Seriously, there’s no elevator?

I remember that was one of my first thoughts when I walked into the Tribune four years ago.

On the good days, I wouldn’t run into anyone right after the stairs, and I could catch my breath. On the bad days, someone would catch me panting after walking up the single flight to the newsroom.

I was embarrassed that this was what I’d become.

That was four years ago, when I weighed well over 200 pounds, had 38 percent body fat and crammed myself into size 20 pants. I truly hated to look at myself in the mirror.

It feels like a different lifetime for me.

But they say every journey begins with a single step. Mine was becoming part of the Kokomo Tribune and Club Fitness 24’s Fitness Challenge. In 2006, along with a handful of others, I worked out with one of Club Fitness’ trainers for three months, learned what to eat and when to eat it, and for the first time in my life, started down the road to physical fitness. I lost nearly 30 pounds, but I gained a whole new lifestyle.

Once again this year, we’re looking for contestants for Fitness Challenge IV — people who, like I did, need help making a change and don’t know where to start.

If selected, you’ll receive two personal training sessions a week from Club Fitness’ National Academy of Sports Medicine-certified personal trainers and a customized nutritional plan. On the weekends, all eight contestants will go head-to-head in group challenges and larger workouts with the trainers. You’ll write blogs about your experiences, and the Tribune will follow you every step of the way as you melt away the pounds, slim down and shape up. In total, each contestant will receive nearly $3,000 worth of services from Club Fitness.

There will be two teams of four contestants each, including one member of the Tribune’s editorial staff, Misty Knisely. The team that loses the greatest amount of body fat will receive a year’s membership to the gym, and the ultimate winner will walk away with the membership and a prize package from partner businesses. But more importantly, throughout the challenge, participants learn what it is like to live a healthy lifestyle.

Now, I’m not going to lie. This challenge is not easy.

It was truly one of the most difficult and most rewarding things I’ve ever experienced.

My trainer that first year was Nicole, a woman who pushed me as hard as my body would allow — and at the same time, supported and cheered me on more than anyone had my whole life. She and all the trainers at the club truly believe it is possible for anyone to turn their lives around.

The gym’s owner, Chad Coy, says it boils down to two rules:

1) Eat less.

2) Move more.

It sounds ridiculous, but that’s it. Burn more calories than you eat and you will lose weight.

You won’t be doing any fad eating programs. No cabbage soup diet. No Atkins. No South Beach. Just learning how to fuel your body with the right combinations — and amount — of food to become a leaner, more fit you.

Throughout our three years, the contest has produced some amazing success stories, and some of these people have truly become my dearest friends along the way. Most mornings, I see Debbie McDaniel still sweating it out as she works with her trainer, Kirby. Jason Hahn, from Fitness Challenge II, runs half marathons now, and Becky Harlow participated in this year’s 500 Festival Mini Marathon. Jason’s brother Justin helped open a jiu-jitsu studio after he completed the contest. I’m fairly sure Della Clouse hasn’t missed a Zumba class since the last challenge wrapped, and Tara Kinnaman just took part in the Ladies’ Night Out 5K.

As for me, I now teach aerobics six days a week, and one week from today, I’ll be lacing up my running shoes for my first full marathon in Washington, D.C. Four years ago, I couldn’t imagine running a single mile, let alone 26.2 of them.

But it all started four years ago with that single step.

If you’re interested in applying for the challenge, all you have to do is fill out the form located on the bottom of this page and on an attached sheet, tell us why you think you should be chosen to participate this year.

If you have any questions about the challenge, call me at (765) 454-8587 or e-mail at erin.shultz@kokomotribune.com.