“Shrinkdown” evolves into year-round “Activate”
Activate Greenwood is the new incarnation of Shrinkdown. To make the weight-loss and healthy living program more effective, it will now be a year-round healthy living program. The Greenwood Family YMCA, Lander University, and Self Regional Healthcare have once again combined resources to address the issue of obesity and make Greenwood and surrounding areas, healthier communities. In order to reach everyone who wants to improve their personal or family well-being, it is still free and open to all.
The Kickoff Rally will take place on Monday, January 14, 2008 at Lander University Chandler Center (PEES Gym) from 5 PM to 8 PM. Everyone can participate in Activate Greenwood. The Kickoff will include free tee shirts to the first 750 at the Lander Chandler Center, registration for Activate Greenwood, the first official weigh-in, website training and demonstrations, health screenings, health talks and more.
“Basically, Activate Greenwood challenges everyone to eat healthier and exercise regularly,” said Gray Stallworth, Greenwood Family YMCA CEO. Participants will learn how to incorporate moderate exercise for 30 minutes, five days every week. They can enter their activity into an online log at the Activate Greenwood website and track their progress.Like Shrinkdown, Activate will provide healthy living information about nutrition and exercise through literature and health talks by wellness and medical experts. “We are expanding the health talks and the organized activities into a year round calendar,” according to Janada Jay, YMCA Senior Program Director/Activate Greenwood Coordinator. “We want to create and incorporate as many free activities and events as we can to get people outdoors and moving.”
There are thirteen South Carolina communities that are participants in Activate South Carolina, plus two communities in North Carolina and one in Georgia. “This is the only statewide or regional effort of its kind in the nation,” according to Kristi Arledge, Greenville YMCA, Director of Activate South Carolina.
“This program is designed to help individuals control their weight and improve their health by becoming more active,” said Stallworth. According to most experts, reducing excess weight and becoming active contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints. It helps relieve the pain of arthritis and reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression. “Activate is a unique community effort to address the crisis of obesity and related ailments in a concerted way,” according to Stallworth.
Weigh-ins will be every Friday for the first six weeks. Beginning in March, participants will weigh in every third Friday of each month throughout the year.
Counseling will be available at the weigh-in stations for those who want to talk or need
suggestions for personal success. Weigh-in locations include: YMCA, Lander University Student Wellness Center, Self Regional Wellness Works, South Main Street Baptist Church, Ninety Six Town Hall, Ware Shoals Center for Family Medicine, Abbeville Recreation Building, and McCormick Chamber of Commerce.
Activate Greenwood will this year incorporate the group or company challenge element. These challenges promote mutual encouragement and accountability. Every group that has 50% of their registered participants attend the weigh-ins 75% of the time will receive a banner and public recognition for their achievement. Groups can also check their progress on the Activate Web site. “Over the past two years,” said Stallworth, “participants surveyed after Shrinkdown was over, said that they wanted a year ‘round program. They needed the encouragement of the program to keep them motivated. We agree and offer Activate Greenwood as a better option for the lifestyle changes that are required for long-term weight loss success.” The Activate website will be key to the program’s success. Activategreenwood.org will be fully functional on January 15. At that time, participants will be able to view and download the Healthy Living information, record their daily activity and check their weight log. And, those who were unable to attend the Rally will be able to enroll online at that time.
