Maintaining a healthy weight is hard all year round, but it can be especially hard during the winter holiday season.

According to the CDC, maintaining healthy weight happens when a person keeps his or her weight at the right amount based upon a person’s height, the amount of food/drink he or she eats, and his or her activity level.

Maintaining a healthy weight can be hard, but people with disabilities tend to have more difficulty maintaining a healthy weight than people without disabilities. This occurs for many reasons, including the use of various prescription drugs that cause weight gain, less opportunity or education about exercising, fewer trainers who know how to work with people with disabilities, and less education about how or why it is important to eat healthily.

Fortunately for all of us who need to be better at watching our weight, January is National Healthy Weight Awareness Month. This month encourages people of all ages, weights, dress/pant sizes, and ability levels to improve their health and well-being by being more active and eating healthier. Here are some things that you and your family can do to improve your health and start your year right:

•Check out the CDC’s Physical Activity Guidelines to learn more about how people with disabilities can include physical activity in their everyday lives.

•Give walking a try at the Wescott dome.

•Visit the NCHPAD website to find an accessible gym that is right for you and your family.

•Eat healthy well-balanced meals. The CDC has some great tips on maintaining a healthy weight through healthy eating, which includes creating a healthy eating plan.

•Eat more fruits and vegetables — check out the CDC’s video about finding a balance in your diet.

•Join NCHPAD’s 14-week individualized fitness and exercise program for people with disabilities to improve your fitness level and eating habits

Reaching your healthy weight goals takes time. While you may not get to your ideal weight overnight, we hope these links will provide you inspiration and opportunities to get active and have a happy and healthier 2016.

 Upcoming Events

•People First Aktion Club’s All-You-Can-Eat Chicken Dumpling Soup and Chili Supper and Fudge Sale: 4:30 to 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22 at the Mower County Senior Center, 400 Third Ave. NE, Austin, MN. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children (Ages 4 to 12). Children ages 3 and under are free. Includes your choice of chicken dumpling soup and/or chili, beverage and dessert. Tickets are available at The Arc office or at the door. We will also be selling fudge at the supper. Free samples will be available. Every donation, large or small, will help cut expenses and increase profits: Boneless chicken, hamburger, carrots, celery and financial donations to purchase other items needed. Call The Arc at 507-433-8994 today and let us know how you can help.

•Polar Plunge for Special Olympics: Join our 2016 Special Olympics Polar Plunge Team on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Lake Kohlmeier in Owatonna. We are looking for some of The Arc’s supporters to brave the cold and jump in the frigid waters of Lake Kohlmeier in Owatonna. Half of all money raised online will be donated back to our team which will directly lower costs for our athletes. Must be part of our team in order to qualify for this opportunity. If you’d like to join or even donate to our team please visit: www.plungemn.org/team/10msomowercounty. We’d love to have you. For more information on how to attend the plunge, please visit: www.plungemn.org/events/owatonna/.

 Jamey Helgeson is the Program Director at The Arc Mower County and can be reached at jamey@thearcmc.org or by calling 507-433-8994, Extension 102. You can also visit our website (www.thearcmc.org) and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thearcmc).