ABC 4 Utah News - Utah high school teachers to compete in 100-Day Heart Healthy Challenge

Dr. Kirk Knowlton from Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute and Nicole Manwaring, Jordan High School Child Development Teacher, will take part in the 2018 My Heart Challenge: Teachers Edition.
14 high school teachers from throughout the Salt Lake Valley who are striving to become more heart healthy will be competing in the 2018 My Heart Challenge, a 100-day contest to help them strengthen their heart health by improving lifestyles and reducing their risk of developing heart disease.
The teachers will kick off the My Heart Challenge: Teachers Edition on Friday when they gather with colleagues, principals, students, and others at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray to begin their 100-day journey to better health.
The teachers will compete to determine who can most improve their overall heart health and wellness during the 100-day competition, which is sponsored by the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute.
"I am a young person, with very little energy. I have Fibromyalgia, and I struggle to keep up with my two little kids and teaching high school students to teach preschool children," said Nichole Manwaring, a child development teacher at Jordan High School, who is a My Heart Heart Challenge participant. "I want to be my best self so I can give that energy to my students who are aspiring to be teachers. I know that changing my diet and exercise routines would help greatly, but I know I need structured support to make it happen."
During the 100-day challenge, teachers will receive individual coaching and counseling from heart experts at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute - including exercise specialists, dietitians, counselors and cardiologists - to help them make positive, long-lasting healthy changes to their lives.
At Friday's kickoff, teachers will be introduced and officially weigh in during a pep rally-style event. They will also hear from clinicians about the importance of becoming more heart healthy, as well as from a past My Heart Challenge winner on what to expect during the 100-day My Heart Challenge.
Teachers have undergone health assessments and testing. Those same tests will be repeated at the end of the 100-day challenge to measure their improvement. Activity by the teachers is tracked weekly. Teachers are awarded points for making enhancements in their health, as well as developing wellness and health programs to improve the overall health of students at their schools.
Participants in the 2018 My Heart Challenge: Teachers Edition include: Kristina Kimble, Alta High School; Pepper Poulsen, Bingham High School; Pace Gardner, Brighton High School; Mindy Wilder, Corner Canyon High School; Nikki Dinas, East High School; Dan McLay, Herriman High School; Jordan Hulet, Hillcrest High School; Nicole Manwaring, Jordan High School; Bobbi Morgan, Judge Memorial Catholic High School; Keeko Georgelas, Murray High School; Robert Rooley, Riverton High School; Julia O'Driscoll, Skyline High School; Kevin Harward, Taylorsville High School; and Jenna Meeks, Ascent Academy.
Previous My Heart Challenges participants have included mayors and community leaders, firefighters, moms, families, elementary school principals, and employees from non-profit organizations.