Fitness is Fun!
March 2009

Greetings from the office of the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program! You have received the March 2009 issue of Fitness is Fun, the official email distribution of the President's Challenge. These monthly emails will keep you updated on our programs, activities of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and other current information pertaining to health and fitness.

Fitness Question of the Month for March:

Who is your fitness role model and why?

Please respond via E-mail to The President's Challenge at preschal@indiana.edu. We'll include the most insightful responses in the April issue of Fitness is Fun.

Have you or someone else motivated a group of children or adults to lead a healthier life? Email us your story at preschal@indiana.edu and it could be featured in next month’s newsletter!

PCPFS NEWS:

Guidelines Featured at Upcoming National AAHPERD Conference
The 124th American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance National Convention and Exposition in Tampa, Florida (March 31-April 4, 2009) will feature three sessions related to the new U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans:

Overview - Rear Admiral Penelope Slade-Sawyer will keynote the Opening General Session and will discuss the new Guidelines.
Scientific Basis - PCPFS Science Board members, Greg Heath, Patty Freedson and Thom McKenzie will lead the PCPFS/AAHPERD Science Partnership Session: The First National Physical Activity Guidelines—Research-based Development and Applications. Their talks will describe the scientific review process used in developing the Guidelines, illustrate how the scientific evidence base was translated into the Guidelines, and provide recommendations for how professionals promoting physically active lifestyles can assess and translate the Guidelines into promoting physical activity in various school and community settings.
Action Plan - In order to implement the Guidelines, a plan is needed. National Physical Activity Plan committee member Amelia Lee will present Creating a National Physical Activity Plan. AAHPERD is one of the key organizational partners for identifying specific strategies and this presentation will provide a summary of the mission and key characteristics of the planning process.

Nerdel’s President’s Challenge Poster Game is Here!

Nerdel Calling All Kids, Teachers and Parents:
It’s Here! Nerdel and The Nerdel Company Present!
Nerdel’s President’s Challenge Poster Game

Click the Basketball to Play The Game

Or go to http://www.nerdel.com/presidents_challenge/.

One of the world’s most famous artists, Mr. Charles Fazzino, created a poster for the President’s Challenge and it’s really cool. Nerdel wants you to look at the poster (you can print a small one) and answer some questions about the different sports and fitness activities that were drawn by Mr. Fazzino.

You can win a Nerdel Award!!!
Check out Nerdel.com, Fazzino.com and of course PresidentsChallenge.org. Nerdel

PCPFS Physical Activity & Fitness Research Digest
The PCPFS Fitness Research Digest is published quarterly by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. To subscribe to the Digest please visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org/misc/news_research/research_digest.aspx.

President's Challenge NEWS:

Certificates have arrived!
Certificates bearing the signature of President Barack Obama have now arrived. Recognize your students for their accomplishments by giving awards endorsed by our Motivator-in-Chief!

SAVE THE DATE!
The 2009 "National President's Challenge: Be Active Your Way In May!" is coming soon.

The program will be held from May 1 through July 24, and individuals can begin registration from May 1 to May 29 at: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/login/register_individual.aspx.

If you are already registered, you will not need to register again. You can continue to log points in a similar fashion, and they will be counted toward the state totals.

When you’ve completed the six week program, you can download a free certificate or purchase pins, T-shirts, sport packs, medals and more – available at the President’s Challenge order center http://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx.

For more information about the 2009 National President's Challenge, please read the 2009 Fact Sheet.

2009 Emblems are here!
For the first time ever the President's Challenge is offering Presidential, National and Participant Physical Fitness Award emblems with a year on them. These emblems are a great way for students and parents to commemorate the year in which they earned an award. Ordering information is available in our brochure and on the online Order Center at https://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx.

We are now offering discounted rates on 2008 emblems – If you missed getting an emblem with 2008 on it we have a limited amount remaining in inventory. These collectible items will not be available when supplies run out. Check the website or contact our office for discounted rates on these emblems.

PC phasing out #1-12 Presidential Emblems
The President's Challenge will no longer offer the numbered Presidential Physical Fitness Award emblems (#1-12). We do have limited availability at this time however, we suggest stocking up now if you would like to continue handing these out. Once they are gone, they're gone! Visit our online order center at https://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx to order now or give us a call at 1-800-258-8146.

