Los Fresnos Residents Benefit from City’s Health Program

by Tony Vindell/LFN

It has been two years since Nelly Garza started participating in the Los Fresnos Community Health Outreach.

Back then she weighed 267 pounds.

Today, Garza weighs just a bit over 162 pounds and that has changed her life for the better – health wise and personally.

“I feel real good today,” she said, while taking a break at the city’s Memorial Park where she and a dozen others take Zumba classes five days a week. “I still would like to lose a little more but the most important thing for me is to be healthy.”

Garza said she exercises twice a day and eats healthy foods such as plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts and drinks plenty of water.

She said her husband, Rodolfo, has also been a program participant and they both enjoy taking Zumba, which is a form of exercise done with loud and fast paced music.

On Wednesday, Garza was recognized by the city’s funded program managed by Christine Martinez, the city’s community health worker.

Martinez said the program was created five years ago.

The program aims to promote a healthy lifestyle through exercise and healthy eating.

“It’s to encourage the community to stay healthy and active,” she said. “We offer such things as nutrition and diabetic prevention classes.”

The program operates all year around and is open to children, adults and seniors free of charge.

Martinez said about 1,500 people have participated in the program since its creation.

For more information please call 956-233-5768.