Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MURRAY — Joee Lancaster and her husband have been trying to make cutbacks for years.
But even though they've each dropped more than 50 pounds with diet and exercise, it's been hard to keep the weight off without sliding back to old habits.
"It's an everyday battle. It is. Ev-er-y day is a battle," said Lancaster, drawing out each syllable.
The Lancasters are one of eight local families competing in a 100-day contest sponsored by the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute to help families get more heart healthy.
All the families involved have struggled to get healthy in the past.
For Lancaster, it's been a challenge to keep off the weight but even more so to get her children involved. She's most worried about her 9-year-old son, who is overweight for his age and has high blood pressure and cholesterol.
He wants to change, "he really does," Lancaster said. "But it's an everyday battle, and he's a child. It's hard."
Throughout the challenge, participants will get coaching and counseling from exercise specialists, dietitians, counselors and cardiologists.
"Knowledge is power, so I'm hoping that we can gain as much knowledge as we can," she added.
The annual contest kicked off Thursday with an official weigh-in and health assessment. In 100 days, the families will return to see who made the most improvement.
The winners receive a year's pass to Boondocks Food & Fun.
Emma Mills, a mother of two from Riverton, said she and her husband both have high cholesterol and want to show their daughters, ages 11 and 13, "a healthier way to live."
When it comes to eating out, sometimes it's just too tempting, Mills said.
"We just want to make sure that we are here for our kids and our kids are here when they're older and that they live a heart healthy life," she said. "Because we live in a world where it doesn't really promote that whatsoever."
Mills' heart failed while she was pregnant with her youngest daughter — a rare and life-threatening event called peripartum cardiomyopathy. Doctors don't know what caused it, but it made Mills want to improve her heart health.
Her husband has also struggled with his weight for his entire life, according to Mills. She hopes he will gain more confidence through the challenge.
"The people you love, you want the best for them," Mills said. "My husband was the one that signed us up, so I'm sure he's thinking the best for me. He's looking out for me, and I'm looking out for him, and we're both looking out for the kids."
She added: "This way, we can cheer each other on."
Email: dchen@deseretnews.com Twitter: DaphneChen_
