High Life Highland Launches Its Christmas Challenge

9th November 2011

High Life Highland, established on the 1st October to deliver Community Learning and Leisure services on behalf of The Highland Council, launches its first Highland-wide community event this month.

The 6 week "MOVE IT TO LOSE IT" Christmas Challenge begins on the 14th November at all participating High Life Highland leisure centres.

The campaign encourages the community to get active in the run-up to the festive season. The message is simple: Why wait until January to make that New Year Resolution? Start to get in shape for the festive season now - you'll get a head start on a healthier lifestyle in time for Christmas - and step into the New Year as the New You!

MOVE IT TO LOSE IT gives participants the motivation, backed up by professional advice and support, to improve health and lose weight in a fun environment.

As well as the obvious physical benefits, exercise significantly boosts mood and confidence, health and wellbeing - and helps to beat the winter blues.

Chair of High Life Highland, Cllr. Drew Millar, will himself be taking up the Challenge. He says, "MOVE IT TO LOSE IT is a great opportunity to get fit in time for the festive season - and as well as all the support from professionals and other participants, it will be great fun. I'll be the first through the door at my local leisure centre - and I'm sure there will be lots of people joining me!"

So - how does it work? At the first session, the Leisure Team welcomes recruits to the programme. Then everyone is assessed for fitness, weight and body fat and targets are set. The programme includes a daily Body Blast - 10 minutes of focused fat burning and toning exercises - time to attack that tummy, and tone up arms and legs! Every week, there's a special MOVE IT TO LOSE IT Last Chance Workout Class before the weekly weigh in.

How much does it cost to MOVE IT TO LOSE IT? It's FREE to current all-inclusive High Life members. Individual membership is available at a promotional price of just �20 for the six weeks of the Challenge or �30 for a family membership - please note, children must be 12 years and older to participate.

The Challenge rewards the weight loss winner of the week at each leisure centre with a �20 gift voucher. At the end of the challenge, the overall winners from each centre are entered into a prize draw to win an all-inclusive High Life membership for a year.

The most exciting incentive is the team challenge. The leisure centre with the overall winning percentage weight loss will be awarded �1000, to purchase fitness equipment or enhance the existing programme - a lasting means for the community to continue the healthy lifestyle they have achieved.

MOVE IT TO LOSE IT is a dynamic initiative that will inspire communities to work together to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. For more information contact your local High Life Highland leisure centre.

High Life Highland (HLH) was established on October 1st 2011, to deliver a suite of Community Learning and Leisure services on behalf of The Highland Council. With headquarters in Inverness and a staff of over 1000, it works to enhance quality of life in the Highlands by developing, delivering and promoting leisure and learning opportunities to all sectors of the community.

Its nine specialist areas of service cover: Adult Learning, Youth Work, Outdoor Education, Archives, Arts, Museums, Leisure facilities, Libraries and Sport.

MOVE IT TO LOSE IT CHALLENGE

Participating Leisure Centres -

Thurso Swimming Pool
Wick Swimming Pool
Alness Swimming Pool
Invergordon Leisure Centre
Sutherland Swimming Pool Complex
Tain Royal Academy Community Complex
Dingwall Leisure Centre
Black Isle Leisure Centre
Lochbroom Leisure Centre
Gairloch Leisure Centre
Arainn Fhinn, The Fingal Centre
Nairn Leisure
Craig Maclean Leisure Centre
Badenoch Centre
Lochaber Leisure Centre