Lighten Up Wisconsin Kicks-off for it's second year!

Registration for the statewide health initiative program, Lighten Up Wisconsin is open! Lighten Up Wisconsin is a five-month team challenge that encourages team members to become healthier through increased physical activity and healthier food choices. Team competition will recognize achievement in two areas: weight loss due to healthy eating and physical activity and accumulated activity. Last year, over 1,700 people participated in Lighten Up Wisconsin, resulting in a weight loss of over 12,000 pounds!

"We are launching the program statewide for the second year," said Nicole Mueller, Director of Health Initiatives at the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. " As we continue to grow, we see great potential in our second year of Lighten Up Wisconsin, and are looking forward to helping the citizens of Wisconsin make healthy lifestyle changes."

Lighten Up focuses on small, realistic changes in diet and exercise that result in permanent lifestyle changes. The team approach provides participants with the support system needed to help keep them on track and motivated.

"Most employers are looking for ways to promote and foster wellness within their organizations. We have an active wellness program, but we saw the Lighten Up program as an opportunity to get a little friendly inter-hospital competition going," says Mike Blanchard, Vice President of St. Joseph's Hospital-Ministry Health Care. "It was very successful. We had over 200 people involved resulting in over 1,100 pounds lost and had fun in the process!"

For details and to register, visit www.lightenupwisconsin.com. People can form a team of co-workers, friends, church members, family members, or any group, with between two and 10 members. Registration is $10 per person and includes a Lighten Up Wisconsin T-shirt, weekly motivational strategies and a Lighten Up Wisconsin handbook. Throughout the five-month program, participants receive weekly health and wellness tips to help them reach their goals.

Lighten Up Wisconsin is presented by Ministry Health Care and supported by Hydrite Chemical Company, Ho-chunk Nation, Wisconsin Beef Council, Charter Communications, Dasani, and Clear Channel- Madison. For more information about Lighten Up Wisconsin visit www.lightenupwisconsin.com or call Nicole Mueller at 608-226-4780, ext 231.

Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation is a nonprofit sports management organization that helps develop sports tourism in Wisconsin and promotes positive lifestyles and physical fitness through amateur athletic events and health education programs. WSDC properties include Lighten Up Wisconsin, Shape Up Wisconsin Kids, the Fit Kids Challenge, the Badger State Games, and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. WSDC is also the local host of Ironman Wisconsin.