Published: May 19, 2008 12:00 am            

Ex-OU stars push couples to 'break out'

Carter is offering a grand prize of a free trip to Chicago

NORMAN — Transcript Sports Writer

When viewers turn on their television sets, the most popular shows seem to be reality-based. Shows like "American Idol" and "Dancing with The Stars" attract millions of fans.

One of the popular reality shows to hit the small screen is "The Biggest Loser," where people compete in a weight loss contest.

Former University of Oklahoma football player Vince Carter has decided to create his own version of the popular show in Norman. In conjunction with his personal training facility, Break Out, 905 N. Flood St., Carter has started The Break Out Couples Challenge.

For six weeks, Carter will put married couples through personal training sessions to help them lose weight and create a healthy lifestyle.

"They can expect to sweat," Carter said. "If they have had some type of workout experience before, this will be more intense than anything they have done before. It is helping them break out of the old and into the new."

Contestants will train with Carter three times a week and the couple with the highest total weight loss or highest percentage loss will be declared the winner.

Carter is offering a grand prize of a free trip to Chicago, which includes airfare, hotel accommodations, tickets to a Chicago Bears football game and dinner with former Sooner All-American and current Chicago Bears All-Pro Tommie Harris.

"Our couples challenge is the perfect opportunity for married couples to work together in their effort to lose weight, as they compete against other couples," Carter said.

The Challenge begins May 26 and ends July 3. There is a $500 entry fee per couple, which includes a total of 18 sessions per couple and nutritional training. Applications must be submitted by the day the contest starts.

While Carter, who was recently married, would love to take credit for the challenge, he can't. It was his better half, Shannon Selmon, who authored the brain child. Selmon is a former OU basketball player and the daughter of former OU great Dewey Selmon.

"I had a few things I have been wanting to do," Carter said. "But when Shannon proposed this idea, I said that is what we will go with. She always has the best stuff, no matter what it is."

According to Carter, it was his wife who felt the contest would bring more attention to Break Out, their personal training business that offers specialized sports training, in-home personal training, and on-site personal fitness.

"It is our mission to help clients achieve their personal fitness goals, whatever they may be," Carter said. "Our trainers are well-versed in the areas of strength and speed development, cardiovascular and muscular conditioning, and nutrition. Regardless of your age, level of fitness, or athletic history, positive results are attainable.

"We are dedicated to the success of all our clients. We are committed to inspiring people to break out of old, humdrum, uninspiring workout habits and into new, highly productive workout routines."

But even more importantly than the weight loss, Carter sees an even bigger goal for the challenge.

"Our marriage counselor was talking about the divorce rate in the community," Carter said. "And we thought we could do something that would bring couples together. A lot of times you see a strength built in relationships when obstacles are overcome. They work together to accomplish goals."

Carter wants to be part of the couples relationship building process at the same time as he is tearing down their bodies.

"By them coming in here three days a week and me crushing them and pushing them every day, it's not necessarily for them to win the prize," Carter said, "but to change their lives."

        

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