Mayor's Fitness Challenge Starts March 31

Editor's note: The following is from the city of Somerville:

3RD ANNUAL MAYOR’S FITNESS CHALLENGE KICKS OFF MARCH 31ST  

Community Challenge, Wellness Pledge incorporate fitness, healthy eating incentives; Participants will receive discounted fitness services, coupons to local restaurants & businesses; Awards to be issued at first 2012 SomerStreets event in June.

SOMERVILLE – The City’s 3rd annual “Mayor’s Fitness Challenge” will kick off with an event on Saturday, March 31st at the Somerville High School field house, 81 Highland Ave.  The Fitness Challenge encourages community members to pledge to embody the Shape Up Somerville motto, “Eat Smart, Play Hard, Move More,” by making smarter food choices and increasing daily physical activity.  Individuals may participate in one of two ways:  1) by forming or joining teams of up to 10 people.  At the end of the Challenge, teams will be judged by weight loss and change in Body Mass Index (BMI), and winning teams and individuals will receive prizes.  2) By signing a “Lifestyle Pledge,” vowing to make daily lifestyle changes in terms of healthy eating and activity levels.  Those signing the Pledge will also receive incentives throughout the program.  The kickoff event will be held at the Somerville High School Gymnasium from 11am – 2pm on March 31st, and all members of the public are invited.  The Fitness Challenge will run through Sunday,  June 3rd, when winners will be announced at the City’s first SomerStreets event of 2012 on East Broadway.

The kickoff event will include fitness demonstrations by local “boot camp” and self-defense studios, face painting, arts and crafts, recreational opportunities for kids and adults, healthy snacks, recipes and healthy cooking demonstrations featuring local chefs.  Individuals choosing to participate in the Team Challenge will be weighed and measured for BMI index at the beginning and end of the Fitness Challenge.

Throughout the Challenge, participants are encouraged to utilize the City’s innovative new wellness portal, implemented through a partnership with Fivi Health Networks.  The interactive website allows users to create health and wellness goals, and track those goals along with daily or weekly fitness regimens.  The portal will provide you with lots of health information and ways to track your efforts to eat smart, move more and live well.  Community members can register by visiting https://somerville.ma.fivi.com/.  

“Last year, more than 500 community members of all ages participated in the Fitness Challenge, and provided very positive feedback of the overall program, so we are really looking forward to bringing this program back with new and improved programming, incentives, and educational materials designed to help any and all residents make healthier lifestyle choices,” Mayor Curtatone said.  “Our goal is to help residents learn how to make smart, healthy food choices on a budget, and to educate our community about the importance of physical activity.  The Fitness Challenge is a fun, community-building program that gets to the heart of those issues.”

Fitness Challenge participants will receive incentives for attending fitness activities and/or City-sponsored events throughout the course of the program, including the Mayor’s Fitness Buck, which offers discounts to several area restaurants, businesses, and fitness programs.  Recreational and fitness programs will be offered at a discounted rate to Challenge participants on a trial basis.

For more information about the Fitness Challenge and its programs, please contact Director of Community Relations, Carlene Campbell-Hegarty, at 617-625-6600 ext. 2615, or CCampbell@somervillema.gov.