News and Events
Press Releases / News Articles
September 12, 2011 - We are dedicating this week of Coffee with… to the United Way of West Central Mississippi’s annual fundraising campaign. This year’s theme is “Hands Across Our Communities.” Read more....
September 2011 - The Weight Loss Crusade Sometimes it takes an individual to raise a village. Cold, Hard Facts. According to a recent report, Mississippi Read more.... 
May 2011 - Woman's World Magazine - Making a Difference - Meet the woman who made a whole town slim! As Linda Fondren's beloved sister, Mary, Read more....
March 22, 2011 - NBC Nightly News - Tipping the Scales in Mississippi - View Video
March 8, 2011 - CNN - LL Cool J introduces 2010 Top 10 CNN Hero Linda Fondren at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute." View Video.....
February 16, 2011, - MSNBC - Listen up America: Linda Fondren is on a mission to reshape Mississippi. The 55-year-old mother from Vicksburg, Miss., moved young and old in efforts to get her community to lose weight. Now she seeks a similar goal — move Mississippi from fattest to fittest. Read more....
February 15, 2011 - Vicksburg Post - Fondren beefs up anti-smoking push - A push by community health advocate Linda Fondren to expand smoking restrictions on public property reached the county board Monday with a few more specifics, but little movement on the effort from local government. Read more....
December 31, 2010 - Beliefnet.com - Most Inspiring Person of 2010 - Linda Fondren was frustrated seeing Mississippi consistently labeled America's "fattest state"—six years to be exact. But it was the death of her 54-year old sister that ultimately pushed her into some serious action. Read more....
December 17, 2010 - A community health advocate and local gym owner is seeking a ban on smoking on all tax-paid properties and facilities in Vicksburg. the 55-year-old Linda Fondren, who has been featured on national television for her free weight-loss campaigns, told Vicksburg's Port City Kiwanis Club Thursday. "This is about healthy living and healthy lifestyles. Smoking, .... More
November 9, 2010 - The Clarion Ledger - Linda Fondren, 55, of Vicksburg turned her tragedy into triumph and now the world is watching. In September, she became a top 10 finalist for CNN's Hero of the Year award. People from across the globe are in the running for the overall prize that includes $100,000. Voting ends Nov. 18 at CNNHeroes.com. more....
October 2010 - Club Insider - The Pulse of the Health, Racquet, and Sports Club Industry- Linda Fondren, Instituting The Local Shape Up. From time to time, adversity can strike and change one's life. Sometimes, that change is for the better, if the difficulty of that time motivates someone to achieve better things. more..
September 24, 2010 - The Clarion-Ledger • Linda Fondren of Vicksburg, founder of the Shape Up Vicksburg campaign, has been selected by a Blue Ribbon Panel as one of 10 finalists for the CNN Hero of the Year Award. Fondren, whose Shape Up Vicksburg campaign has resulted in a collective weight loss of more than 15,000 pounds among participants during the past year, was chosen from more than 10,000 nominations submitted by viewers in 100 countries. More..
September 22, 2010 4:18 PM - CBS News - Mississippi has the reputation of being the fattest state in the U.S. where one out of three adults is obese. Kelly Cobiella reports on one woman's mission to slim down her hometown. Watch Video
September 22, 2010 - CBS News by By Kelly Cobiella - Vicksburg, Miss., Goes from Fat to Fit
Linda Fondren Leads the Battle of the Bulge in Vicksburg, Miss., Helping Residents Lose 15,000 Pounds and Counting more...
September 22, 2010 - Vicksburg Post - Teachers Take to Gym for Fitness. At Bowmar Elementary Wednesday, the staff and faculty went to P.E. class in the school gym. With the direction of Linda Fondren, a Vicksburg fitness center owner who has gained national recognition for her health promotions, about 35 faculty and staff members, including principal Tammy Burris, kicked up their heels. They stretched and tugged — and they even signed a contract to do the same at least nine more times. more..
August 5, 2010 - CNN Hero Linda Fondren Aims to 'Shape up Vicksburg' Obesity Problem: Linda Fondren owns a gym in Vicksburg, Miss., a city in which two-thirds of the population are overweight or obese. To counteract the trend of increasingly unhealthy lifestyle choices, Fondren began the Shape Up Vicksburg movement last fall, a 17-week weight loss challenge that has since evolved into a walking club. More:
August 1, 2010 - Local health, fitness enthusiast up for CNN Heroes award
A gym owner’s crusade against obesity has earned her a nomination as a national hero.
Linda Fondren, owner of Shape Up Sisters, is a candidate for CNN Heroes, a televised tribute by news network CNN to honor those who improve their communities. More...
January 25, 2010 Essence.com Mississippi Woman Wants State To Lose 17,000 Pounds
November 25, 2009 Glamour Magazine article featuring featuring Linda Fondren.
Need a little inspiration today? Wait until you see what one woman in Vicksburg, Mississippi is doing to improve the helth of her state --- one pound at a time... More..
September 12, 2009 - Shape up Sisters®, issues a challenge to the community to get Fit - If two-thirds of the people in Vicksburg and Warren County shed half-a-pound by the end of January, a weightloss challenge led by a local gym owner. more...
August 1, 2008_, Shape up Sisters®, Announces a new fitness program: Group Centergy™
Group Centergy™ is a mind-body program at Shape Up Sisters in Vicksburg, MS that offers participants a chance to improve strength and flexibility while rejuvenating the body's systems. more...
February 1, 2008, Shape up Sisters® announces a new fitness program: Group Active
A program designed for able-bodied people who are not regular exercisers. Shape Up Sisters is introducing the newest group fitness program which combines strength, cardio and flexibility into one class with great music. more...
March 9, 2008 News Paper Article in the Vicksburg Post
Women-only fitness gaining momentum in city more...
