April’s Heart Health Factor is Start! Walking

From The American Heart Association...

April 6th is National Start! Walking Day. Take the opportunity to start your exercise program by taking some time to walk either at work during lunch or at home with the family. Walking is a great way to start exercising in the spring for those who are not already following a daily exercise regimen. Don’t get caught up in how far, how fast or how long you walk for – just walk as much as you can. Start off with what you can do and enjoy the great spring weather we have right now.

The benefits of regular exercise cannot be understated. Regular exercise helps with weight management, stress relief, improved blood circulation, muscle and bone strength and so much more. It also has been proven to reduce the risk of serious diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer. The health benefits far outweigh any excuse you can create for not exercising.

Did you know that people who are regularly physically active are less likely to be injured than people who are not regularly physically active?

What are you waiting for? Get moving!

For more information check out these websites:

http://www.startwalkingnow.org/
http://www.choosetomove.org/
http://www.walkinginfo.org/

Related: Mansfield ISD supports American Heart Association's 'Go Red' Campaign
Did you know: The Mansfield ISD has raised over $73,000 this year for the American Heart Association through 'Go Red' t-shirt sales and the Jump Rope for Heart program at schools.

Principals' Fitness Challenge 5 Winner

Congratulations to principal Dr. Tammy Rountree and her staff from Cora Spencer Elementary for winning the fifth challenge in the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center's Principals' Fitness Challenge.

 

Challenge 5 was entitled, Fitness on the go. Dr. Rountree and her staff discovered creative ways to incorporate physical activity into their day, and every bit of effort really added up.

 

From the challenge: "Your day is filled with opportunities to get moving. Make every minute count. Every bit of physical activity makes a difference, even if it's just a matter of walking a little further while running an errand. When you need to talk to a co-worker, walk to their office or desk rather than e-mailing or calling them. Stand, don't sit! Standing up burns more calories than sitting. When walking to and from work – or at any time in your day – walk briskly."

 

Easy ideas to try:

1. Park in the furthest parking spot from your school (or from a business on the weekends)
2. Grab a partner and take a full lap around the outside of your school (or an equivalent distance on the weekend)
3. Park in the furthest parking spot from any business you go to (may substitute an extra lap around your school if you don't plan on running any errands after work)

What would you add? What are some easy ideas for fitness on the go?

Principals' Fitness Challenge 1 Winner

Congratulations to principal Scott Shafer from Brooks Wester Middle School for winning the first challenge in the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center's Principals' Fitness Challenge.

Challenge 1 was entitled, Walking for better health . . . Walk 10,000 steps everyday.

Shafer is a former athletic trainer and is known for his competitive spirit. He won the challenge by motivating his teachers to walk the minimum amount of steps. If they walked the minimum they could wear jeans for week. His strategy worked and all 66 teachers walked the minimum amount of steps.

Check out the challenges as they're posted and get some additional tips for healthy living.

Pedometer Set-up Training Video

Tammy Beaumont, RN from Methodist Mansfield Medical Center provides training and calibration information for the pedometers that were donated to all Mansfield ISD staff.

Pedometer Training from MISDTV on Vimeo.

(Note: If you are having technical problems with your pedometers, contact your campus nurse for assistance.)

How I keep fit at school

Post submitted by MISD Staffer Lauren Shields

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity has tripled and in the year 2010, it is predicted that one in five children will be obese. I don’t know about you, but that breaks my heart. We are in the education field to help children so we need to lead by example. It is so easy to be lazy, but what does that accomplish besides giving you a poor cardiovascular system and a short road to depression?! I love kids, but I love fitness as well. I am a also a fitness coach for a company called Beachbody on the side of teaching.

Here is a link to a simple total body workout I like: http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts/l/bltotalworkout.htm

Also, adding cardio to your daily routine is a great idea! Here’s some ways I add it to my school routine:

• Try walking the longest way possible to get where you’re going. If you’re in a hurry, pick up the pace!


• On your conference period, take 10 minutes to walk at a brisk pace around the school or outside. With your students, do jumping jacks for math answers, squats while spelling words, or push-ups before a language lesson. Remember, we are to set the example, so participate with them!


• If you have to lecture for a while, take frequent breaks that involve movement. Squats and lunges target the largest group of muscles in your body so you will burn more calories that way.

Lauren Shields is an ESL teacher at Boren Elementary and also works as a fitness coach in her spare time. We love our guest posts, but our lawyer would want us to tell you that the opinions and advice above are the author's and not officially those of Mansfield ISD.