Resolutions and challenge join for better fitness

By Jomay Steen, Journal staff | Tuesday, January 01, 2008

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To help people keep their New Year’s resolutions of regular exercise and physical fitness in 2008, South Dakota Department of Health Division of Health and Medical Services has introduced its “Choose 2 Move Challenge.� The new challenge focuses on people pursuing a variety of fitness activities from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15 for three to five days weekly, depending upon level of intensity.

“Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to achieve and maintain good health and reduce the risk for chronic disease,� said Kristin Biskeborn, state nutritionist for the health department and a registered dietitian.

According to Biskeborn, this will be the eighth challenge since the state began designing these activities in October 2005. The program was launched by the Governor’s Step Challenge. The first of three challenges to be introduced throughout 2008, 18 teams and 250 people

already have signed up to participate.

“It’s open to all South Dakotans. Because it is online, people will need to have their own e-mail address. There are tools online that have handouts that will help,� she said.

Depending upon what challenge each individual or team plans to do, they can earn points by walking, hiking, racewalking or aerobic walking, jogging, running, wheeling a wheelchair, backpacking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, rappelling, bicycling, dancing, step aerobics, water aerobics, martial arts, jumping rope, stair climbing, rowing, weight training, boxing, ballroom dancing, ballet, clogging, racket sports or ball sports.

The intensity levels from moderate to vigorous will earn points and prizes will be awarded when the challenge is complete. Moderate exercise sessions will last 30 minutes, five days weekly, while vigorous activity pares the sessions down to 20 minutes, three days a week, Biskeborn said.

“When doing a moderate activity, you can still talk. At a vigorous level, you can’t carry on a conversation,� she added.

According to a 2005 department survey, fewer than half of South Dakotans ages 18 and older met the recommendation for moderate intensity physical activity, while only 24 percent met the recommendation for vigorous activity. And 22 percent reported no leisure time physical activity at all.

Since 2005, data collected has indicated that challenge participants do increase their healthy behaviors. A significant amount of the population has sustained some change in bettering their health and fitness levels.

“It’s very positive results,� Biskeborn said.

To sign up or for more information about the challenge, go to www.healthysd.gov, click on “Choose 2 Move Challenge;� or call the department’s Office of Health Promotion at 773-3737.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.