MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- After starting work at 4 a.m. and working all day, the last thing Jared Winsor feels like doing when he gets home is working out.

But now he says he's gaining weight, and some of his family members are fighting diabetes. Even his horse, Montana, is diabetic.

"Every creature on earth is fighting this," he said.

Winsor wanted to fight off an unhealthy lifestyle, so he entered his family in the Mesa Fit City Challenge.

The city chose the Winsors and Mesa computer technician Pam Whitney to appear next year at monthly events promoting fitness and physical activity.

The chosen families will win a prize at the end of 2008 and will be able to track their progress on a city Web site.

Other families who sign up for the activities will be entered to win prizes.

Mesa is among dozens of cities to heed the "fight obesity" call by sponsoring the Fit City Challenge.

"The background came from the national concern for the health crisis and the growing numbers in childhood obesity and adult obesity," said Mesa recreation supervisor Cindy Hunt.

This year, Mesa ranked fourth in the Men's Fitness magazine's list of "Top 10 Fattest Cities." Las Vegas was No. 1.

The report was based on indicators such as the number of fast-food restaurants, how much people use their gym memberships, the number of local exercise venues and civic leadership.

"I think everyone is seeing the need to change to a healthier lifestyle," Hunt said.

Winsor, 28, owns Big Tree Landscaping. He and his wife, Shaela, 24; daughter, Macey, 3; and son, Jared Jr., 3 months, will be required to attend at least nine of the 12 events next year.

Jared Winsor said his main goal is to attain a healthy lifestyle - to be able to run five miles, for example.

"I don't want to be a bodybuilder," he said.

But "a six-pack wouldn't be too bad," Shaela Winsor said.

Pam Whitney, 40, sees the Fit City Challenge as a motivator to her ongoing "fitness journey."

Whitney quit smoking five years ago and saw her weight shoot up shortly thereafter.

She underwent gastric bypass surgery in May and has since lost 130 pounds.

"I've been working my tushie off," she said.

But it hasn't been easy. And she still has about 70 pounds to go.

"You can very easily get back to where you were," she said. "There's about a two-year window to eat right and work out. It's your second chance."

She and her family now try to cut calories at dinner, play volleyball, work out at the gym and go hiking.

Whitney has even incorporated physical activity into the household discipline - a regular punishment is now 50 jumping jacks.

She found the Fit City Challenge while searching for some fun weekend activities for her children.

"I thought, 'What the heck?'" she said.

Whitney has seen so many positives in her life since she started losing weight, she said.

Her son, Casey, 8, told her, "I can put my arms all the way around you when I hug you now."

"I feel like I've won the lottery," she said.

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Information from: East Valley Tribune/Scottsdale Tribune, http://www.eastvalleytribune.com

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