Community members of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in Live Well in 2012, a new initiative to make healthy living a habit.

The effort is being launched today by Plymouth School District Community Education and Recreation, just in time to support those well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions.

Jessica Mella, the district’s nutrition and wellness coordinator, and Clayton Moore, recreation and fitness coordinator, will take turns offering weekly advice throughout the year.

The advice will take the form of simple lifestyle changes people can make that will add up to improve overall health.

“These are small things that you can build on each week,” Mrs. Mella said.

This week’s health tip: Drink more water. Strive for an extra 2 cups (16 ounces total) a day.

Mrs. Mella notes that, whether from the tap or bottled, water is very important for many reasons:

• It prevents dehydration.
• It helps cushion our joints and keeps our body temperature stable.
• It provides moisture to our skin (especially during dry winter months in Wisconsin).

We should aim for six to eight cups of non-caffeinated beverages daily. Try these ideas to add 2 cups of extra water to your day as you start the New Year: 

• Drink a glass of water when you awake.
• Take a water bottle with you to work or when running errands.
• Keep a cup of water at your desk or in your kitchen (or the room you spend the most time in).
• Enjoy water breaks instead of coffee breaks.
• Add slices of lemon, lime, orange, or cucumber to water to add a little extra flavor.

People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate.

“We hope to make this a community effort,” said Kathryn Murray, Community Education & Recreation director. “We want parents and children and neighbors to support one another as we all strive to live healthier lives.”

Mr. Moore said people can build fitness from wherever they are. If you’re already following an exercise routine, continue and add more variety, he said.

People participating in the challenge are encouraged to chart their progress. Those who turn in a copy of their charts each month – whether they followed all of the advice or not – will be entered in a drawing for prizes.

The January prize, for those who submit their charts by Feb. 5, will be a six-month individual membership to the Community Fitness Center at Plymouth High School with a personalized fitness assessment, a prize package worth $130.

Other prizes will include kitchen gadgets, a cooking magazine subscription, healthy food, personal exercise equipment and fitness classes.

Progress charts can be obtained from the Community Ed & Rec website at www.plymouth.k12.wi.us/COM.html and the Community Ed & Rec office on the north end of Plymouth High School, 125 Highland Ave.

The weekly advice will be featured in short video segments on Plymouth Community Television Channels 14 and 20. The videos and tips will be archived on the Community Ed & Rec web site, for those who wish to join – or rejoin – the effort midyear.

People also can sign up to have the weekly tips emailed to them, along with helpful encouragement during the week. Send an email to commedrec@plymouth.k12.wi.us with Live Well in 2012 on the subject line.

We’re also adding a Live Well group to the district Facebook page, so people can ask questions and support one another.

Those taking the challenge are encouraged to check with their doctors and to create their own health record by taking a current photo and a preliminary assessment of their health, including:

• Waist circumference
• Body fat analysis
• Weight
• Cholesterol levels
• Blood-pressure levels

People also are encouraged to find partners to tackle the initiative together.  “The larger the investment group, the greater the odds of success,” Mr. Moore said.

Then visit the Live Well page each week to discover simple steps to a healthier lifestyle.

Learn more:
Click here to visit the Live Well in 2012 web page.
Click here to visit the Community Education & Recreation website.
Click here for a January progress chart.