained during pregnancy with each birth of my three children, however this was a great excuse to eat, it’s the people asking when you’re due, even when you’re not pregnant, that’s no fun! I feel it is time for me to loose this weight as I am not longer comfortable with how I feel about myself. I feel shedding the excess weight will give me more energy and increase my overall attitude, the good one at least! I am ready for the lifestyle change and am looking forward to working with my wonderful 2005 weight loss challenge team to assist me in finding the healthy me!