Meridian area residents still have 11 days to trim their waistlines, as the "Just Lose It, Meridian" campaign will officially end on March 31. Individuals and groups who have been participating need to report their final weight loss figures by that date.

Parks and Recreation Director Mark Naylor is encouraging all who signed up for the program--plus any people who want to enroll during these last days--to report their pounds lost by March 31 at 5 p.m. Reporting is easy--just go to the City of Meridian web site at www.meridianms.org and click on the "Just Lose It, Meridian" icon on the home page.

The campaign was originally scheduled to run from October through December; however, when Oprah Winfrey and her personal trainer, Bob Greene, came to Meridian in January to kick off their "Best Life" weight loss campaign, many local residents asked that the city continue the local program to reflect a surge in interest generated by Oprah's visit.

"We had a lot of people sign up after Oprah's visit," Mark Naylor said. "Some of them have not gotten back to us to report their weight loss."

The campaign targeted signing up 1,000 people to lose 10 pounds apiece for a total of 10,000 pounds. The "Just Lose It" campaign piqued the interest of Oprah Winfrey's producers, who then contacted the city and decided to launch the national campaign here.

Maureen Lofton

Assistant for Governmental Affairs

City of Meridian

P.O. Box 1430

Meridian, MS 39302

Phone: (601) 485-1819

FAX: (601)485-1911

e-mail: maureenlofton@meridianms.org