WSAZ | Healthy Tri-State Cast Page
Healthy Tri-State Biggest Loser: About Us

With Healthy Tri-State’s Biggest Loser we’ll be sharing real life stories of people in our communities facing the challenges presented by adopting a healthier lifestyle...(Full Story)
BLUE TEAM - Photos by: Holly Bond Farrell Photography
April Fields
I'm a 7th Grade Science Teacher at Stonewall Jackson Middle School in Charleston, WV. I am married to Jason and have two boys, Page and Logan. I didn't have to exercise and watch what I ate when I was gorwing up and unfortunately that has caught up with me. I have had some recent health scares and have realized that I need to "GET HEALTHY!!!!" I know a good diet and exercise plan is the key, I only need to be educated on how to implement such a plan.
Ed Kesling
I am a life long resident of the Tri-State area and currently live in South Point Ohio. I have been employed by Marathon Oil Company for 37 years. I am married to the lovely Evie Marie (Clare) Kesling. I am the Elder for the Bikers for Christ River Cities Chapter. Over the years my eating has out paced my exercise and being on Healthy Tri-State's Biggest Loser has challenged me to turn my health around by eating properly, getting up, and start moving again. I am looking forward to living a healthier and more energetic life style and would encourage those who are reading this bio to do the same in their life for themselves and their loved ones.
Jennifer Kozak
I am an Executive Secretary for the WV State Department of Education and a World Champion. With heart disease affecting most of my immediate family, I decided not to be another statistic and get healthy. I want to incorporate daily exercise into my life and not see it as a chore and hope others will follow my footsteps into a healthier lifestyle.
LyRonda Ventura
I am a doctoral college student at Northcentral University in Arizona, an Adjunct Professor at Marshall University, as well as a High School Spanish Teacher at Wayne High, and as if that was not enough, I am also a mother of 5 wonderful children. I decided to apply for acceptance with Healthy Tristate as a way to become healthy so that I would get to see my children grow up and achieve their hearts desire. I wanted to set an example that any goal is achievable as long as you work hard and never give up.
Randall Brown
I am a Kindergarten teacher from Dunbar. The biggest reasons I wanted to lose weight was to be a role model for all my students, and all my life I've been the " big guy" and its something I wanna change.
Kathy Miller
As a busy mom, I got caught up in the fast paced lifestyle, as most of us have. I would be so tired from runing the kids to practices and games I found it convienient to eat out most of the time. Kids learn from thier environment, I don't want them growing up unhealthy and continuing later in life to teach thier children unhealthy habits. With that thought in mind, the choice was easy. I knew the domino effect of a unhealthy lifestyle needed to stop for me and my family.
GREEN TEAM - Photos by: Holly Bond Farrell Photography
Beth Bradley
I am a Huntington native and Marshall University grad who currently works as a computer programmer at McJunkin Red Man in Charleston. Having been overweight most of my life, I decided it was time to make my health and fitness a priority in order to set a positive example for my 3 year old son.
Mary Beth Dickerson
I work in Human Resources at MCTC and am a full time student. Being a newlywed, it is very important for myself and my husband to begin living a healthier lifestyle and loss some much needed wait. We want to start a family soon and desire to be an example for our future children and break the blight of obesity in our family.
James Peters
I wanted to take part in this program so that I will be able to be around when my kids get older and to take the lessons I learn and teach them not only to my kids but to other people who want to change their life for the better and help them take that first step to a healthier life style
Jim Sullivan
My name is Jim Sullivan and I am a 37-year-old from Franklin Furnace, Ohio. After ignoring my health for much of the past decade, I devoted 2010 to getting my health back on track for me personally and hopefully my upcoming successes can serve as inspiration for the rest of the WSAZ viewing area, especially Scioto County.
Suzanne Adkins
I am 45 years old and have spent the last 30 years doing crazy fad diets. Its time for me make a healthy lifestyle change and stop the yo-yo dieting. I want to make this change not only for me but for my family!
Teddy Lambert
I run Appalachian Tire Products in Point Pleasant WV. I am the pround new father of beautiful twin girls and I wanted to become a better example to them by learning how to live a healthy lifestyle.
