Liz Watt and Logan Rae have devoted their lives to helping others meet fitness goals. Now as a fitness trainer and nutrition consultant in the 5-4-3-2-1 Go! Challenge, they are helping one of the participating families -- Gwendolyn, Illey and their children Abriana and Bryce -- meet its fitness goals as well.

Both Watt and Rae work at the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont, where Rae is the director and Watt consults on nutrition issues.

The two women meet separately with the Johnsons every week at the center but also work together to help the family with nutritional and fitness advice.

"We are similar in our approaches to health and fitness," Rae said, "and I know we will give congruent advice."

Rae grew up in an athletic family and has always been active.

"I never think of exercise or physical fitness as a chore or something dreadful that must be done," she said.

Rae received an undergraduate degree in human performance, nutrition and exercise from Virginia Tech and then received a master's degree in exercise physiology from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Rae said her academic background has helped her in real world situations, but her desire is really just to help people.

"I love to see the look on my clients' faces every single time they achieve a milestone," Rae said. "I believe that helping people become healthier and live a longer and more worthwhile life is a great gift to give someone."

Watt, too, has always had an interest in health.

"When I began college, I was a nursing student and had to take a nutrition class as part of the curriculum," she said. "After completing that course and speaking with the professor, I was convinced that nutrition was a better career fit for me."

She has done clinical work at Duke and with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

Both coaches say the 5-4-3-2-1 Go! Challenge reflects advice that they give their regular clients.

"It is a great concept and easy for people to remember," Watt said.