Live Healthy Le Mars: The 100-day healthy living challenge is back

It's got a new name, but the former Lighten Up Le Mars is back in town.

Meet Live Healthy Le Mars.

It's the same 100-day challenge as last year with some fresh offerings.

Live Healthy Le Mars is a team-based physical activity and weight loss challenge that aims to help people form better habits in nutrition and physical activity.

This year it runs from Jan. 14 to April 23.

Teams of two to 10 people can sign up for $20 a person.

Each team member logs into a website every week and records their minutes of activity and, if they wish, weight loss.

As the 100-day challenge continues, team members can track their progress.

Last year more than 300 people participated and exercised for 10,551 hours, recording a total weight loss of 890 pounds.

On the website, team members also have access to workout plans, recipes, personalized meal plans and other resources.

"We're encouraging businesses to put teams together, even husbands and wives who want to try it, we challenge everybody in Plymouth County to put together a team," said Kari Daale, in the Floyd Valley Hospital education department. "In past years businesses have challenged each other, too."

The Live Healthy registration fee also includes a T-shirt, a coupon for a 6-inch sub sandwich from Subway in Le Mars and a one-year subscription to a lifestyle magazine like Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal, Men's Journal, Motor Trend, Family Circle, Parents or Midwest Living.

They also have the chance to win monthly prizes.

"They get more than their $20 back," said Carol Schneider, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension. "Last year a large number of participants won prizes.

Live Healthy Le Mars also offers team members four Lunch & Learn programs -- one each month. People can bring a sack lunch or enjoy a light lunch for $3. They run from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and are repeated in the evening from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Topics are:

*Eating Healthy & Portion Control, by Megan Peterson, Farm Bureau Health Coach, Jan. 27 at Plymouth County Extension;

*Recipe Alterations, by Janet Kehm, Floyd Valley Hospital registered dietitian, Feb. 11 at Floyd Valley Hospital;

*Exercise- You're in Charge, by Jerry DeWit, Floyd Falley Hospital's director of physical medicine, March 19 at Floyd Valley Hospital;

*Eating Out Sensibly, by Denise Wyland, ISU Extension's nutritional and health field specialist, April 14 at Plymouth County Extension.

"We want to give people hands-on information that helps motivate them," Schneider said. "People tell us they have trouble staying motivated."

Live Healthy team members can try out a number of classes at the YMCA -- everything from beginning yoga and body sculpting to water fitness and pilates. Most classes are $1 per session for team members.

Brochures with all the information about registration and what Live Healthy Le Mars has to offer are available at the local ISU Extension office, the Le Mars Family YMCA and Floyd Valley Hospital.

Floyd Valley Hospital is working with ISU Extension and the Le Mars Family YMCA to host the challenge.

Registration forms must be returned to the YMCA. The deadline to register is Jan. 14.

"With the new year, people are thinking about resolutions, well, this is one way to do them," Daale said.

The 100-day challenge, she said, is more manageable than looking at a longer time period.

And physical activity doesn't just have to be walking, jogging, or the like. It can be housecleaning or, in the spring, gardening, Daale said.

At the end of the Live Healthy challenge, a wrap-up walk will be hosted April 23 at Maser Recreational Trail around the Willow Creek Golf Course.

It will include a poker hand, where walkers pick up a playing cards along the way, then the best poker hand wins a prize.

Last year 306 people participated in the 100-day challenge for a total of 54 teams. Daale said they'd like to see 100 teams this year.

"One year we even had 500 teams," Schneider said. "I'd like to see 500."

Le Mars has been participating in the Lighten Up/Live Healthy Iowa program for about five years.

"Why do we bring it back? People ask us to," Schneider said. "We feel if we're helping people we need to keep doing it."