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Fitness Challenge Newsletter Archive
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New Pre-Testing Locations!! |
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Come Register for the
Healthier You-Fit Kids Health & Fitness Expo
FREE 10-Month Fitness Challenge
When
Mandatory Surveys open online (see below)
Official Pre-Fitness Testing starts in September annually
The 10-month challenge is made up of three 12-week periods:
*October 1st-January 1st**
January 1st-April 1st**
April 1st-July 1st**
*September is the time to get familiar with how the challenge works, complete your first official weigh-in and fitness testing (at Healthier You Fit Kids Expo) and complete your surveys and teammate recruitment.
The Challenge is for residents in:
• Montgomery County
• Howard County
• Prince Georges County
• Fairfax County
• Washington DC
• Baltimore County
• Arlington County
• Loudoun County
• Anne Arundel County
• All residents in other Maryland and Virginia areas and counties***
• Residents in other states and countries***
***Residents in these regions must understand that Pre and Post Fitness Testing will occur primarily in the counties and regions listed above. Out-of-state or country challengers must be a friend, colleague or relative of a resident from Maryland, Washington DC or Virginia. Residents who are in other states or countries or who are not able to drive to a testing station in their jurisdiction must present documented proof of measurements taken by a physician or other medical or fitness professional.
Team & Individual Prizes
• Spa Packages
• Dinner Packages
• Fitness Equipment
• Movie Passes
• Auto Services
• Gym Memberships
• Hotel Stays
• Much more!!
• Must come Pre-Test on-site at the Expo and future Fit Solution events to check progress
Expo Pre-Testing includes:
• Body Fat Analysis
• Lean Muscle Mass
• Muscle Distribution
• Basal Metabolic Rate
• BMI
• Weight
• Waist-to-Hip Ratio (optional)
• Umbilicus (over the "belly button") (optional)
• Height
• Come back to any fitness testing site to retest your progress (we recommend getting a body fat test at least once a month and no less than 2-weeks apart).
• Weekly prizes will be given for Fitness Quizzes and Weekly Challenges
• Grand Prizes will be given to the top finisher and team
Challenge Overview
Obesity has proven to be a destructive epidemic affecting our children, families, and healthcare system in the Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia regions and the nation. The Healthier You-Fit Kids initiative was created to motivate, empower, educate and provide accountability to residents as they strive to live a healthy lifestyle. The goal is also to negate the statistics showing the tendency for residents to gain unhealthy weight at a higher rate during the holiday season (as well as address recidivism related to healthy lifestyle goals during the year). A group of over (20) organizations composed of major corporations, non-profits, and government agencies have contributed funding or resources to make this initiative possible.
The Annual Healthier You-Fit Kids Challenge begins every year at the Healthier You-Fit Kids Expo in downtown Silver Spring near Washington DC. The kick-off Expo takes place on multiple levels of City Place Mall, at the outdoor Farmer's Market and outdoor stages near Ellsworth Drive (approximately 50-yards from the Discovery Channel Building) and near the new Civic Center pavilion. The Expo will include health screenings, natural food tasting, health experts and exhibitors, kid’s fitness activities, on-stage makeovers, fitness demonstrations, professional chef healthy food demonstrations and fun activities for the whole family.
The complimentary Challenge will continue for 10-months (in three 12-week increments) and include 100-150+ fitness testing stations that challengers can use to register and monitor their progress. Each challenger will be asked to complete a Healthy Lifestyle Pledge Card, complete fitness testing at an on-site location (BMI, Waist-to-Hip Ratio, Height, Weight, and Body Fat Composition), and recruit at least (2) teammates as accountability partners. Fitness newsletters (1-4 times a month) including evidence-based fitness tips, weekly challenge quiz prizes, sample exercise routines and fitness/nutrition questions answered by a registered clinical exercise physiologist and a registered dietitian will assist challengers. Fitness interviews of celebrities such as Academy Award nominated Taraji P. Henson, NFL Hall of Famer Washington Redskin Art Monk, Medical Director for “The Biggest Loser” Dr. Robert Huizenga and many more will also be used to motivate participants. Prizes will be given to the individual and team that reduce excess body fat composition the most.
Our prime focus this year is to assist residents in reducing their overall body fat composition and knowing their health numbers. Through weekly newsletters, on-site testing consultation, health programs and random compliance calls, we also plan to equip residents with the fitness health education and accountability to maintain effective habits for life. Emphasis will also be placed on helping residents build social support networks, practicing obstacle prevention strategies, and creating SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely).
Here are some of the numbers we will place emphasis on residents knowing the proper standards for:
• Weekly Strength and Cardiovascular Activity
• Body Fat %
• Pedometer Steps
• Blood Pressure
• Cholesterol
• Glucose
• Hours of Sleep
• BMI
• Waist-to-Hip Ratio
• Umbilicus Circumference
• Daily Caloric Intake
• Cups of Water
• Meal Frequency
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How Can You Join the FREE Challenge?
#1 Take the Healthy Lifestyle Pledge
• Complete your Pledge Card at one of our on-site community fitness testing stations. This is also a time for you to make a personal contract to re-commit to your fitness.
• Like us and Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
• Please complete the Mandatory Pre-Challenge Survey by clicking the link below (complete the survey once you start. You will not be able to save an incomplete survey).
Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness Survey
Using the feedback from the surveys we will develop
the content in this Challenge specifically to the questions
you need answered. We will also provide you with the most
current researched training strategies.
#2 Recruit Your Teammates
• Each challenger must pick at least (2) official teammates (you may have as many as you want)
• Practice improving accountability techniques with people and situations.
#3 Get Fitness Tested
• Come to the Annual Healthier You-Fit Kids Health & Fitness Expo and get Pre-Fitness Tested
• Continue to check your progress by fitness testing at future events (see calendar listings on Facebook, Twitter and our E-newsletter). Save and compare your result sheets. It is suggested that body fat composition be checked once a month.
• Get a clear explanation of what your Fitness Numbers mean and the standards you should be striving for.
• Provide a copy of your result sheet to your physician
• Establish specific short term and long term goals that can be measured at event sites
• Go after some of our prizes to reward and incentivize yourself
If you would like more information about attending any of these events please contact us at (240) 994-5268.
We will provide:
• Weekly or bi-weekly fitness tips and strategies (E-newsletter 1-4 times a month)
• Fitness testing stations to check your progress throughout the 10-month period (check this web page regularly for updates or click Facebook and Twitter logo links)
• On-site fitness consulting at community events
• Fitness/Nutrition Blog to share your successes as you go
• Ask the Expert section on weekly newsletters (includes Exercise Physiologist and Registered Dietician)
• Periodic on-site motivational nutrition and fitness workshops (check calendar for details. The first workshop will be after Thanksgiving)
• Prizes for getting in better shape (due to popular request many of these prizes will be health and fitness services and equipment that will help you improve your progress)
• Phone app that rewards you for exercising more (Iphone technology only...Android will be available in the future)
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