Intermountain Medical Center issued a challenge to city and community leaders, encouraging them to lead the way in getting healthy.
Mayors and councilmen have been dieting and exercising for the last month for the friendly competition.
Councilman Carlton Christensen of Rose Park says he's lost 18 pounds since starting the program. Healthy food choices like apples and string cheese are new staples in his diet.
"I think the biggest part is tracking what I'm eating. I'm astonished by the quantity I was eating before," said Christensen.
Mayor Dan Snarr of Murray has been running to lose those pounds, and says he's weighing in at 184 pounds right now.
"I'm feeling pretty good. I've basically knocked off the sugar," said Snarr. "I'm full because I drink a lot of liquids and I get my exercise running back and forth to the bathroom."
Dietician Theresa Dvorak says that cutting back how much you eat rather than what you eat is key to a weight-loss plan.
"If we can get our portions sizes in check - even if we don't change what we are eating, we just change how much we're eating - then we can see significant results," said Dvorak.
The heart challenge lasts 100 days and caps off with a 5K run at Sugar House Park in June.
