Hundreds Gather for Early Morning Workout in Santa Ana

While most of Santa Ana is sleeping, hundreds of people gather at the Santa Ana stadium. Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday they participate in a free workout program called the PayanX Experience.

The program focuses on using teamwork to push the participants harder. Each participant is called a "warrior" and the group is called a "tribe", reinforcing the goal of teamwork.

Marc Payan created the program after he decided to start working out himslef. "I wanted to be fit dad, not fat dad." Payan said. He invited a few friends and then his group started to grow. Payan things the program is so effective because the "warriors" have people around them to encourage them to never give up. "I believe a dentist can't fix his own teeth, even the best dentist. We need eachother," Payan said.

The participants also praise Marc's philosophy of teamwork. Patricia Ruiz has lost 70 pounds through this program and while she has been to gyms, she says the people here are what make the difference. "You become family with them," Ruiz said.

Santa Ana has one of the highest obesity rates in Orange County, which experts say could be due to the fact that the city has very few parks or other open areas for people to work out for free. But Marc says that while his classes are free, he hopes they also will free people from their old lifestyles.