The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer There is plenty of evidence the in motion Health Challenge is working. Participants are reaping the rewards of the challenge only three weeks in. The six-week campaign encourages participants to begin and maintain healthy behaviours. The in motion committee set the challenge for six weeks and has teams of four to six players each choosing a healthier lifestyle. Teams are required to eat healthy according to the Canada Food Guide, get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, drink six to eight cups of water a day, take time for themselves and limit alcohol consumption. This year, 35 teams _ consisting of 174 people _ have registered for the challenge. The numbers are a little lower this year, compared to last, but committee member Fran Labarre says she's still impressed. 'I'm happy with the registration,' she said. In previous years, the challenge had teams compete in bonus activities to earn extra points, but not this year. Most teams favour the lack of a bonus system, but Labarre heard a few teams were missing it. 'It's just nice to get back to the basics of the healthy behaviours,' she said, This year, teams were able to participate in a few free activities like cooking classes, a full body fitness workout, as well as a Zumba class and skiing. Labarre has heard plenty of positive feedback about the health challenge. 'People have e-mailed me and phoned me, even stopped me on the street,' she said. 'Two different people have lost nine pounds and one husband has lost 10,' she said, noting that that's just one case. 'People have been feeling better and sleeping better, too.' Some participants are keeping their goals in mind as they look forward to slipping into summer clothes later this year. Others are working hard to fit back into that pair of jeans in the back of the closet. Part way through the fourth week of the challenge, the competition was tight. Eleven teams were all within 10 points of each other after the third week of points. First place was a three-way tie. Teams are creative in things like how they are getting their physical activity point for the day and in trying new menu ideas. Even their team names have shown imagination. The Skinny Beaches, The Butcher and the Beauties, the Jiggle Bellies, Peas Lettuce Win and Thinning Out the Heard were just a few of the clever names on this year's list. Teams send in their points on a weekly basis to Labarre. If she doesn't get the points, she says, she can't include them in the final points rankings. Spring Challenge The in motion Health Challenge has been a popular program in the community for the past few winters. Now, the organizing committee hopes to inspire and encourage people to register for the individual challenge this spring. Though details have not yet been finalized, the committee hopes to have the challenge in the early spring as participants are still eager to continue with the healthy choices. 'For those who didn't get their team together, there will be an individual challenge,' said Labarre, as she hopes people will start considering the challenge now. 'We want (you to) keep this healthy behaviour going. It only takes 21 days to make a healthy change and routine.' For the current Health Challenge, a grand prize of $1,000 will be given to the winning team. If there is a tie, the prize will be split among the first-place teams. To get a full 56 points in a week, teams will have to continue to brave the cold for their physical activity and keep eating those healthy meals.
