Page 92 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2016

HEALTHY LIVING get active, stay active LET’SGO!GULFCOAST
Lighten Up Ocean Springs jumpstarts tness journeys
story by Susan Ruddiman photos courtesy of
MMississippi Gulf Coast Youth Health Coalition
ore than 370 people took advantage of the opportunity to Lighten Up Ocean Springs during March and April.
“The Lighten Up Ocean Springs program mainly targeted adults because we know that adults have
a lot to do with what their children eat,” said Joey Conwill, wellness director at the Blossman Family YMCA in Ocean Springs.
The eight-week weight loss challenge targeted people who wanted to jumpstart their fitness journey. They weighed in the week of Feb. 29
at the YMCA, setting a weight loss goal with the assistance of YMCA personal trainers. Singing River Health System staff provided the digital scales, which stayed in the lobby of the YMCA during the entire two months and recorded the individual’s weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood pressure. Each person received a packet with exercise and nutrition information along with a daily activity calendar.
Let’s Go! Gulf Coast, a nonprofit organization that promotes healthy eating and active lifestyles for children and families along the Coast, hosted this first lighten up campaign, said Kelsey Defayette, director of the Childhood Obesity Initiative, Mississippi Gulf Coast Youth Health Coalition. It uses the common message of “Make 5-2-1-0 Your Goal Every Day,” meaning five or more fruits and vegetables, two hours or less of recreational screen time, one hour or more of physical activity and zero sugary drinks and more water or low-fat milk.
“This is an event we created and then worked with the city of Ocean Springs, the YMCA and Singing River Health System. When combating childhood obesity, we need entire families to be involved,” Defayette said. “We thought this would be a great kick-off event in Ocean Springs to start motivating people.”
Throughout the two months, participants had the opportunity to attend free nutrition and health programs at area fitness clubs. In addition, businesses offered discounts on food.
The final weigh-in on April 30 at Fort Maurepas Park on Front Beach in Ocean Springs coincided with the “Healthy Kids R Fit 4 Life” marathon co-sponsored by the YMCA and the Biloxi-Ocean Springs Junior Auxiliary. Conwill reached out to children in the Ocean Springs School District to register for the healthy kids program that was held at the same time as the Lighten Up Ocean Springs program.
Let’s Go! Gulf Coast plans to expand lighten up campaigns to other Coast cities.
ABOVE: Randy Doyle, CFO of Blossman Propane Gas, Appliance & Service, registers for the “Lighten Up Ocean Springs” event. BELOW: Kelsey Keel, Childhood Obesity Initiative director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Youth Health Coalition with Adam Keel.
Kelsey Defayette
www.letsgogulfcoast.com letsgogulfcoast@gmail.com
92 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2016
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net