FRANKLIN—At the beginning of a new year, weight-loss and exercise are always popular topics, but many people find it hard to stick to a regular diet and exercise routine and that’s where the Live Healthy Franklin-Southampton “100 Day Wellness Challenge” comes in.

The wellness challenge is part of a nationwide program called Live Healthy America. The program’s goal is to promote positive changes leading to a healthier lifestyle using a team-centric physical activity, weight loss and nutrition program.

Roger Lee II, the director of sports and recreation at the James L. Camp Jr. YMCA in Franklin, said working with a team environment is beneficial to people trying to lose weight, at any age.

“Everything always starts off good,” he said, until muscles start to ache or time constraints start eating into exercise time.

“With anything in life, there are going to be hurdles involved,” Lee said. “A friend can keep them on track.”

The challenge is set to begin on Jan. 14 and last until April 23. Participants will form teams, consisting of two to 10 people, that will track physical activity and/or weight loss weekly at the Live Healthy America Web site. Participants will record their progress once a week.

The program requires a $20 registration fee for each participant, and the fee includes a t-shirt, a one-year subscription to a lifestyle magazine, unlimited access to a variety of online resources, weekly e-mails with physical activity, nutrition and recipe tips and a personal tracking page.

People interested in the program should visit www.livehealthyamerica.org. The Group Registration ID for the Franklin-Southampton group is LHFS. Anyone with questions can contact Live Healthy America at 888-282-0822 or info@livehealthyamerica.org.

Locally, the program is sponsored by the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce, Southampton Memorial Hospital and the YMCA.