RALEIGH, N.C. — Two sisters who go to two rival CIAA schools -- St. Augustine's College and North Carolina Central University -- have a family history of heart disease and diabetes. However, a fitness program at St. Augustine's Wellness Center is helping them beat the odds.

Three days a week, sisters Sherae and Takiaya Hall step onto the treadmill at the St. Augustine's Wellness Center.

"As soon as we walk in the door, we see big smiles. 'Hey, how are you doing? Good to see you again,' which is good motivation, excellent motivation," Sherae said.

It all began when St. Augustine student and personal trainer Michael Gomillion offered to help Sherae lose weight.

"I went home and told my sister you know this guy's trying to talk to me about working out. I mean, what is he trying to say?" Sherae said.

Still, both sisters gave it a try.

"We started dropping the weight and I was just like, 'OK, we could keep this going because we're going to end up getting pretty small,' and that's going to help our health out a lot," Sherae said.

"We obviously help a lot of people lose weight and we knew that we could help them if they had the commitment to do so," trainer Wade Harris said.

The trainers changed both sisters' eating habits.

"I started eating more fruits and vegetables. I hate yogurt, but I started eating yogurt now," Takiaya said.

Their program includes strength training and burning fat. It also eliminated some of the risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

"I'm not getting any younger. I'm getting older I want to take care of it now, you know, before I get older and it's too late," Takiaya said.

The sisters' exercise program is not limited to the gym. They live together and hold each other accountable for some form of exercise every day.