Sit & Reach Box Sit and Reach Boxes
Did you ever wonder where you could get a Sit and Reach box for testing flexibility? Look no further. The President’s Challenge has them available now. These flexibility testers are easy to assemble and feature the President’s Challenge logo on each side. Ordering information is available in our brochure and on the online Order Center at https://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx.

Scorepads Physical Fitness Score Pads
You asked for it, you got it. We now have score pads available that will make it easy to write down your students’ scores. Tear them off and give them to the students or keep them on the pad to take back to your office. There is even a section to write some notes. Ordering information is available in our brochure and on the online Order Center at https://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS

The President’s Challenge will be exhibiting at the following conferences, please stop by and say hi to our friendly staff!

California Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD)
When: March 19-22, 2009
Where: Santa Clara, CA
http://www.cahperd.org

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)
When: March 31-April 4, 2009
Where: Tampa, FL
Speaker: Acting-Executive Director Penny Slade-Sawyer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion will be speaking about the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines.
http://www.aahperd.org

Activities

Childhood Obesity Conference
When: June 9-12, 2009
Where: Los Angeles, CA
The 5th biennial Childhood Obesity Conference is the largest gathering of professionals focused on the prevention of pediatric overweight in the nation with over 1,800 in attendance. The conference is devoted to providing the most pressing and innovative issues related to childhood obesity. For more information, please visit http://www.cce.csus.edu/conferences/childobesity/09/

“Get Out” Conference (AAPAR)
When: December 3-5 2009
Where: NH Ski Resort
Teachers, professors and recreation professionals are encouraged to attend the first-ever winter “Get Out” conference at the Gunstock Mountain Ski Resort in Laconia, New Hampshire. Sessions will include: dressing properly for winter sports; how to purchase and fit equipment; teaching snow sports at your facility; starting a snow sports club; and the basics of snow sports, taught by a certified instructors. Community leaders, snow sports instructors and snow sports industry leaders are expected to attend the conference, in addition to physical educators and recreation professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.aahperd.org/aapar/template.cfm?template=getout.cfm

SPECIAL FEATURE: Roller Skating Association International (RSA)

The Roller Skating Rink Operators Association was created in 1937 by a group of skating center owners to promote roller skating and establish good business practices for skating rinks. Today they are known as the Roller Skating Association International, as a trade association representing skating center owners and operators, teachers, coaches and judges of roller skating, along with the manufacturers and suppliers of roller skating equipment.

RSA provides their members with industry information, publications, purchasing discounts, national marketing programs, and an opportunity to attend educational seminars and an annual convention and trade show. They also provide information for those who are interested in starting their own skating center. RSA membership spans across the United States, as well as a number of international countries. Over 1,000 skating centers strong!!

Some of the exercise benefits of Roller Skating:

Studies have shown that roller skating provides a complete aerobic workout and involves all of the body’s muscles, especially the heart.
Roller skating is equivalent to jogging in terms of health benefits-caloric consumption, reduction of body fat, and leg strength development.
Roller skating is recognized and recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) as an aerobic fitness sport.
Just one hour of moderate roller skating burns 330 calories for a 143-pound person. If that same person skates vigorously, he or she will burn up to 590 calories in an hour.
The number of calories burned per hour while skating at 6 mph is 350 and 600 while skating at 10 mph.

The President’s Challenge and RSA are teaming up again this year for the Skate A Million Miles (SAMM) program! The dates for this year’s program are March 12th – May 7th 2009.

The President’s Challenge encourages children to be active for 30 minutes a day, children 60 minutes a day, 5 days a week for a period of 6 out of 8 weeks. Activities such as biking, running, walking, roller skating, and so many others can help accomplish this goal.

SAMM encourages all of their skating centers along with the skaters to get involved to work together to hit the million mile mark. It can be done by having 50 skaters per center, skating 5 times during their 8 week period. If one skating session equals 5 miles or 1 hour each time a person skates this goal can easily be accomplished. Skaters are encouraged to participate as often as they would like to. RSA would like to remind you that we can reach our goal just by roller skating one mile at a time!!

Anyone may participate at their local RSA member skating center. For more information on where to find an RSA member skating center so you can participate in the Skate a Million Miles program, please contact RSA by calling 317-347-2626, emailing rsa@rollerskating.com or visiting their website at www.rollerskating.org.

