It comes as no surprise. As the gloomy economic news mounts and more and more Americans find themselves unemployed or underemployed, stress is on the rise. The number of respondents who reported that the economy is causing significant stress jumped from 66 percent a year ago to 80 percent last September, according to the American Psychological Association. Calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline surged from 39,465 in January 2008 to 50,158 this past January.

In a recent New York Times poll, 70 percent of respondents worry that a member of their household will become jobless. A vast majority say they’re convinced the recession will last another year or more.

With the finish line of the Live Healthy Iowa Challenge firmly in sight, the Ms.Fits added another 48 hours and 40 minutes of activity this week. The team also dropped another three pounds. With spring arriving in the great state of Iowa, opportunities for getting out and exercising are growing week by week, so the Ms.Fits should have lots of new inspiration and motivation in the closing weeks of the challenge. We’re there on the sidelines to cheer our favorite team on. As far as we’re concerned, they’re already big winners. Go Ms.Fits!