The countdown to launch has ended for the Johnson family of Chapel Hill. Gwendolyn, Illey, Abriana and Bryce have begun the 5-4-3-2-1 Go! Family Challenge, a 10-week initiative designed to help local families incorporate healthier food choices and physical activity into their lifestyles. The Johnsons already spend time together as a family; now they also are striving to become healthier together.

They joined the challenge, they said, because their busy schedules interfered with efforts to live healthier lives. Gwendolyn works with a golf distribution organization, and her husband, Illey, stays busy running his own landscaping business.

Abriana, 14, a freshman at East Chapel Hill High School, and 10-year-old Bryce, who goes to Estes Hills Elementary, are active in school and extracurricular activities. Abriana cheerleads at her high school, and Bryce participates in soccer and basketball.

Gwendolyn said the family stays active by riding bikes and tries to eat healthful foods, but she said those efforts have been inconsistent. She would like to see her family become healthier and do more things together, and she also wants to establish a new routine for herself.

"I would like to jumpstart my own initiative to make exercise a priority" she said. "I fell off."

She said the family tries to prepare nutritional meals, but with the pressures on their time, eating out or using the restaurant drive-through is often a tempting alternative.

For the 10 weeks of the challenge, the Johnson family will meet each week with a nutritionist and a physical activity specialist. Logan Rae, their assigned physical activity specialist, said she has overall and weekly goals for the family. Among them: less "screen time" in front of a television or computer; parking farther from destinations in order to sneak a little extra exercise in by walking farther; and using the stairs rather than the elevator. She also emphasized to the family that they can do fun things that are healthy.

"It doesn't have to be boring, and it doesn't have to be in the gym," she said. She suggested that the Johnsons make their bicycle-riding more consistent and that each person make it a priority to set aside time for something physical.

Nutritionist Elizabeth Watt said changing the family's eating habits might be one of the most challenging obstacles. With less-than-healthy food available at every corner, they will have to make a special effort to seek out healthier fare.

Gwendolyn said her family is excited about the opportunity for professional advice.

"We want to be more conscious of nutrition and are looking forward to learning new ways to be active," she said.