Fitness is Fun!
December 2005

Greetings from the office of the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program! You have received the December 2005 issue of Fitness is Fun, the official e-mail distribution of the President's Challenge. These monthly e-mails will keep you updated on our program, activities of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and other current information pertaining to health and fitness.

PCPFS NEWS:

PCPFS 50 Year Celebration
The PCPFS Council members, Science Board, and staff are getting ready for 2006, the 50 year celebration of the creation of the PCPFS, originally known as President's Council on Youth Fitness. We encourage national, state, local, private and public organizations, industry, volunteer groups to join us in highlighting the benefits of a fit and active lifestyle and all of the great model programs at the grassroots level! This is a great opportunity for the PCPFS to highlight all of your accomplishment. A special seal has been developed for this celebration and is available for all schools, businesses, and organizations to use. A fact sheet on becoming a partner can be viewed at http://www.presidentschallenge.org/misc/news_research/announcements/pcpfs50.pdf If you'd like to find out more, please don't hesitate to call Chris Spain at the President's Council Physical Fitness and Sports 202-690-9000.

General Mills Challenge Schools - Free Awards
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and the General Mills Foundation are pleased to announce a new opportunity for low socio-economic status schools (SES) to participate in the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program and be recognized as "The General Mills' Challenge Schools." One major grassroots initiative of the PCPFS is to raise the awareness of the benefits of a physically active and fit lifestyle for all Americans and enhance the availability of presidential recognition. We are committed to working with schools that previously did not have an opportunity to participate in the President's Challenge program; e.g., low SES schools and inner city schools. The PCPFS office can help identify these schools in your area as needed. The General Mills Foundation will sponsor the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award for all students who commit to the six week activity program. For more information, please visit http://www.presidentschallenge.com/ or download the information sheet.Also, if your school does another six weeks of the Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards program and 35% of the students complete the second set of six weeks, you can become an Active Lifestyle Model School and earn additional recognition for each student and the school.

PCPFS Partnership Initiative
The Office of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) is soliciting proposals for the establishment of partnerships with non-Federal public and private sector organizations. These partnerships are targeted at calendar year 2006 with the goal of developing, implementing, promoting, and evaluating physical activity, fitness, and sports participation activities and initiatives. The partnerships are intended to provide opportunities for PCPFS and the participating organizations to work together to promote better health and fitness for all Americans. Potential co-sponsors must have a demonstrated interest in physical activity, fitness, and/or sports activities and be willing to participate substantively in the co-sponsored activity. To obtain further information, or to express interest, contact Melissa Johnson via E-mail at mjohnson@osophs.dhhs.gov or by phone at 202-690-5187.

NEWS AND RESEARCH

Exercise Good Medicine for Mentally Ill
Regular exercisers and scientists alike have known for years that exercise improves the mood of individuals without mental illness, as well as those with mild depression. Recent studies have taken this a step further and found that exercise can be beneficial to individuals with conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe anxiety disorders. Studies at the University of Florida College of Nursing at Gainesville and Boston University both found that regular exercisers experienced reduced psychiatric symptoms. Some mental health experts are inspired by studies such as these and are now encouraging their patients to engage in exercise. One program, In Shape, based in Keene, N.H., pairs individuals with mental illness with a mentor to guide them through an exercise routine. Though exercise is recommended for those with mental illness to supplement treatments, it is unlikely that it will replace medication and psychotherapy.¹

FITNESS SPOTLIGHT:

Use President's Challenge Programs to Stay Active During Holiday Season
Along with the holiday season come the inevitable temptations and obstacles that challenge even the most motivated exercisers. Not only will you have the chance to spend your time to attending parties and family get-togethers, but you will be able to eat calorie-rich foods that you normally wouldn't. It is no wonder that the average person gains about two pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. This holiday weight gain is likely what fuels the sharp increase in gym memberships in January.

This year, spare yourself the frustration and sign-up for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award program. This program requires adults to be active for 30 minutes per day, five days per week for six weeks; kids need to be active for 60 minutes per day, five days per week for six weeks. You can log wintertime activities such as shoveling snow, snow shoeing, and sledding, in addition to nearly 100 other activities to earn your award. Registration is free and very easy, and may be just what you need to stay motivated through the holidays. Visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org/ or call 1-800-258-8146 for more information.

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.

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".

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Fitness is Fun! December 2005

Fitness is Fun!
December 2005