Healthy Momma Challenge

2008 HEALTHY MOMMA CHALLENGE

January is a time for fresh starts and goal setting. This year, it is our hope that you focus on your total health – mind, body, and spirit. Although a certain weight on the scale might be desired, it is your strength and vitality that make you beautiful. This year at Stroller Strides, not only do we want you to commit to be active at some point each day, but we also want you to commit to strengthening your inner beauty and spirit.

Introducing the 2008 Healthy Momma Challenge!! We have created a fun program that will help you meet your goals of making healthy lifestyle changes.
Teams of 3 people accumulate points according to their daily activities. For example, points are awarded for attending Stroller Strides classes, exercising on your own, taking time for yourself, spending time meditating/praying, keeping a personal journal, eating fruits and vegetables, and many others. The team to collect the most points wins PRIZES!! There will also be other prizes that can be won and T-shirts for everyone.
Important dates:

· Registration form due - Friday, January 11
· Teams selected and Team Captain identified - Wednesday, January 16
· Healthy Momma Challenge begins – Monday, January 21
· Weeks run Monday through Sunday. Points reported Mondays by 5pm
· Healthy Momma Challenge ends – Sunday, February 17

The following will help you understand how the Healthy Momma Challenge will operate and hopefully answer most of your questions. Of course, I am always available by email or phone should you have questions. I can be reached at brandimowery@strollerstrides.net or 602-628-1009.

What are the prizes?

After four weeks of competition, you will be exercising more, eating fruits and vegetables each day, and you will feel great about yourself and your new habits!
Also, prizes will be awarded for the top three teams that accumulate the most points during the challenge. The winning team will have first choice of a prize package, followed by the second and third place teams.
- $25 Stroller Strides Gift Certificate (for retail items or classes) (3)
- $15 Target Gift Cards (3)
- Stroller Strides Hat (3)

How do I get started?

This is a program EVERY MOM should be able to participate in (not just Stroller Striders). Complete the registration form and email it to brandimowery@strollerstrides.net or fax it to 888-228-8460 by Friday, January 11, 2008. There is a $20 entry fee per person which includes a Healthy Momma Challenge t-shirt.

After the close of registration, I will publish a list of participants and from that list you will form teams of 3 people. If you are interested in participating but need help with getting a team together, no problem, I will match those unmatched folks together. You will receive 20 bonus points for having at least 1 mom who has participated in Stroller Strides for less than 6 months on your team.

After your team is identified you will select a team captain and name (be as creative as possible!!). The Team Captain must email brandimowery@strollerstrides.net with te team name and the team members by Wednesday, January 16. Each team member will add up their points daily and provide them to the team captain on Monday mornings. Each participant will be provided score sheets to assist in tracking points. The captain is responsible for turning in the point count for the week (adding all the team members’ points together) on Mondays by 5pm by emailing brandimowery@strollerstrides.net.

THERE WILL BE A MANDATORY CONFERENCE CALL OF TEAM CAPTAINS ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 17 TO ANSWER ANY FINAL QUESTIONS. Other team members are welcome to attend also.
EACH TEAM WILL SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH RACHEL BEFORE THURSDAY, JANUARY 24 TO DISCUSS GOALS. THIS CAN BE DONE IN PERSON OR THROUGH A CONFERENCE CALL.

SO WHAT COUNTS TOWARD EARNING POINTS?
There are 3 categories in which to earn daily points.

MIND
As moms it is important to keep our minds healthy and sharp. You can earn MIND points by taking the time to strengthen your mind. Activities like reading a book, scrapbooking, learning a new skill (i.e. knitting or sewing), or taking a college course are all included in the MIND category.

BODY
Getting physical activity everyday is so important. Attending Stroller Strides classes can earn you maximum BODY points, but if you cannot attend classes, you can still earn points by doing any form of aerobic exercise that adds up to at least thirty minutes a day. Suggestions include walking, tennis, running, Tai Chi, yoga, tap dance, jazzercise, clog dancing, swimming, etc. Weight training will earn you points.

Other ways to earn BODY points are to eat healthy. Earn points for eating fruit and vegetable other than potatoes or dried legumes (like refried beans or bean/pea soup) as they are considered starches. A vegetable serving is equal to: ½ c cooked vegetables, ½ c raw chopped vegetable, 1 c raw leafy vegetable, or ½ c juice. Fruit serving size would include: 1 whole medium fruit (about 1 cup), ½ c canned fruit, 1/4 c dried fruit, or ½ c juice. Also, drinking at least 60 ounces of water every day can earn you points.
Finally, keeping a food journal can earn you points. You must record everything you eat, when you ate it and how much was eaten. A food journal template will be given to you.

SPIRIT
Connecting with your spirit and soul will help make you more of a complete person. Earn SPIRIT points by spending time meditating/praying. Connect with your inner self and learn what you are feeling and thinking. We recognize that people have different ways of expressing their spirituality yet a healthy spiritual life is an essential part of your well-being. Points in this category can be earned by participating in the meditative benefits of yoga and prayer.
Also a keeping a daily journal can help you track your progress (i.e. what you think, what you feel, what you need to do, etc.) The following are a few journaling ideas to help get you started: Think of a goal for journaling ...why are you doing it? Write a letter to yourself, someone else (real or imagined), or a spiritual guide. Write about events that trigger certain emotions, thoughts, memories, etc.