BABES mix faith and health
Women form group to lose weight, have fun together
BABES mix faith and health

By Carla Hinton

Published: January 5, 2008

Barb Swanson is familiar with the usual talk of new beginnings that often eases into conversations as each new year rolls around.

In the past, the Edmond woman tried several times to lose weight, sometimes on specific dates such as Jan. 1. Eventually, every Monday became the "new beginning” she craved, but the good intentions didn't last long.

Today Swanson is 45 pounds lighter and a self-described "babe.”

BABES is the name of a popular weight-loss challenge program Swanson, 48, created with a fellow member of nondenominational Victory Church, 4300 N MacArthur in Warr Acres.

Decked out in her workout gear and ever cheerful, Swanson said the sassy acronym stands for Beautiful, Accountable Babes Exercising Sensibly.

The program has grown steadily since its inception in 2003. Swanson said hundreds of BABES — women from all walks of life and church affiliations — have collectively lost 14,000 pounds since then. She said there are 12 other groups across Oklahoma and even a few in other states.

Swanson attributes BABES' popularity to its simple premise: connecting with others to lose weight and build friendships.

"We were just regular girls who couldn't lose weight. I tried on my own every Monday and failed by noon,” Swanson said, shaking her head from side to side.

"Finally, I said, ‘Who wants to lose weight together?' We started with 20 girls, and here we are.”

Swanson, women's ministry leader at Victory, said the BABES program is easy to follow and that is probably why many participating women have successfully lost weight. However, its ease isn't its only success factor. There's no denying BABES' biblical foundation.

"It's a basic exercise and watch your calories program, but then there's the God factor,” Swanson said, smiling.

BABES' mission statement is to empower women to become beautiful and fully alive, based on the biblical premise of Proverbs 31:25: "Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.”

Swanson said undergirding the program is the Christian belief that true change occurs once a person's spirit is renewed and strengthened.

"The biggest thing the enemy (Satan) gets women on is weight,” she said. "We start getting their flesh changed around and their spirit renewed.”

Victory offers two BABES 12-week weight loss challenge sessions each year, with one set to begin at 5 p.m. Jan. 21. Victory provides child care for participants. Other BABES groups start this month at 8872 S Western in south Oklahoma City, and Abba's House of Worship in Ada.

Swanson said start-up cost for the program is $40 and a workbook is $15. Monthly costs for the three months of sessions vary based on individual participation. For example, participants earn "BABES bucks” each time they put into practice one of the program's accountability standards such as completing their BABES journal. Swanson said the BABES bucks program is a fun incentive to encourage women to put the program's tenets into action while saving money.

She said women are divided into groups for the 12-week session, and each group has a leader. People weigh in at the beginning of each weekly session, then participate in group exercise. Each session ends with small-group chats during which participants discuss their victories and struggles as they attempt to lose weight and become more healthy.

Swanson likened the program to a cross between Bob Greene's (Oprah's former personal trainer) Best Life Diet and the ABC reality TV show "The Biggest Loser.”

At the end of each 12-week session, the BABES group that lost the most weight wins prizes. Also, prizes are often awarded to the top two "losers” and others who met specific challenges. Swanson said nice watches are often given away as prizes. One year, winners received luggage sets. Another year, a winner received a cruise.

More recently, prizes were scaled back so that the ministry could develop a program workbook, totebags, a DVD series, journal and other BABES products. But Swanson said prizes are still a key, fun BABES factor.

Dressed in pink BABES T-shirts and sporting other BABES athletic wear, women such as Jackie Norvell gathered recently to talk about the program that has changed their lives.

"It's about fun, fellowship and freedom,” Norvell, 36, said. She said she has lost 52 pounds and is now a leader of the "Stunning BABES”group at Victory.

"We have 19 women in my group because we have stayed together (through multiple sessions),” Norvell said.

"We started doing runs and walks together, and this is a great benefit because we have so much fun.”

Valarie Moss, 33, said she has lost 91 pounds during two BABES sessions. She said she joined after hearing Norvell talk about the camaraderie among program participants..

"Jackie always talked about how much fun it was. I wanted to lose weight, but I wanted to be with my friends — I wanted to be with the girls,” Moss said.

Swanson said besides losing weight and having fun, there's another great benefit that has resulted from BABES, something she calls "God's secret.”

She said many unchurched women who have come only for the weight-loss program have become interested in attending Bible study and other church programs.

"We've had so many women get saved, go to Bible study and join our church. So many won't go to church, but they'll come to lose weight,” Swanson said.

"This is meeting people where they are.”

Meanwhile, a BABES running club has been started, Swanson said. The group's goals include a youth BABES group and perhaps a group at the state Capitol.

Swanson said she's looking forward to seeing more lives changed through the fun group sessions.

"Don't come thinking ‘I'm a weight-challenged person.' Come because you're a babe,” she said.

"You have to start seeing yourself different.”

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