Join Team Extra Steppers in Let's Move challenge

Having trouble getting motivated to move this year? Palm Healthcare Foundation just might have the extra push to get us going.

The foundation with CBS12 and Palm Beach Broadcasting launched Let's Move: Commit to Change, a month-long physical activity challenge in Palm Beach County. The initiative, part of the national Let's Move! campaign, wants county residents to complete and log at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day in the month of January. 


Last year, the campaign took place in April. But this year, the move to the start of the year seems perfect to follow through with New Year's resolutions to get healthy. 

In 2013, Boynton Beach residents and workers logged more minutes than any other city. This year, the municipality has scheduled weekly walks and has a celebration planned for Jan. 30 at the Boynton Beach amphitheater. They are the team to beat.

Last year, 100,133 minutes of activity were logged countywide by residents from 50 ZIP codes.  

This year, several new events are part of the challenge, such as a free boot camp each Saturday at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket led by Reggie D of the FM radio station X102.3. The boot camp meets on the lawn by the market and begins at 10 a.m. 

The first boot camp was held on Jan. 4 when participants worked out to log
minutes for the Let's Move campaign. (Palm Healthcare Foundation photo)

On Jan. 18, Let’s Move will be a part of the Third Annual South Florida Fair Kids Mile. Eric Roby of CBS12 will lead the race. During the event, volunteers will help families log their minutes. 

Palm Healthcare, started from the proceeds from the sale of Good Samaritan and St. Mary's medical centers, is focused on improving the health of Palm Beach County residents. It's based in downtown West Palm Beach, a good location for its semi-weekly walks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each of those days, a group leaves from the 700 S. Dixie Highway building at 5 p.m. to walk around the city, says Marge Sullivan, vice president of communications.

The foundation spends about $10,000 and $15,000 on the campaign, which includes promotional brochures and T-shirts to participants. This year, Aaron Wormus of aGuyOnClematis fame and I are creating the Team Extra Steppers. Please join us and perhaps we can give the Boynton Beach team some healthy competition. Log your minutes here and remember to choose the Team Extra Steppers. (It may a few days for the team name to show up in the pull-down menu. If you don't see it listed, simply type in the name in the box below.)

And now, for my numbers

I had my best walking day last week on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014 when I walked:

Steps: 10,207

Miles: 5.1