There's no longer any excuse not to shed those excess pounds, cooperative extension agents say, when the 4-H Expanded Food and Nutrition Program offers two free approaches to physical fitness this summer.

One, the Adult Health and Fitness Summer Program, is designed to teach participants "how to prepare low cost meals and snacks while walking away the pounds", according to Instructor Umeko Terry.

"We will again be offering classes that will teach you how to prepare healthy, nutritious foods that, combined with an abundance of physical activity, will cause great weight loss," Terry said. "We invite you to register by June 11 to take part in this exceptional program."

To address weight loss and fitness in the young, the program will offer the Health and Fitness Boot Camp for children and teens ages 5 to 19.

"In Boot Camp, we will be offering Taebo, kickboxing, dancing, and walking exercises, along with instructions on how to make nutritional snacks, to employ good eating habits, and much more," instructor Hazel McPhatter said.

Children registered for the Boot Camp will be served breakfast and lunch daily.

"We invite all parents to register their children for this event; if you want your child to learn how to eat healthily, get lots of exercise and to have fun, then the Boot Camp is the place for him or her to be."

Classes in each program will be held in four day intervals at various times during the summer, beginning June 14-17. The Adult Health and Fitness classes will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. while the Boot Camp will be 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Children may repeat Boot Camp sessions after completing the four day program if space allows; the adult program will be completed in one four day session.

Both nutritional and children's exercise classes will take place at the Washington Park Youth Center, at 420 Stewartsville Road, Laurinburg.

Registration may be done by visiting Terry or McPhatter at the Scotland County Cooperative Extension Office at 231 East Cronly Street, Laurinburg or at an onsite registration to be held June 8 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m. at Washington Park.

The 4-H Health and Fitness Boot Camp is sponsored by the Scotland County Farm Bureau.

For information contact Terry or McPhatter at 277-2422.