This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah moms who want to strengthen their hearts are being sought for a 100-day contest at Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray.
The 2015 My Heart Challenge — Mom's Edition application deadline is April 1. To apply or get more information, go to myheartchallenge.com.
IMC will pick 15 moms between the ages of 23 and 55 who live in Salt Lake County and have at least one child younger than 18 living at home.
Past years' contests have featured firefighters, school principals, mayors and other city leaders, an IMC news release said.
The annual challenge is a 100-day contest to help participants strengthen their hearts by improving their lifestyles. They receive coaching and counseling from the heart institute's staff, including exercise specialists, dietitians and cardiac experts. They also get a series of tests at the beginning and end of the challenge to measure their accomplishments.
Last year, IMC said, the 15 firefighters lost a combined 498 pounds — or an average of 33.2 pounds per participant — and they reduced their total cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, body fat and waist circumference.
Moms who apply but are not picked for the contest will be invited to participate in the Play-at-Home version of the three-month challenge, the news release said.
Kristen Moulton