Bernero will challenge Lansing to lose 1 million pounds

LANSING – Mayor Virg Bernero will step on the scale at today's State of the City address.

Bernero will be weighing himself to kick off a new public health initiative, Lansing Loses a Million, to help area residents set fitness and weight loss goals, connect to local groups and resources and track progress in pounds lost or miles exercised. The goal is to collectively lose one million pounds in the tri-county area.

"As a region, one of our biggest, most identifiable problems is weight," Bernero said. "This is about ... trying to underscore all of the opportunities to get healthy, to get fit."

Lansing Loses a Million is the brainchild of Kelly Zielinski and Ashley Logan, who founded the Lansing nonprofit Lettuce Live Well in July. Zielinski said she and Logan were both working in nutritional counseling at the time, and started the organization as a way to help more people achieve a healthier lifestyle.

The pair pitched the idea to the the city of Lansing early on in the process, said Emily Stevens, manager of leisure services at the Lansing Parks and Recreation department. She said Bernero was excited about the idea from the start, and liked the concept of bringing together all the existing resources for active, healthy living in the city into one initiative for the region.

Bernero said the goal of Lansing Loses a Million corresponds with his vision of "Lansing 3.0," which he'll be outlining in his state of the city address today. He said his remarks will be focused on "moving (Lansing) into modernity," with a large part of the overall productivity and economic health of the region hinging on the health and productivity of the region's "human capital."

The technology infrastructure and funding for Lansing Loses a Million will come from Lettuce Live Well, which Zielinski said is funded primarily through private donations and sponsorships from local businesses.

Zielinski said the idea came from a similar program in Oklahoma City, where city residents committed to losing a combined million pounds in 2011.

A similar initiative was spearheaded in Calhoun County the same year, when 1,169 participants lost a total of 14,302 pounds.

"The goal is to teach people how to live healthier lifestyles, not just lose weight," Zielinski said. For those who may not need to lose weight but still want to get in shape, there is an option to record progress in miles, not just pounds lost.

Zielinski said those who register for the program will have access to free diet, sleep and fitness tracking tools, as well as free nutritional and fitness coaching through Lettuce Live Well. Businesses or groups of friends can challenge each other, and there will be opportunities for arranging meet ups through the site, she said.

As part of their sponsorship, Zielinski said, the YMCA will be offering a free one-day pass to everyone who signs up for the program.

If you go

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero will give his annual State of the City address at 7 p.m. today at Lansing Community College's Gannon Commons, inside the Gannon Building.

The address is open to the public. It will be broadcast live on WILX-TV Channel 10 and on Lansing's public access channel, which is Channel 12 for Comcast subscribers. The speech will be streamed online at www.lansingmi.gov/govtv.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The public is asked to be inside by 6:30 p.m. due to the live broadcast.

Parking is available in LCC's B, C and D surface lots. Lots B and C can be accessed from Schoolcraft Street. Lot D can be reached from Capitol Avenue. A full parking map can be viewed at www.lcc.edu/maps/main.

Sign up

Registration for the 'Lansing Loses a Million' initiative is open now to everyone in the region age 14 and up. To register, go to www.metrolansinglosesamillion.com.

You can also register at the city of Lansing's Free Family Fun Fridays, held on the first Friday of each month. The next one will be held Friday, Feb. 6 at the Gier community center.

For daily reminders and ideas for living an active lifestyle in the greater Lansing community, follow reporter Kate DuHadway on Twitter @k8rouse or Instagram @movelansing.