By Meredith Jean Morton

	Annie Fairel works out individually at Tiger's World Vascular Fitness in Winter Haven. Paul Crate / News Chief

Getting in shape is never easy - just ask anyone who has ever tried to lose those pesky last 10-15 pounds.

However, East Polk County residents have an intense fitness program at their disposal, and the program has proven results.

Just ask Annie Fairel.

The 27-year-old server at Manny's Chop House in Haines City underwent a drastic life change recently and has been thrilled with her results.

"I weighed 143 (pounds) when I started, and I now weigh 112," says Fairel, a petite brunette who lives in Winter Haven. "I went from a size 12 clothes to a size 3 in 12 weeks."

She signed up for the 12-week Body Transformation Challenge from Tiger's World Vascular Fitness in Winter Haven. The Challenge, which was designed and instructed by Dieuseul Berto, is essentially a workout and diet plan for professional boxers and mixed-martial arts fighters.

And its results are dramatic.

	Annie Fairel does some push-ups. The 27-year-old server recently completed the 12-week Body Transformation Challenge. Paul Crate / News Chief

"We've been doing the fitness challenge for four years," says Berto of Winter Haven, who is a former competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. "The first challenge, we had 10 people sign up. In the last challenge, we had 87 people finish it, and we had people who lost more than 200 pounds."

The program, while designed for professional athletes, is adapted for people from all walks of life.

"We've had doctors, lawyers, police officers, all kinds of people who do this challenge," Berto says of the program based on the training he gives his sons and daughter, who all are professional athletes.

While the challenge involves intense workouts multiple times a day and a modified diet, Berto and Fairel agree that the most difficult aspect of the program is maintaining a perfect level of dedication.

"Anyone who finishes this has made an accomplishment," Fairel says. "You get frustrated, you want to quit, and just at the time when you are most frustrated, you begin to see your results. There's really a process to it, first you lose inches as your muscles firm and tone up, later you lose the weight. It's funny because when you get most discouraged, you begin to see that it's working."

	Annie Fairel works out with trainer Dieuseul Berto at Tiger's World Vascular Fitness in Winter Haven. Paul Crate / News Chief

The workouts in the 12-week Body Transformation Challenge are grueling, consisting of 6 a.m. weight-lifting classes, 9 a.m. runs from the Tiger's World Vascular Fitness center on Sixth Street, southeast, in Winter Haven, to Auburndale and back. In the evenings, a class is held at Denison Stadium, where participants run the bleachers, among other workouts.

The workouts are done every day of the week except for Wednesdays and Sundays.

"The workouts are tough, but it works," Berto says. "We have classes here where we teach them to work on the bag like boxers, we teach them to punch like boxers."

Fairel says she doubted her abilities when she first started the program.

"At first, I could hardly run 20 yards," she says. "I went from that, to being able to run 4 or 5 miles at a time."

The professional fighters' diet the participants are put on is to be followed strictly.

	Annie Fairel works out at Tiger's World Vascular Fitness Paul Crate / News Chief

"They have to be religious with the diet," Berto says. "It doesn't matter what they do exercise-wise, if the diet isn't right, the program won't work." Fairel says the diet was most challenging for her.

"I used to eat a lot at late at night," she says. "And I drank a lot of soda, like Mountain Dew. I also ate a lot of fried food. Now, I eat salad, I don't eat bread, and I don't add extra stuff to my food. I also cut out alcohol, and I only drink water."

Even though the challenge is now over, Fairel says she continues to keep up the work.

"I'm not yet where I want to be," she says. "I can't slack off. In fact, after the challenge was over, I slacked off for a week and I was completely lost." She says the biggest change in what Berto calls her "transformation" is the new level of dedication she has to her fitness.

"I'm proud of what I've done," she says. "I'd never really finished anything before. I feel like I accomplished something, and it makes me realize I can do things like this if I just work hard enough and stay dedicated."

The next 12-week Body Transformation Challenge is beginning this month. To register, visit www.tigersworld.us/challenge.html.