North Adams Kicks Off Annual Fitness Challenge
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The crowd punched into the air, "jump roped" to the beat of the music, dropped for some push-ups and wrapped up with some meditative stretching.
The 10-minute exercise routine on Friday night was the warm-up for the third annual Mayor's Fitness Challenge — a 10-week challenge to a healthier lifestyle.
Some 450 people participated last year and organizer Amanda Chilson, local coordinator for the state's Mass in Motion program, said the number was already about 500 for this year with more people signing up.
"This is our biggest kick off," she said, as people continued to visit with tables set up for health and fitness consultants in the former Sleepy's mattress shop in the L-Shaped Mall.
"I think it helped that we had more partners offering opportunities for people. The new website is helpful, too."
Participants can register as individuals or teams on the new website and track their point progress there as well. (Paper forms are still available for the non-tech population.)
Points are given eating cups of vegetables and fruit; for drinking 8 ounces of water; and for every half hour of physical activity. Bonus points will be available throughout the challenge; the individuals and teams with the most points will win prizes.
There's also monthly calendars with lots of activities, including some free opportunities from local partners such as "Wellness Wednesdays" at the Northern Berkshire YMCA, and hikes with Mayor Richard Alcombright at Windsor Lake. During Healthy Dining Week from May 22 to 28, participating restaurants will offer meals with fruits, vegetables and smaller portion sizes.
Free nutrition and smoking cessation programs are also being offered through Berkshire Health Systems, Living Well, Eat to Total Health and Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Check the listings here for all the resources.
Chilson said those in the challenge should set up mini-goals each, like drinking more water or eating more vegetables.
"I think people reach big, and that's a good thing, but you also have to have those little mini goals you're setting for yourself. Something really small and tangible so by they end, they've set themselves up in a nice behavioral pattern," she said.
"Or have some common goal for all 10 weeks, like lower blood pressure or lower sugar."
The challenge is also a showdown between North Adams and Pittsfield on which city has the population most motivated to get moving, Alcombright reminded the gathering.
North Adams initially launched the challenge but the two cities teamed up in competition last year and the logo for the program features caricatures of Alcombright and new Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer. (Pittsfield kicks off its event next Saturday at the Farmers Market.)
"Let's win, let's be competitive, but let's remember what this is truly all about," said the mayor, urging the participants to find something in their lives they feel they can change by being healthier. "This isn't about being able to run a marathon .. this is about telling yourself 'I drank more water, I smoked fewer, cigarettes I started going on walks ... I helped myself emotionally and mentally.'
"Make sure that what you're doing is something you do for yourself for 10 weeks that will then carry on for a life time change."
Tags: fitness challenge, health & wellness,
