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"Making Tyler a FIT CITY one step, one bite and one health-conscious decision at a time" |
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An East Texas bank is bringing finance and fitness together. Austin Bank kicked off its own Fit City Challenge last week with a walkathon.
Austin Bank decided to join the Fit City Challenge and Lighten Up East Texas, a new regional weight-loss initiative, for several reasons, but most importantly to support workers' decisions to get active and stay active.
The goal was to walk 20 hours total among all the Smith County Austin Bank branches. The employees walked 30 minute shifts around the banks.
For some of the branches, this is the second fitness challenge.
Maebeth Cotton was part of the bank's weight loss challenge in Whitehouse. She's lost 40 pounds in the past two years.
“With getting married, having kids, working full time, physical fitness gets pushed to the back burner,” Mrs. Cotton said. “It was just a conscious decision to put myself back first and make that a focus.”
“It is a great initiative personally to get into shape. It helps keep up morale if you feel better.” Richard Solomon, regional president said. “And ultimately, health care costs are down.”
Austin Bank continues to encourage employees to get out on nice days and walk at lunch or on break. Its fitness committee suggests even leaving a pair of walking shoes at work.
Austin Bank already has a team of at least 25 taking on the Fit City Coalition's latest challenge — Lighten Up East Texas that officially kicks off Saturday with a weigh-in ceremony in Bergfeld Park.
Watch Dana Hughey's “Fit City Success” reports Thursdays during KYTX CBS19's 10 p.m. news.
