CSI in the News - CSI Today

Toner gives credit to his students at the Staten Island Employment Education Consortium, a nonprofitorganization in St. George and the afterschool program he runs for freshmen at Port Richmond High Schoolfor spurring him on.He also thanks his two teenage sons, one a football player and the other a boxer, who are his “personaltrainers,” and the folks at Slim Down, particularly Avilez, who Toner said “has been a godsend.”He currently weighs 183 pounds.Toner’s ultimate goal?“I hope to actually win the contest.”JESSICA NEGRONLike many others, Jessica Negron made losing weight her resolution.For her, however, it quickly evolved into something more.This is a good thing considering how she came to her decision to join the Slim Down.“I joined the Slim Down after having lapband surgery three years ago. Then last year I fell sick due to theslippage of my band. I had to have it emptied out, and I have been struggling with my weight again eversince,” she said.After seeing fellow Staten Islander and Biggest Loser runner-up Alfred (Frado) Dinten promote the SlimDown in local news coverage, she decided to give the weight-loss contest a shot.“I promised myself that I would put all my effort into changing my lifestyle and becoming healthy and losingthe weight,” explained Ms. Negron. “I told myself this was my last-ditch attempt before going back to mysurgeon to have my lapband filled again.”The 30-year-old Woodrow resident is proud to say that she has not had to go back.“Instead I have committed myself to this program and lost 20 pounds in the past five weeks,” sheexclaimed.Currently 5-foot-8 and 184 pounds, Ms. Negron is happy with more than just her weight loss.“The same week that I started the program I had my routine bloodwork done. My numbers were terrible. Myblood glucose was 164, which is very high, and my cholesterol wasn’t so pretty either.”Page 134 of 179