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2012 A Healthier Weigh Program

Gisele Jefferson, GPA Extension AgnetGisele Jefferson, Area Extension Agent - Golden Plains Area
Date: 1/4/2012
Questions? Contact Me

Exercising just a few hours a week can lower your risk of having a stroke or heart attack, developing diabetes, or having certain types of cancer. In addition, exercise can increase your HDL "good" cholesterol, increase your levels of vitamin D, and lower blood glucose levels.

So, why don't more people exercise and prevent chronic disease? The bottom line is time and motivation. One way to stay motivated is to exercise with a partner, or be part of a group which has similar goals. A group helps support and encourages each other with results of much more success reaching health and fitness goals than if on your own.

Be part of the 2012 A Healthier Weigh challenge and a team or group challenge can become your supporter and motivator for starting a life of health and fitness. A Healthier Weigh is a 12-week challenge with teams of 4 adults, or individuals (in the Golden Plains Area counties). During the challenge, participants use a pedometer to record their physical activity and set their goals for the the 12 weeks.

Teams (and individuals) weigh in on county weigh in dates to begin the challenge. Participants receive a password to access weekly newsletters on nutrition, health and fitness. By increasing activity and making wise food choices, people in previous years have averaged losing 4% of beginning team weight. Because the focus of A Healthier Weigh is overall fitness, there is no weekly weigh-ins. Teams weigh-out in mid-April.

Registration for the 12-week challenge costs less than 50 cents a day. At least 25% of registration fees will be returned as CASH prizes. Teams earn points for miles of physical activity recorded, percentage of beginning team weight lost, and percentage of beginning waist circumference inches lost.

Entries for A Healthier Weigh are due to your county Extension Office. Contact the local office for challenge guidelines and registration packets and due dates. Guidelines and entry form are available on the Golden Plains Area Extension website at goldenplains.colostate.edu.

Golden Plains Area Extension Agents working with the AHW challenge are: Joy Akey 970-332-4151 or joy.akey@colostate.edu; Tracy Trumper 970-854-3616 or tracy.trumper@colostate.edu; and Gisele Jefferson 970-345-2287 or gisele.jefferson@colostate.edu.

2012 AHW Program Consent Form (Adobe PDF)

2012 Golden Plains Area AHW Guidelines (Adobe PDF)

2012 Golden Plains Area AHW Team Entry Form (Adobe PDF)