Andrea Ingram literally bounces into the room, genuinely eager and sincerely enthusiastic, ready to talk about her biggest “passion” in life-helping others get “fit 4 life.”

Through a program, which Ingram was inspired and influenced to do because of an almost “40-year habit” called “Fit 4 Life,” Ingram, a 39-year-old mother of two and instructor at South Georgia Technical College, has a “burning passion to help others lead a healthier and better quality of life. This is a spiritual mission for me, and I have a family history of obesity,” said the aerobic and resistance training instructor and American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and March of Dimes’ volunteer.

“Obesity is a social epidemic, and a killer disease that is slowly making its way into almost every home, affecting both young and old alike,” she said.

Ingram is currently enrolled, through the University of Georgia, in a nutrition and wellness certificate program, and has received a NDEITA group fitness certification.

“I am an advocate for a healthier, non-medicated lifestyle. In many cases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, among others, can be combated through exercise and proper diet,” she said. “But I also believe if there is a medical situation, your doctor should be consulted before you begin any sort of exercise or change in your diet. So many people, when they hear the word ‘diet,’ said Christopher and Devinn’s mother, “think automatically that you are going to put them on a diet. Diet is just how you eat.”

Ingram admits to trying everything, diet wise, and researching all before coming up with her own program.

“I had been doing some aerobics instruction and one day our minister said something to me about doing something at church. I wasn’t real sure, and just rattled something off to him,” said Ingram, but as time grew closer, and more friends talked to her, Ingram said she just sat down one day and the program, based on principles of several nationally known nutrition and exercise programs. just “came out.”

A spiritual individual, Ingram admitted to turning to the Bible to research more about food and nutrition, along with reading all sorts of books.

Fit 4 Life, which is from 4-8 p.m. today at Bethesda Baptist Church, was born.

According to Ingram, “The boot camp is a two-week period where participants completely dedicate their exercise and eating regimens to the life coach, me, and during the two weeks, the participants have complete support and encouragement, like wake-up calls when it is time to exercise and daily checks on ability to stick to eating plan.

“They will also have a life partner. This will be someone that they can call on in the time of need. Participants are required to weigh in and have measurements taken each Sunday.”

The Fit 4 Life Boot Camp has “three purposes — one carbohydrate detoxification, motivation and lastly, we will be learning how to form a habit and break a habit.

“Carbohydrates are as addictive as drugs and alcohol and during that time, the intake is limited,” said Ingram. “The focus of this program is not weight loss, although it is a welcome benefit; participants will learn what or what not to eat, as well as why they should or should not eat certain foods.

“I believe in learning how certain foods affect our bodies will help us to make better choices,” said Ingram, who admits to talking to herself just as she speaks to others on nutrition and exercise.

“We should eat to live and not live to eat,” said Ingram. “Food is meant for nutritional value, not for pleasure.”