At the Active & Alive in Altoona Wellness Fair last summer, businesses from throughout the Chippewa Valley came to show residents various ways to live healthier lifestyles - including showing the importance of physical activities.

   Along with the new year come many new year’s resolutions. These promises might include losing weight, exercising more, and developing healthier lifestyle habits. While some begin with good intentions, it is often easier for most people to maintain new and improved lifestyles if they have camaraderie along the journey – and thanks to the efforts of Altoona city officials and school district staff, a program designed for Chippewa Valley residents with just these goals for 2009 will kick off in two months.

   Active & Alive in Altoona, a collaborative city and school district wellness committee, is organizing a program called “Losin’ It in Altoona, Wellness Challenge” which will run from Sunday, February 1 through April 30, 2009.  The program focuses on helping people achieve healthier lifestyles.
   Altoona School District Business Manager Kathy Dahl is a member of the Active & Alive in Altoona committee. 
   “I think it will help us to be a healthier community,” she said. “It will help residents get to know their neighbors.”
   Joyce Orth, Altoona School District Executive Assistant, serves as the committee chair.
   “The program is open to all adults who live or work in the Chippewa Valley. We’ve expanded the program, so it doesn’t need to be residents of Altoona,” explained Orth. By opening the fitness challenge to the entire Chippewa Valley, the committee is hoping to have larger involvement from other communities. 
   The entry fee for the contest is $20 per adult. This fee covers workshops, activities, and prizes. Participants may download a registration form from the Altoona School District website or pick up a form at the Altoona City Hall or the Altoona School District office.
   Scheduled registration dates and times include Tuesday, January 20 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Emergency Services Building at 1904 Spooner Avenue, as well as during the Altoona High School boys’ basketball game on Thursday, January 29 and the AHS girls’ basketball game on Friday, January 30.  
   “On January 26, an inservice day for Altoona School District employees, we will be having a kickoff day with our staff,” said Orth. She is hoping to see at least 30 to 40 people from the school participate in the challenge. “We have also talked about going to Altoona area manufacturers to get buy-ins from them and their employees.”
   Throughout the contest, participants will be rewarded for accomplishing various health-related activities. 
   “Points will be given for eating breakfast, getting eight hours of sleep, drinking water, eating fruits and vegetables, and other healthy activities,” explained Dahl. “We are also going to try to introduce some new activities for winter months, including snowshoeing.”    
   “Our partnership with Highland Fitness is very important,” added Orth. In addition to offering a special three-month membership option during the contest, Highland has also donated the grand prize, a one-year membership to the Eau Claire-based athletic facility. There, contestants can also take advantage of a reduced price for the Polar BodyAge Assessment Package, an assessment that tells users the physical age of their bodies.  
   Although the final calendar of events is still being determined, workshops throughout the three months will include topics such as nutrition and wellness in the 21st century.
   “Right now, it’s difficult to know the number of people who will participate,” said Dahl. “(But) getting in shape is a great incentive.”
   More information on the Losin’ It in Altoona Wellness Challenge can be found by calling the Altoona School District at (715) 839-6032. As soon as it is ready, the city and school district websites will also host a link to the Losin’ It in Altoona web site, where even more details will be available.