Charlotte, NC – Did you know that hunger was already a struggle for 1 in 8 Americans even before these challenging economic times? Now, food pantries all across the country are finding it difficult to keep up with the increased demand.

There is hope! The Mecklenburg County Health Department’s Fit City Challenge has created a way for residents to give back to the community while helping themselves live a healthier lifestyle.

The Lose Weight, Donate Challenge brings together the Fit City Challenge and Earth Fare, the Healthy Supermarket to encourage weight loss through physical activity and healthy eating.

For each pound of weight lost by participants, Earth Fare will donate an equivalent amount of healthy food or money to Second Harvest Food Bank of Charlotte.

Here’s how it works:

• Register for the FREE challenge anytime between February 16 and May 10, 2009 at www.fitcitychallenge.org.
• Use to online fitness log to record your weight and track progress.
• Watch your loss turn into someone else’s gain. It’s a win-win for the community.

“Whether you need to lose a little or a lot, we’ll give you tips and tools to help along the way”, said Fit City Challenge Director Dianne Thomas. “This is an excellent opportunity to improve your health while helping those most in need.” 

So, log onto www.fitcitychallenge.org and get started today. Also, Fit City is now on Twitter. Get daily tips and friendly nudges to help as you work to live a healthier life.