We’ve heard from many people who indicated that the weather kept them away on Thursday. If you’d like to join the 2018 Better Body Challenge, we’d love to have you. For those who missed the original registration, you now have a second chance. Come for registration on Thursday, January 18, 2018 between 5 and 6:30 PM. For more information about the challenge, click here. If you’d like to print off your registration form and have it completed before arriving, you can get one of those here or at the DeSoto Public Library.
Better Body Challenge 2018
The kick-off for the 2018 Better Body Challenge will be Thursday, January 11, 2018. Mark your calendars. More information will be coming soon.
2016 Better Body Challenge Results
We had 99 participants in the 2016 Better Body Challenge. Thirty-three participants finished, and together they lost 868.86 pounds!
The 1st place winners received $495.00, and the 2nd place winners received: $125.00 plus a $25.00 gift card from Wal-Mart.
1st Place Winners
Ron Sutton with 19.35% of weight-loss
Suzy Allen with 11.79% of weight-loss
2nd Place Winners
Curtis Allen with 16.83% of weight-loss
Kim Kingsland with 10.34% of weight-loss
Woodland Nature Trail Receives Funding
On Wednesday, January 28th, the City of De Soto received news that grant funding from East-West Gateway had been approved the bridge and surfacing for the Woodland Nature Trail. This rustic walk-trail (currently in use) connects the De Soto Senior High School Campus to the Vineland Elementary Campus. It offers the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature and provides the benefit of the walking experience. Funding begins in 2015 and the project is to be completed in 2016. Get Healthy DeSoto applauds the vision of the city to enhance this walk trail and to David Dews, City Administrator, for writing and obtaining the grant.
The Woodland Nature Trail has been developed through partnerships with the City of De Soto, De Soto Public Schools and Get Healthy De Soto. Additional partnerships include the De Soto Rotary Club, who donated mulch and a sign, multiple dedicated volunteers, and many in the business community who donated machinery, equipment and supplies. Additional information about the upcoming project is outlined below:
- Project consists of development of 0.7 mile multi-use trail
- Project has been discussed for years and is recommended in the City’s Walkable Bikeable Community Plan
- Project to include 8 ft. wide asphalt surface, entire length of project
- A 10 ft. wide at-grade bridge crossing over the Tanyard Branch to be constructed
- Every effort will be made to accommodate all persons by following the guidelines set forth by the Americans with Disability Act
- Total Cost of the project is estimated to be $406,405.00
If you haven’t enjoyed walking this trail, we will offer guided walks during the DeSoto Home Show on March 28th. Please stop by the GHD booth for more information.
Children’s Physical Activity
Everyone knows that physical activity is important for overall health. Children are not excluded either. They benefit from physical activity just as adults do and in other ways that are just being explored by researchers.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, regular exercise helps children form good habits that will carry over into adulthood. In addition, kids who are habitually physically active tend to have
- Stronger bones and joints
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Greater muscle strength
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A decrease in body fat
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Improved flexibility
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A healthier cardiovascular system
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A reduced likelihood of developing diabetes
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More energy
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A greater ability to handle stress
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Improvements in self-confidence and self-esteem
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Greater social acceptance by physically active peers
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Opportunities to make new friends
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Better concentration at school
These are kind of the…yeah, yeah, yeah. Everybody knows this…sort of thing. However, new research is showing that regular exercise also helps kids with ADHD.
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According to Alan Smith from Michigan State University and Betsy Hoza from the University of Vermont, preliminary results show marked improvements in behavior for kids with ADHD who participate in a 20-minute workout before school. For more information about their research, check out MSU’s website and their latest in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.