NEWS AND RESEARCH:

8 Healthier Food Picks
Runner’s World
Liz Applegate, Ph.D

To stay healthy and run strong, you need to make the right food choices. People make choices everyday, most of which have easy answers. People usually just have ask themselves what they think is better for them. But take a stroll down a grocery aisle lane and see if the answers are still that easy. Having so many healthy options may make it difficult to know for sure which foods are best for you and your running. This article contains a list for eight of the most puzzling food choices out there.

To read more, please visit http://health.msn.com/fitness/running/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100166834.

The Ultimate Lunch-Hour Workout
Fitness Magazine
Lara McGlahan

Fight fat in just 18 minutes and be back at your desk before anyone even knows you’re gone! These moves will rev your calorie burn and trim all your problem areas. The moves are core centric, so no crunches are required. There is no need to wait for strength machines and no losing time between sets—you tone certain muscles while the ones you just worked are resting. Juliet Kaska, creator of this speedy workout explains how to accomplish cardio in a crunch, v-lift, pilates chest press, wall squat with t-raise, door hinge with biceps curl, yoga tree/lateral lunge, crab dip, single-leg bridge, wide row, and lose the the excuses. To see all of this visit http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/express/20-minute/the-ultimate-lunch-hour-workout/?page=1.

MOTIVATION:

Have you or someone else ever motivated a group of children or adults to lead a healthier life?

We have implemented Fit Fridays in our elementary physical education program. Each Friday in class we discuss fitness and incorporate fitness into our activity. Today we did scooter relays. Each student rode to the opposite cone and grabbed a picture of food, bringing it back to their group. Each team was finished when they collected ten pictures of healthy food choices. We had a great discussion on healthy food choices and they loved it!!
~Kathy

My mother, Lillie, recently turned 83 years old. She started running 19 years ago at the age of 64 weighing over 200 pounds. Now she weighs around 120. She goes to a local middle school to run around the track and speak to all of the children about the benefits of exercise and fitness. She has been mentioned in RUNNERS WORLD, and recognized by local and state magazines, television and radio broadcasts.
~Timothy

For two and a half years I worked as a Recreation Therapy Assistant in a Substance Abuse Rehab type facility. During this time I realized that promoting health and fitness would be a great way to help those that I worked with gain a better recovery. So, I implemented a fitness program into my leisure awareness program. I taught practical things like "how to start" and "understanding exercise" and then we actually put those things that we learned to practice. Every night we would go on a 30-45 minute walk to "process" and "cool-down" from our days. We would play sports like softball or basketball regularly. And I would train them how to use the weight equipment. During this time I noticed that several of those individuals really utilized what I was trying to teach them and are still using those skills today as a person in recovery from Drugs and Alcohol. I always knew that fitness and health could bring about a positive change in someone but it was nice to really see it work!
~Jennifer

I have started a fitness group here at Lincoln elementary and the kids come in twice a week (Tue. & Thur.). We do a WOD (Workout Of the Day) and work on specific skills that relate to fitness. It went well last year and we just started it back up again this year as of a week ago. The teachers are noticing the difference in the students that are in the club already. The kids love it and look forward to getting up early and getting some exercise in before school. The goal of the fitness club called "Gym Rats" is to give students a solid foundation of fitness concepts and to show them that fitness can be fun and you don't have to spend a ton of money either.
~Kyle

SPECIAL THANKS:

We would like to extend a special thanks to all of the President's Challenge Advocates. Please visit the Advocates area on the http://www.presidentschallenge.org/ web site to see how companies, organizations and groups are making a difference with the President's Challenge.

SPOTLIGHT ON PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE ADVOCATES!

We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition)

PTA We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) is a national public education outreach program designed to help children 8-13 years old stay at a healthy weight through improving food choices, increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time. We Can! is unique because it provides practical tips and materials to parents and families in home and community settings. The We Can! Web site is a one-stop resource for community groups, health care professionals, and parents and caregivers with information, fact sheets, and materials to either download or order including a community toolkit, parents brochure (in English and Spanish), poster, PSAs, and a wristband. The program is a collaboration of 4 Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH): the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Click here to learn more about We Can!

FEEDBACK:

We would like to hear from you. If you have any topics that you would like to see addressed in Fitness is Fun or any comments regarding this list, please let us know. You can provide them by emailing us at preschal@indiana.edu.

To view past issues of Fitness is Fun visit our website: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/. Enter the site by choosing the appropriate category, then click on "news/research".

To Unsubscribe:
Please email preschal@indiana.edu
With the subject line "REMOVE FROM FITNESS IS FUN"

Fitness is Fun! March 2009

Fitness is Fun!
March 2009