The 1st annual Commit to Fit! Mayor’s Wellness Challenge is a one-month health and wellness challenge that will be held from April 1st – April 30th, encouraging local Flint & Genesee County residents to practice healthy behaviors and become more involved in their community.

Commit to Fit! and City of Flint Mayor Dayne Walling call individuals to join the challenge, inviting residents to participate in the following ways:

Online Challenge Tracking: Tracking physical activity, servings of fruits and vegetables, and monitor your weight online at www.commit2fit.com throughout the challenge – those who achieve healthy goals will be eligible for a number of incentives. Visit www.commit2fit.com to view a complete list of the incentives and prizes that you could win – including gym memberships, gift cards and cash prizes!

Event Participation & Support: A number of fun, healthy events will be held throughout Flint and Genesee County throughout the challenge, many of them led by Mayor Dayne Walling. All individuals and residents in attendance at each one of the fun, healthy activities will be entered into a drawing to win Commit to Fit! prizes.

Visit www.commit2fit.com or the Commit to Fit! Facebook page for additional details regarding these events, which will include a weigh-in at City Hall, a healthy cooking demonstration at the Flint Farmers’ Market, a family fun walk at Max Brandon Park, and many more fun, healthy activities.
“Commit to Fit! is pleased to bring this fun, healthy opportunity to all those who live, work, learn and play in Flint & Genesee County” states Kirk Smith, President & CEO, Greater Flint Health Coalition.

“This is a great way to take advantage of a number of free, healthy activities to improve your own health and well-being, ” said Mayor Dayne Walling. “The challenge also supports the City’s efforts to improve health through the Imagine Flint – Master Plan.”

The Commit to Fit! Mayor’s Wellness Challenge is supported by a diverse collection of partners, including the Greater Flint Health Coalition and its Health Improvement Steering Committee, Crim Fitness Foundation, the Flint Farmer’s Market, Hurley Medical Center, Hurley Health & Fitness Center, Genesys Athletic Club, and the University of Michigan – Flint Recreation Center.

Sign up for the challenge at www.commit2fit.com today. All those who live or work in Flint and Genesee County are welcome to participate free-of-charge. Anyone who signs up by April 5th will be entered into a drawing to win cash prizes.

Commit to Fit! Smart Bites has been launched by the Greater Flint Health Coalition as a new partnership with local restaurants that engages youth in making healthier choices when dining out. Smart Bites incentivizes students to choose healthy menu options at participating restaurants and earn monthly prizes from Commit to Fit!.

Today, one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese. According to research, between 30% and 40% of children and adolescents eat fast food on any given day and nearly 40% of the calories kids consume are in the form of empty calories. Commit to Fit! Smart Bites is working with local restaurants to market the healthy options to students and make the healthy choice the easiest choice when dining out.

Here’s how it works: Students receive Smart Bites cards to take to participating Smart Bites restaurants, where they receive discounts for choosing healthy options. Students at participating schools can submit their Smart Bites cards monthly to be eligible for gift cards and prizes.

Initially launched in four schools and 14 Genesee County restaurants, the program is open to all Genesee County students, schools and restaurants interested in joining this community-based program. Email commit2fit@flint.org or visit www.choosesmartbites.org/commit2fit to find out how you can get involved!

Smart Bites is a program of the Institute of Medicine, made possible through the Kellogg Health of the Public Fund. The program is founded on the premise that food marketing is a powerful force that should be harnessed for good – that promoting and encouraging healthy foods can have a dramatic impact by helping kids choose smart, dine healthy and earn rewards.