A Vicksburg woman is starting a program geared towards those who want to break free from the prison walls of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Pamela Cooper has been struggling with weight issues and in an attempt to help others, the inaugural meeting of Ladies Under New Construction & Health, L.U.N.C.H with Purpose will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, at Merit Health River Region, 2100 Highway 61 N. in classroom D.

Cooper said she had previously participated in weight loss programs but unfortunately they became expensive.

“The weight loss programs cost, and I could not always afford them, especially when you have to go monthly, the cost started adding up,” she said.

So after much prayer, an answer finally came.

“I had been praying for some help, and one night God gave me this dream,” Cooper said.

The dream was to start a free program focusing on healing body, mind and spirit and offer it to other women like her.

“It is essential,” Cooper said, to address all issues related to weight gain otherwise one would just be treating the weight loss and not be receiving healing from within.

“We need to find out what it is that caused us to overeat and run to food for comfort,” she said.

L.U.N.C.H with Purpose is designed to empower women from all walks of life, Cooper said, and will include learning how to build permanent healthy habits, increase fitness level, monitor food intake, conduct monthly weigh-in and hold recipe swaps.

Merit Health River Region family practice specialist Dr. Gloria Butler, will serve as the guest speaker, Saturday.

“This is awesome,” Butler said, of the newly formed L.U.N.C.H. with Purpose.

“I know that there are groups that have really made an impact on some of my patients, but I believe this support group is going to focus on the mind body and soul,” Butler said.

“Pamela is going to make sure that all three parts play a role with our success.”

Butler said in addition to encouraging those who attend and reminding them that a lifestyle change will need to take place for them to move forward, some of the specific information she will emphasize will include how to “self care” and charting out individual goals.

“This is not a race against one another, but a race together,” Butler said.

“I want to stress that the group encourage one another and help one another,” she said.

L.U.N.C.H. with Purpose will meet every third Saturday of the month and this week, in addition to Butler serving as the guest speaker, the meal will be provided by Newk’s Eatery.

For more information, call 601-415-0724 or email ms.ppcooper@gmail.com.