Contact: Barbara A. Bettin President/CEO, YMCA of Lincoln 402-434 ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barbara A. Bettin
President/CEO, YMCA of Lincoln
402-434-9201
BBettin@ymcalincoln.org
HOLISTIC PROGRAMS A BETTER APPROACH TO ACHIEVING FITNESS
Lincoln YMCA Offers Family-strengthening Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle in 2008
Lincoln, Nebraska 12/24/07 – 2008 is here and millions of Americans are once again making
resolutions to lose weight, get in shape and improve their overall health and wellness in the New
Year. Unfortunately, 50 percent of the people who start an exercise program drop out within six
months to a year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A combination of too little physical activity and too many calories has resulted in a dramatic
increase in the number of obese and overweight Americans, including children, putting them at
risk for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and even
some cancers. The Lincoln YMCA has a prescription for achieving a healthier lifestyle while
strengthening family and other relationships.
“Many of us want to achieve better health but end up discouraged,” said Barb Bettin, Lincoln
YMCA President. An increasing population of ‘health seekers’ who want to be active and
healthy, continually start and stop the process, unable to sustain their commitment to health and
wellness. It’s our experience that those who stay encouraged and are ultimately successful often
enlist a family member or friend and join welcoming programs and activities that foster
relationships and prove a constant encouragement to not only physical health but to strength of
spirit, mind and family. Relationships make the YMCA health and wellness difference.” Bettin
said.
As a member of the nation’s oldest and largest community-based organization and one of its
largest health and wellness program providers, the YMCA wants to help health seekers embrace
their New Year’s resolutions in 2008 by offering some questions to ask when choosing a health
and fitness program:
• Is the facility located within 10-12 minutes of your home or office?

• Does the facility provide opportunities for the entire family to exercise together or offer childcare
and afterschool or teen programs? Such services can be invaluable to parents in achieving their
goals.
• Does the facility offers a sense of belonging and a comfortable, non-judgmental environment that
caters to individual exercise capabilities?
• Will staff and fellow members encourage opportunities to interact and meet new friends or
become involved in community events?
• Do staff provide expertise and support not only in designing an exercise routine, but also in
making an overall lifestyle change that address issues such as improving time management,
learning to cope with stress or developing healthier eating habits?
• Will staff members welcome you by your first name and will they notice if you stop working out?
• Does the facility offer access to alternative locations for members who travel? Are these locations
in the places you frequent?
In 2005, the YMCA of Lincoln was selected by YMCA of the USA as a site for the Activate
America: Pionneering Healthy Communities initiative. The goal of this ten-year initiative is to
unite the public and private sectors in strengthening the health of America’s kids, families and
communities with locally-based strategies for healthy living, partnerships with corporate and
public leaders, increased YMCA capacity to serve communities and strengthened programs to
educate and engage the public in healthy lifestyles as permanent enjoyable routines. The
Lincoln YMCA is currently working with school children and youth organizations to help them
develop healthy changes in lifestyle and learn how easily they can make healthy choices in their
everyday lives through a program called “Weigh Cool.” This program has been developed with
funding from the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln and the Nebraska Children and
Families Foundation as well as support from other local, county and state agencies.
“Good health is so much more than a treadmill or stair climber. It’s a lifestyle that incorporates
good health in spirit, mind and body,” Bettin said, “and the key to success is confidence and
relationships that can turn resolutions into reality.”
You can learn more about the Lincoln YMCA and Activate America by visiting ymcalincoln.org
or ymca.net/activateamerica
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