Cumilla White did not know what to expect when she signed up herself and her great-grandchildren for the 5-4-3-2-1 Go! Challenge. A few weeks into the 10-week challenge, she realizes that eating healthy and staying fit will take considerable time and effort, but she thinks the work will pay off in the end.

Participants in the health challenge go to meetings with coaches and nutritionists, take part in scheduled physical activities at the Triangle Sportsplex and improve eating and exercise habits at home.

"We rotate every week. We go to the Sportsplex this week and do nutrition next week," White said.

White and her three great-grandchildren -- Jonathan, Raekwon and Ronald -- decided to sign up for the program because Jonathan and Raekwon are struggling with weight problems.

"We need some good eating habits and different exercises we can go do to get them on the right track while they're young," White said.

The family has not experienced much health trouble yet, but White wants to pre-empt potential problems.

"We really don't have a lot of health problems, but it's about getting it before they start getting some," White said.

So far, White and her great-grandchildren have enjoyed many aspects of the program. The children have enjoyed eating fruits and playing games at meetings, and family members look forward to such activities as swimming and roller-skating for their physical requirements. However, the family is finding that there are some challenges associated with the new fitness regime.

"We're trying to get into the challenge of walking every day. We haven't gotten good at that yet," White said.

But the four participants are committed to leading healthier lifestyles and are finding that eating healthier is not so bad after all.

"It's going pretty good with the eating. They told us about the basic food groups and about getting so much of each one every day," White said.

Two people are helping the family with the challenge -- a coach, Susan Clayton, and a nutritionist, Murriel Fozard. They have given the family some valuable advice about getting and staying healthy, and White is trying to incorporate that advice into her family's new way of living.

"All of it is good advice -- very good advice," White said. As the program progresses, White is not sure what to anticipate but looks forward to seeing positive results.

"I hope it will be worth it," White said.