Lindsay Madden, FNP

The teams are pumped – the Eagle Challenge has begun!

Fifteen teams – 105 brave souls in all – signed on for the Eagle Challenge. The participants had their weigh-ins and fitness checks last week, and are ready to get started.

The overall goal is to have fun and help each other get fit and feel great in 2008. All of the participants have their own goals, and they will chronicle their progress over the next six months in blogs posted on the Eagle website. Readers can offer encouragement by posting their own messages. Go to:

(www.bluemountaineagle.com/eaglechallenge) to add a comment or see how the Challengers are doing.

Forming a team was just the first part. Next, the Challengers had to formalize their goals and make plans to achieve them.

Over the last week, the Challenge has had an invaluable partner in Lindsay Madden, a certified family nurse practitioner in private practice in John Day. She volunteered her time to conduct baseline fitness tests for all the participants.

The areas tested included body mass index, resting heart rate, endurance – that’s push-ups or sit-ups; hip and waist measurement, blood pressure readings and – last but not least – weight.

On the Eagle website, she details the importance of these tests and also offers some tips for weight loss – Check it out!