Martha Suter of Mesa remembers precisely what motivated her to want to lose weight.
“It was my old high school pictures actually,” the stay-at-home mother said. “I find myself talking a lot about the person I was instead of the person I am.”
So, she has decided to do something about it. In her words: “I decided to make the person I am better than the person I was.”
And while she’s at it, she hopes to help a lot of other women get better, too. Starting Monday and continuing five days a week for the next six weeks, Suter is inviting other women to join her at Freestone Park in Gilbert for group workouts.
“I honestly believe that groups tend to push each other in a healthy way,” Suter said. “We can be there for each other emotionally, which for most woman is what is lacking when they just work out at home. Someone will always get off track, and then you’ll have all these women that are right there, kicking their friends’ butts into high gear.”
Suter isn’t sure how many participants she’ll end up with, but she said there is room for women of all shapes, sizes and levels of fitness.
“I want every woman out there to come, make friends and, most importantly, get fit,” she said. “We all deserve to be healthy and I think there is no better time than the present.”
And if you are a woman who needs a little extra motivation, how about enough cash to buy a new wardrobe to fit your new hardbody? Suter is asking participants to kick in $25 and the winner — the woman who loses the most total inches in six weeks — will win the entire pot.
As for what you can expect in terms of training, “We will be doing some serious booty-busting workouts,” said Suter, who stressed that she is not a personal trainer and is just someone who created the contest and is going to be participating in the competition. “Maybe we’ll work on getting some ‘Mrs. Obama arms.’”
But more importantly, Suter said, the women who participate will be taking a step toward a healthier lifestyle.
“I was not only smaller (in my high school photos), but a lot healthier,” Suter said. “My health problems seem to be worsening each week. I have three small children, they are my life and I need to do this for me, so that I can be there for them.”

Group fitness challenge
What: Female-only “Biggest Loser”-style challenge with the winner being the woman who loses the most total inches
Where: Freestone Park, 1045 E. Juniper Rd., Gilbert
When: Starts Monday at 7 p.m. Meets Monday-Friday for the next six weeks
Cost: $25 that goes into a winner-take-all pot
Information: Contact Martha Suter at marthansteve920@hotmail.com or (480) 227-2492. Make sure to mention Mesa’s biggest loser if you you leave a message