GOLD TEAM - Photos by: Holly Bond Farrell Photography
Andrew Chang
I'm a recent graduate from Morehead State University. I love acting but my weight has become a major issue. I want to get back into what I love to do and the only way to do that is to take care of myself, eat right and start exercising.
Bob Gleason
I've owned a local jewelry store for the past 25 years. A few years back I participated in a fitness program and had great success. Shortly after that my oldest son was killed in car accident and my health has suffered ever since as we've tried to cope with his passing. I feel that now is the time to get healthy and stay healthy so that I can live the kind of life I want to live as I get older.
Jenna Parker
I am a recent graduate of Marshall University and I currently work at Marshall Community and Technical College as an Off-Campus Admissions Assistant in Huntington, WV. I was considered an athletic girl throughout middle/high school and now (8 years later) that I'm not in shape like I used to be, it's time to GET FIT while I still have a chance! I'm SUPER pumped about changing my lifestyle!
Melanie LaFontaine-Gleason
The reason I wanted to be on Healthy Tri-State's Biggest Loser is because...I am hoping to learn how to get a strong and fit body..After getting through Brain surgery, surviving Breast Cancer, a near death surgery last summer and losing my son Bobby in a tragic car accident, I find that some days I can barely breathe and break in to tears. I always try to stay strong for my family and friends. I truly believe strong body strong mind. I need to learn how to deal with emotions(without food).
Rachael Miller
I am a graduate student at Morehead State University. The last 6 years 
of college have gradually caught up with me, I'd lost the Freshman 15, 
but found the Senior 30! So I wanted to make a real lifestyle change 
and get healthy for my self and my future before I lost COMPLETE 
control of my weight and health.
RED TEAM - Photos by: Holly Bond Farrell Photography
April King
I am a single mom of two young children. I want to learn healthy habits so that I can teach my kids at an early age how important good choices are for your overall health.
Belinda Hunt
I am a Nail Tech in Ashland, KY. I am married and have two children. I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in 2007. After having my thyroid removed, I found it very hard to lose weight. With healthy eating habits and daily exercise, I know I will reach my goals! Thanks "Healthy Tri State" and WSAZ for the opportunity to kick start this lifestyle change!
Melissa Roe
I am from Olive Hill, KY and am very excited to be a part of Healthy Tri-State's Biggest Loser. I have tried every diet under the sun and have experienced success with some, but the weight always came back. I am now focusing on the lifestyle changes that will make me healthier, hopefully allowing me to discontinue the need for high blood pressure medication. Having a fit and active identical twin sister who weighs considerably less than I do, it is easy to see what I will look like once I have achieved some of the goals I have set for myself. The biggest thing I have learned, though is that there are no quick fixes and it is a gradual process to a healthy lifestyle.
Rebecca Lambert
I am a Licensed Social Worker, a Pastor's wife, and most importantly a
mother of five children. I have a great desire to become a healthier,
happier, and a more active mother and wife. I don't want to just "be here"
for them. I want to experience a complete overhaul to a healthy lifestyle
for my entire family and enjoy every aspect of life with them to the fullest!
Shelley Rice
I work full time raising my three incredible children here in West Virginia, and keeping most of our loved ones connected mostly via the web and phone calls all across the world. My amazing husband works on a contract job in Iraq, and the rest of my wonderful family is spread all across the U.S. Near or far, they always give me the strength to get through. Healthy Tri-State’s Biggest Loser was and is the obvious choice for me because now I have a unique opportunity. I can pay forward their gifts of love and support by living a healthy lifestyle and teaching them to be strong and live well too. I am learning that life is about so much more than just getting through!
Samantha Kouns
I am a full time mother raising my two beautiful baby girls. They are the main reason why I decided to apply for Healthy Tri-State's Biggest Loser. My father passed away when I was two years old, and being without him growing up was extremely difficult for me. So I want to be here for my little ones for a very long time. Additionally, I have always been a "big girl" and its took a huge toll on my self-esteem and my life. Its hard for me to take my girls to the park, or to the mall, I honestly feel like everyone is staring at me because of my weight. So I have decided to change all of this in 2010. My grandmother is dying from ALS, and this is something that she has wanted for me for a long time, and so its for me, my kids, and my grandmother. They are what keeps me GOING.
Healthy Tri-State Biggest Loser Cast