Red Hot Mamas In Charge of Change.
By: Red Hot Mamas
Published: June 2, 2010
These boots were made for walking! The benefits of walking sound fantastic and you’d love to start… but how? Start by empowering yourself and friends with ways to motivate and take action!
The entire month of May is nationally recognized and dedicated to physical fitness and sports. The Red Hot Mamas in conjunction with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports invite you to take the challenge of starting a physical activity program today!
…too busy?
As Americans, we are addicted to being busy. We have 24 hours to accomplish our many daily activities. Prioritizing your tasks is the first step in organizing your day. In the last article, Dr. Demers highlighted some vital information on why fitness and exercise should be on the top of your list of daily activities. There are numerous physical and mental health benefits. Personalize your exercise time so it is exciting and fun for you.
Make a personal pledge to being productive:
- Make a commitment to staying active and stick to it!
- Create realistic goals to encourage fitness for a lifetime.
- Choose an activity that is exciting and fun for you.
- Keep track of your progress and activities with a log or journal.
You may not necessarily be a candidate for running 5 miles a day. Find other ways to maintain an active lifestyle and start small. The President’s Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program* is a motivating, awards-based program designed to help you improve your fitness and activity level.
Before embarking on any physical activity, it is always a good idea to check with a doctor. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), “most older adults, regardless of age or condition, will do just fine if they practice healthy exercise by increasing their physical activity to a moderate level.”
Walk your way to good health
Participate in a walking group to gain a greater sense of well-being through exercise and social support. You are not alone! Working and walking with other people can be a great catalyst to entice you to get off the couch.
Walking with other people can be a great way to socialize and make new friends. Help each other get started off on the right foot! Share your hot flash stories, laugh and play a little. Many Red Hot Mamas programs sponsor walking groups and offer them to their members.
Our program emphasizes an enjoyable, low-impact activity that can easily fit into your lifestyle and help you to get (or stay) in shape in the prime years of your life. Contact your local Red Hot Mamas chapter to join**.
If your Red Hot Mamas chapter does not have a walking group, you can inquire about starting one with your program director. Please refer to the link below to contact them**. If there is no Red Hot Mamas chapter near you, what’s stopping you from starting your own walking group?
Take the initiative- start your own walking group, today!
It does not take a lot of effort to start a walking group of your own. Possessing the drive and reason to start one is the biggest step. Empower yourself by knowing you are taking the steps toward better health and the rest will come easily. Take the steps by organizing. Gather thoughts and ideas by writing everything down on paper. Ask the five fundamentals: who, what, when, where, why and how.
Here are some tips for starting a group of your own***:
- Advertise your first meeting: post flyers everywhere you think you can attract people to your group (churches, libraries, health clubs, community centers, etc.)
- Hold your first meeting and get feedback from attendees (how many times a week they want to walk, what time of day, where you will walk, rain/weather problems, indoor vs. outdoor, etc.)
- Elect officers to share duties
- Design a logo and make t-shirts or hats for attendees
- Start a newsletter
- Enter charity walk-a-thons, community parades or 5K races together
- Invite guest speakers to discuss health and fitness
- Share stories about how walking helps you physically and mentally
There is no better time than the present to start a walking regiment of your own. Enjoy yourself and take pride in knowing you are taking the steps to better your health and others.
“The longest journey begins with a single step” –Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching.
Helpful Links * Explore the Active Lifestyle Program and see how you can earn an award in a little over a month.
**Find a Red Hot Mamas local chapter near you. If you do not have a chapter near you, please let us know so we can start one: info@redhotmamas.org
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***Resources for starting your own walking group:
