Nebraskans lose 14-tons

Lincoln-Participants in the recently-completed Live Healthy Nebraska 100-Day Challenge lost over 14 tons and reported more than 20 million activity minutes. Those in the weight-loss division averaged 4.89 lbs lost, those in the activity division averaged 28.23 minutes per day.

More than 8,000 Nebraskans participated in the program, which assists teams of 2-10 people in adopting healthier nutrition and physical activity habits. Participants received weekly tips and logged their progress periodically from Jan. 23 to May 1.

The top weight-loss team, aptly named No Excuses!, achieved an amazing 14.29% reduction in their weight. Team Captain Michaela Judd said she and her teammate who happens to be her husband Dustin, exercised steadily, but believe strict adherence to calorie counting, portion control and intermittent fasting, were the primary contributors to their weight-loss. The two reside in Lincoln and registered through Lincoln Electric System, which had 219 participants in the program.

Organizers also reported a program-wide reduction in body mass index, commonly referred to as BMI, of 10,075 points. BMI is a number calculated from a person's weight and height which provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people. BMI is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The collective BMI reduction for the 100-Day Challenge represents a savings of more than $2 million according to a formula generated in a 2006 study relating BMI and medical/pharmaceutical costs.

Other statistics reported:

--34% of participants lost five or more pounds

--59% averaged more than the recommended 150 activity minutes per week

--the average participant reported results 10 of the 15 weeks

--33.4% of participants recorded results all 15 weeks

--69% of Challenge participants were female

--80% of Challenge participants joined through their workplace

--Average team size: 6.22 members

Other weight-loss medalists include: Flight 1: 2nd place-gonedeflab, Kearney, 13.24%; 3rd place-Blubber Buddies, Lincoln (LES), 11.32%. Flight 2: 1st place-Hottie Totties, Deshler (Reinke Mfg.), 3.32%; 2nd place-Blister Sisters, Omaha (Pay Pal), 3.31%; 3rd place-Randy's Rangers, Blair (Cargill Blair Corn Milling), 3.31%.

Activity medalists include: Flight 1: 1st Place-LOL, David City, 3.46 hrs/day; 2nd place-Mity Dog, Lincoln (LES), 2.89 hrs/day; 3rd place-Posse to Lose, Humphrey-area. Flight 2: 1st place-Wii Not Fit, Lincoln (State of Nebraska), 38.7 min/day; 2nd place-Live Laugh Love, Lincoln (UNL), 38.4 min/day; 3rd place-Motivated to Move, Kearney (UNK) 38.3 min/day.

Top 10 companies in average physical activity minutes per day include (50 or more employees participating): 1. Baldwin Filters-72.97; 2. Jefferson County-35.63; 3. NEBCO-31.5; 4. Nebraska Natural Resources-30.45; 5. Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.-30.39; 6. Reinke Mfg.-29.48; 7. Northwest Public Schools-29.30; 8. Community Medical Center 28.20; 9. State of Nebraska-27.58; 10. Lincoln Electric System-26.88.

Top 10 companies in average pounds lost per person include: (50 or more employees participating): 1. Behlen Mfg.-9.27; 2. Community Medical Center-7.17; 3. The Nebraska Medical Center-6.56; 4. Butler County Health Care Center-6.25; 5. Reinke Mfg.-6.24; 6. Warren Distribution-49.7; 7. Omaha Public Power District-4.89; 8. Cargill Blair Corn Milling-4.53; 9. Crete Carrier-4.48; 10. Community Memorial Hospital-3.97.

Companies earning 100-Club participation awards include: PayPal-627, State of Nebraska-479, University of Nebraska-Lincoln-435, University of Nebraska-Kearney-284, Lincoln Electric System-219, NEBCO, Inc.-205, Berkshire Hathaway Group of Insurance Companies-167, Cargill Blair Corn Milling-166, UNMC Physicians-155, University of Nebraska-Omaha-111, The Nebraska Med Center-109, UNL Athletic Department-107, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.-103, Nebraska Natural Resources-101.

A dozen teams won major drawing prizes from Live Healthy partner companies, including the Nebraska Beef Council--which provided a half dozen team barbecue packages, complete with lean beef and all the trimmings-and the Nebraska Pork Producers, which provided a case of pork tenderloins and prep kits for six successful teams.

Nebraska Beef Council prize-winning teams include: HPERLS-Gals, Kearney (UNK); For the Health of It, Omaha (Berkshire Hathaway); Bye Bye Triple H, Lincoln (Ameritas); A Step Ahead, Lincoln (UNL), Chunky Monkeys, Falls City (Community Medical Center); Dorris's Team, Omaha (PayPal).

Nebraska Pork Producers prize-winners include: Losing to Win, Lincoln; The Fat & The Furious, Fairbury (Jefferson County), Honey I Shrunk the Staff, Lincoln (NIFA); Mission Slimpossible, Grand Island (Northwest Public Schools); The Determinators, Auburn (Nemaha Co. Hospital); Hot Totties, Lincoln (Lincoln Surgical Hospital).

The Live Healthy 100-Day Challenge is a program of Live Healthy America and the Nebraska Sports Council, which conducts the Cornhusker State Games and the LiveWellNebraska.com Family Challenge, which begins June 4. Platinum partners include BlueCross BlueShield of Nebraska, St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, Nebraska Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine and Anderson Auto Group. Learn more at NebraskaSportsCouncil.com.

© 2013 Rural Radio Network. All rights reserved. Republishing, rebroadcasting, rewriting, redistributing prohibited. Copyright Information