A teacher. A bus driver. A nurse.

        They are three ordinary people who, like many of us, need to drop a few pounds.

        The Enquirer put out the call for volunteers to try the Cincinnati Diet, and we got lots of calls back. And e-mails and letters of application. More than 120 people actually sent in letters asking to participate.

        Deciding to lose weight and start exercising takes some guts. Deciding to let a newspaper watch — and share the results — takes more.

Jerome Manigan, 53, of Avondale | ZOOM |

Tanya Chinn, 47, of Colerain Township | ZOOM |

Mary Youtsey, 39, of Southgate | ZOOM |

        We picked three hardy souls who want to get healthier through weight loss and exercise. If you want to diet with them at home, be sure to check with your doctor before starting a weight loss or fitness program. The Cincinnati Diet, developed with Jewish Hospital Weight Management Center, is a low-fat, low-calorie meal plan which includes some of Cincinnati's favorite foods.The Enquirer is printing it on Monday's Fitness page.

        Now, Cincinnati (yes, that's a drum roll you hear), meet your weight-loss warriors:

        • Jerome Manigan, 53, of Avondale worries about developing diabetes. He's 6'2 and “260-plus” pounds. Mr. Manigan is a teacher with Cincinnati Public Schools and helps adults earn their GEDs. He's active in many organizations, and all that running to meetings and conferences makes healthy eating — not to mention exercise — difficult.

        “There's an opportunity to not eat properly and to overindulge in things I should not eat,” he says.

        Mr. Manigan wants especially to learn how to find time for healthy eating and exercise in his busy schedule. “A lot of this for me is just learning how to more effectively use the 24 hours I have available to me,” he says.

        The Cincinnati Diet is his first try at weight loss.

        • Tanya Chinn, 47, of Colerain Township drives a bus for Metro. Her schedule changes every three months, which makes planning healthy meals and exercise difficult. “I try to pick things I can do between my runs,” she says.

        As she's gotten older, she's found her sedentary job has caught up with her. “When I first started driving for Metro, I wore a size 36 men's uniform pants,” she says. “Now I wear a 42.”

        She is 5'6 and weighs 212 pounds.

        The weight gain has not gone unnoticed at home, she says. “My daughter's always saying, "Mommy's got a big butt.' That kind of gets to you,” she says.

        Ms. Chinn has tried several weight-loss remedies, including the drug combination fen-phen and Slimfast. She stopped using fen-phen because of health concerns, and Slimfast didn't work because she was always hungry.

        Now her schedule leaves her prone to making fast-food runs for lunch or dinner.

        In warm weather, she tries to walk.

        • Mary Youtsey, 39, of Southgate is a registered nurse and an instructor in Deaconess Hospital's nurse aide training program.

        “I know what you're supposed to do,” she says. “I just don't follow it.”

        Mrs. Youtsey says she's always been “a little” overweight, though she's also always been a runner. She has completed both the New York City and Chicago marathons.

        But in the last few years, her weight has increased by about 40 pounds, and a tibial stress fracture she suffered in July didn't help.

        She walks regularly and hopes to return to running.

        She has two children, ages 8 and 10, and lack of time makes planning healthy meals and exercise difficult.

        Mrs. Youtsey eats when she's upset or under stress. She's especially vulnerable to Oreos.

        NEXT: The Fat City project continues Monday with advice on how to start a fitness plan and a second week of menu plans in the Cincinnati Diet.

       Personal health reporter Peggy O'Farrell welcomes feedback and ideas. Mail: Enquirer, 312 Elm St., 45202. Fax: 768-8330. Phone: 768-8510.

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