Fit First To Premiere across Canada on APTN

Announcing the premiere of a brand new fitness/weight loss television series featuring Aboriginal participants. The series premieres on APTN across Canada on October 13, 2010.

Television Series Starts October 13

ABORIGINAL PARTICIPANTS SEEK WEIGHT LOSS
Embark on Personal Journey for Mind, Body, Spirit

Winnipeg, Manitoba (October 6, 2010) — While every journey begins with one step, this journey begins with one step onto the scale… Fit First is an inspiring ‘real life’ television series that chronicles the trials and triumphs of four Aboriginal people, who are each on a mission to change their life. Six half-hour episodes will broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) this fall:Series to premiere across Canada on Wednesday, October 13:
APTN West (MB to BC) — 11:30am MST
APTN North — 11:30am CST
APTN East (NF to ON) — 11:30am EST
APTN HD — 12:30pm EST

ABOUT FIT FIRST

Many struggle with being overweight and don’t do anything about it. In Fit First, four ordinary individuals are determined to finally take that step and ‘do’.

Each one has their own reasons to want to change their lifestyle and take charge of their health. Over the course of six months, they will work with a personal trainer to improve fitness, discover healthy food alternatives, and learn how to make better choices for themselves and their families. Along the way they will support and encourage each other, while working toward their own goals.

As they embark on very personal journeys, each will be pushed to their breaking point, and challenged to go beyond it. It takes courage, drive and determination – in mind, body and spirit – to do what they are doing. As they begin to experience lower numbers on the scale, improved fitness, and increased confidence, their stories will inspire in ways even they did not expect. And through losing weight, they just may find their own inner ‘warrior spirit’ along the way.

ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS

Fit First follows the lives of four participants for six months, who share the same goal of changing their lives. In the first season, all four participants are from Winnipeg:

Ø Irene Mesich (48) – mother of 5
Ø Leann Frederickson (43) – 2 adult children, 1 grandchild
Ø Kim Ziervogel (40) – 3 teenaged children
Ø Willis Petti (34) – 3 kids aged 15, 9, 7
Ø Kent Brown (Trainer) – one of the head coaches for United Boxing Club

ABOUT EPISODE ONE

It’s a wake up call for the four participants on Fit First, as they struggle through their fitness assessment. It’s a chance for their trainer to see just how ‘out of shape’ they are, as he puts them through the ringer doing step ups, pull ups and punches. Their initial weigh-in helps each one set a weight loss goal, and face just how far they have to go.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Fit First is produced by Stephanie Scott and Vanessa Loewen, and executive produced by Stephanie Scott and Peter Strutt. It is a co-production between Animiki See Digital Productions and Indios Productions. The first episode is directed by Shereen Jerrett.

Fit First was produced and developed in association with the Aboriginal Peoples’ Television Network (APTN), and produced with the participation of the Government of Manitoba – Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit, and the participation of The Canadian Film and Video Tax Credit.

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CONTACT FOR MEDIA:
RoseAnna Schick RAS Creative
Launch Publicist for Fit First
204-783-7600 / rascreative@<wbr />yahoo.ca

AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA:
Ø Screener copies on DVD or online
Ø Photos from the series
Ø Interviews with participants and producers