25 May 2005

Manukau City Council kick starts 10-Week Fitness Challenge

Manukau City Council is rising to the challenge of increasing the level of fitness in Counties Manukau by extending its 10-week Fitness Challenge city-wide.

Coupled with the growing concern at the high incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and childhood obesity, is the awareness that high density living and sedentary urban lifestyles have contributed towards a drop in the level of participation in physical activity and sports, particularly amongst young people.

It has long been recognised that participation in sport and physical activity while offering substantial health, social and economic benefits, also promotes a heightened sense of identity and positive self image. The 10-week FitStart Challenge has been developed to provide a ten week training and nutritional programme designed to:

Reduce body fat Lose weight Improve fitness Increase muscle strength Improve body tone

The programme seeks to target those that, while they have the intention to participate in some form of physical activity, they haven’t yet done so for a variety of reasons. The 10-week challenge basically constitutes a ‘change of life’ programme and is priced at $50 for current Manukau Leisure Services fitness centre members and $120 for non-members (for the 10 week duration of the programme).

The professionally designed programme consists of an upper body weight workout, a lower body weight workout and a cardio workout. Participants will be given an introductory session on how the programme works as well as being given the added incentive of having a programme tailored to their personal goals with three professional fitness assessments provided to track progress.

In addition, nutritional advice will be offered as well as participation in support groups and the most important point of all, is that the programme works! As part of the drive to gain participation, community leaders will be invited to take up the 10-week Fit Start Challenge to get their communities behind the programme and ‘lead by example’ to a healthier way of living and a healthier and more active community.

Participants need to be over 17 years of age and have the opportunity to take up the challenge in a group or individually before the 6th of June.

Not only is the 10-week Fit Start Challenge affordable, but it is also an easy and fun way to improve health, reduce sickness and enjoy life to the full with support being provided every step of the way.

Although fitness and lifestyle changes are best achieved over a long-term period, the challenge gives people the motivation to ‘kick-start’ an exercise programme and achieve results.

ENDS

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