"Live Healthy Iowa 100 Day Wellness Challenge" is underway

The 11th Annual "Live Healthy Iowa 100 Day Wellness Challenge" kicks off on Monday and runs through May 1st.

Participants throughout Iowa team up and track weekly minutes of activity and/or weight loss.  Each team member receives a t-shirt, personal login information and tracking tools on www.livehealthyiowa.org, a card entitling the person to deals across the state, a one-year magazine subscription, weekly motivational emails and a chance to win team incentive prizes such as bikes, iPods or a tropical cruise.

It costs $20 per person to sign up.  Four basic steps are required:
•    Form a team of 2-10 people. Gather all e-mail addresses and t-shirt sizes.
•    Chose a team name and select a team captain.
•    Team captain should register all team members (at the same time) at www.livehealthyiowa.org. Be sure to enter Winneshiek County's Group ID first, "LHIWINNCO." That way all county participation, progress and results can be tracked as a whole.
•    On the check-out/payment page, be sure to enter in the Hy-Vee discount code, "LH2468" to receive $5 off each participant.

"Our team had so much fun with the program last year," said county captain, Brenda Balk. "The weekly tracking really makes you conscious of how much activity you do in one week. It pushes you to do more than you probably would have otherwise."

In 2010, only 17 residents in Winneshiek County participated in the challenge. Last year county participation rose to 654 adults and more than 400 students.  Nearly 29,000 hours of activity were logged and 1,984 pounds were lost.

"That dramatic participation increase sends a clear message that residents of Winneshiek County care about their health and they want to make positive changes," said Balk. "This challenge is a fun, affordable way to keep moving in the right direction."
 
Balk is the volunteer Winneshiek County captain for the 100 Day Challenge. For more information stop by the Visitors Center in Decorah, call 563-382-2023 or e-mail brenda@visitdecorah.com.