Humana “Games for Health” is launching two online initiatives that will make you think twice about reaching for a second piece of pie this holiday season. The initiatives are an online game called the “Freewheelin Cycle Challenge” and a Facebook application called “The Battle of the Bulge.”

Freewheelin Cycle Challenge

Inspired by Humana’s Freewheelin bike-sharing program, the Freewheelin Cycle Challenge launches today at www.humanagames.com. It is an online bicycle-racing videogame that matches you and a quirky virtual opponent, such as Lucia – a cheerleader with an attitude, or Sgt. Henderson – a tough-talking veteran marine. To make it to the finish line first, players energize their bicyclist and pick up speed by capturing nutritious snacks, such as nuts and oranges. They lose energy, however, by rolling over holiday junk food, including candy canes, cookies and other sugary snacks.

On the way to bicycle glory, players also learn about exergaming, or games that require a player to move his or her body to play.

Humana Games for Health developed the game for parents and children alike to provide an important message about exercise and nutrition during the holiday season in a light-hearted way. The game – available on the Humana Games for Health site (www.HumanaGames.com) – is also being submitted to several popular casual-gaming Web sites. The game can even be e-mailed, allowing players to challenge each other for top spot on the leader board.

The Battle of the Bulge

“The Battle of the Bulge” is an application that will be available at Facebook.com beginning Dec. 24. To participate, users go to “The Battle of the Bulge” Facebook page and answer a few questions about their lifestyle, including exercise and eating habits. Based on the responses, users are assigned a virtual waistline, affectionately called a “bellytar.” The goal of the game is to maintain an ideal weight.

But it won’t be easy. Other “friends of flab” can “fling fat” your way, making your bellytar’s pants literally bulge at the seams. In a worst-case scenario, you could be headed toward an online heart attack. To shape up, simply answer questions about exercise correctly and watch your bellytar shrink before your very eyes. Then answer questions about nutrition correctly to fling some fat of your own.

For example, which has more calories – a gingerbread house or fruitcake? If you said fruitcake, then you can fling seven pounds of fat on one of your “deserving” friends.

To find the application on Facebook, simply search for “Battle of the Bulge” and click “download application.”

“The holidays can be a tough time for your waistline,” said Paul Puopolo, who oversees Games for Health as a director with Humana’s Innovation Center. “By delivering a healthy message at this time, we’re hoping to guide people away from the heartburn medicine and into the gym.”