May is a great time to focus on fitness Published May 6, 2009 By Marilyn Leggett, RN Civilian Health Promotion Services EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and May 21 is National Employee Health and Fitness Day. If you've been meaning to start a fitness program or if you've fallen off your fitness regimen, May is the time to get on board. Healthy eating and regular activity improves health in a multitude of ways. According to the 2009 National President's Challenge, a program that encourages all Americans to make being active part of their everyday lives, it only takes a small change. Instead of telling yourself you can't, tell yourself you can. The challenge also asserts that people who stay active perform better on the job. They're more alert and get more done, so if you're responsible for directing others, it makes sense to gauge whether all your team is as fit and productive as they can be. May 21 may be the day that you bring folks together to plan for better organizational fitness, or make sure employees are out doing something on that date. Chronic dieting seems to slow the body's metabolism as you survive on fewer calories. As a result, the more diets a person goes on, the more resistant the body becomes to diets. The recommendation is to eat an adequate and satisfying array of healthy foods and incorporate exercise as the second part of a historically successful approach. Weight control, good health and fitness involve daily and lifelong changes. The food we take in is the fuel our bodies need to function, mentally and physically, and exercise is the action that balances things out. Exercising regularly boosts energy and overall feelings of well-being, as well as aiding sleep and reducing stress. Nearly everyone can find some form of physical activity that will be beneficial. The biggest obstacle to exercise is often not our bodies but our minds. We don't have the time, the ability or special equipment to exercise. To begin a program, find activities that make your body work and expand the amount of time spent in doing them, such as washing the car, gardening, house cleaning, walking more and driving less. For a more formal regimen, be sure to engage in activities those that you enjoy. If you don't like sitting on an exercise bike, don't do it! Start in small increments and gradually increase time and frequency of your exercise. Exercise most days of the week for 30 to 60 minutes and, if necessary, you can break this into two or three shorter periods during the day. A good place to start is the "10,000 Steps a Day" Program located on AFMC's wellness support website, www.afmcwellness.com. The goal of the program is to increase your level of physical activity in an easy and measurable way. You will also be building new habits for healthy living. A "personal coach" program is also located on the wellness site, allowing you to track your exercises. Make sure you have your physician's OK, especially if you've been inactive for a while. Civilian Health Promotion Services encourages all Eglin personnel to "make a date in May" to restart, rev up or jump on board to exercise and fitness. CHPS and the Health and Wellness Center has a variety of classes planned to celebrate fitness, so whether you are new to fitness or ready to increase your skills, some great classes await you. For more information, visit A-3 or contact CHPS Eglin at 883-8024 or the Eglin HAWC at 883-9129/8022.