Grand Health Challenge starts

ST. MARYS — The Grand Health Challenge officially kicked off its 16th year of competition on Tuesday night at Memorial High School.

Put on each year by Grand Lake Health System, this year’s competition features 262 participants from eight different counties in the area.

Kimberly Oen, owner of Just Breathe Health and Wellness in Minster, was the featured speaker on Tuesday.

The name of her studio is named after her son, Cody, who has cystic fibrosis, and 10% of the studio’s profits go to children with the life-threatening illness.

Oen is a nationally registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance.

She experienced a health scare in her mid40s that was brought on by stress.

“It was destroying my health and my personal relationships,” she said. “I made the decision to change my lifestyle so I left my job because my health and my family were most important to me.”

Oen talked to the audience about her five foundations of optimal health which are: core breathing, thoughts, movements, nutrition and lifestyle.

“I want to talk about celebrating you. You guys have made the decision to sign up for this challenge,” she said. “This is an opportunity for a new beginning. You should be proud

of you for making this decision. The first step in finding change is taking responsibility for our choices and our life. Every day we have a choice. A choice of how we begin our day and an attitude of how we start our day.”

Oen led the group through a few breathing exercises, noting the benefits of breathing better and correctly.

She said that getting seven to eight hours of sleep isn’t something that’s optional, it’s required.

“You can’t catch up on sleep,” she said. “Appetite suppressant hormones and all your internal processes are working hard at night to help try and keep your balance into balance, to get rid of toxins, to absorb nutrients. Sleep is critical.”

Oen ended her talk about how important it is to have a plan and sticking to it, something that isn’t easily done alone. We all need help. We can’t do this life alone.”

“Now you have someone that’s accountable, you’re accountable to and actively seek their help. Chance of completing the goal is 95%,” she said. “You’re all on a team, you have each other, you all have to commit to each other.”

Oen summed up her five foundations of optimal health at the end of her talk.

“Breathe correctly, be mindful, stay in the present moment, move — your body craves movement, eat for health, eat to live — not live to eat and sleep well,” she said. “Use these foundations as your compasses.”

Grand Lake Health System Community Outreach Coordinator Jenni Miller spoke following Oen and laid out the premise of the challenge over the next five months.

“It’s a weight loss program, but it’s a lot more. We’re hoping that you take away a lot of positives,” she said. “We want this to be a lifestyle change, not just a weight loss change.”

The grand finale of the competition will be held on May 24 where $1,000 will be given to the first place team and $500 to the second place team.

$250 will be given to the top male and female not on the winning team and $150 will be given to the second place male and female not on the winning team.

Miller also presented the winners of the Master Maintainer program. The people who maintained the greatest weight loss from January 2021 to present were recognized.

Taking third place was Julie Albert, who was present to accept her award.

“The big thing for me is I’ve done this for so many years with the hospital, and every year it’s a diet for me when I do this. Last year, I just finally decided it’s going to be a lifestyle change,” she said.

“I’m eating better. I try to move three or four times a week. After this was over last year, I was like I’m not gaining this weight back because it’s hard to lose and I just worked so hard at it.”

Amy Kemper was second and the winner of the Master Maintainer event was Missy Schmitmeyer, who won $300 and a quarter zip jacket.