2008 Legislative Fitness Challenge Launch

Date Change To THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, 2008. Time and Location will remain the same.

Due to the scheduled recess for the General Assembly, GPAN has been forced to move the kickoff from Monday, Feb. 25th to Thursday, February 28th. Please join us at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, February 28, 2008, to launch the 2008 Legislative Fitness Challenge. This is your chance to let your state senators and representatives know the importance of good health!

As state lawmakers consider new legislation designed to improve the health and wellness of Georgians, it is critical that they see a big turnout in support of change. We encourage you to forward this information to your friends and colleagues.
2008 Legislative Fitness Challenge LaunchThursday, February 28, 200811:00 a.m.Georgia State CapitolWashington Street StepsReception followingMezzanine LevelRoom 455

PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21st.
For those of you who were unable to attend Thursday’s Press Conference, Bill Burns from the American Heart Association, has forwarded the following information.

AHA State Advocacy Committee Members & Friends,

On the heels of our exciting announcement last week regarding a dollar per pack increase on cigarettes, I am pleased to announce the introduction of a new bill aimed at improving the state of physical education in Georgia. Together with Senator Carter (R – Tifton), and several other state coalition partners, we are pleased to introduce SB 500 today (Thursday) at a press event hosted by the Senate Press Office at 10:00 A.M. The first article on the bill has appeared already in the AJC online at http://www.ajc.com/search/content/health/stories/2008/02/20/fatkids_0221.html, and should run as a lead story in the print version Thursday.

SB 500 seeks to accomplish a couple of things:
First, the legislation would force schools to live up to existing DOE regulations, which call for 90 hours of P.E. for grades K-5, and will create a recognition program for those schools that do follow the existing regulations. Recent studies have suggested that many schools in the state are not in fact following those regulations, and that many of the schools provide NO physical education to their students.
The second thing that the legislation will do would be to mandate twice annual BMI measurements for all public school children. The measurements will be done confidentially, and WILL NOT be reported on a student’s report card. The data will be stored by student number, and parents requesting to be informed of their child’s measurements will receive by mail a letter that explains the meaning of the BMI measurement, where their child ranks relative to others in their school, and, if necessary, tips to positively affect the measurement.

The American Heart Association is fully supporting Senator Carter and this bill. While we recognize that it is not the solution to the problem, it does address some important issues.

Please look/listen for local news coverage of this exciting news, and feel free to direct any questions about the bill my way.

Bill Burns, J.D.
Georgia Advocacy Director
American Heart Association
1101 Northchase Parkway, Suite 101
Marietta, GA 30067
678.224.2085 Direct Dial & Fax
…You’re the Cure!

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Stay on track with your Weight Loss!

Summer is coming and it is time to shed the winter weight. Any wise diet and exercise program needs be oriented toward lifestyle changes that will help you lose the weight and keep it off, and keep you healthy and fit. Counseling provided by fitness and nutrition professionals can help you do that. They can help you unlearn bad habits and learn better ones, and encourage you to stick with them. Personal trainers keep you on track to success!

Mollie McCarl
Certified Personal Trainer
Owner, Fitness Spa
770-632-3595
www.ptcfitnessspa.com
On Comcast Cable
ON DEMAND
Press 886 and scroll to Workout Videos

Soft Drink Dangers

Dangers in drinking just one soft drink a day — whether diet or regular — may boost your risk of getting heart disease. Your soda habit increases the risk of developing a condition called metabolic syndrome and, according to new research, can boost the chance of getting both heart disease and diabetes. "Even one soda per day increases your risk of developing metabolic syndrome by about 50 percent," says Ramachandran Vasan, MD, professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and the senior author of the study, published in the July 31 issue of the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, three of five criteria must be met: a large waistline, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar, elevated fasting triglycerides, or reduced HDL or "good" cholesterol. "This study adds to the wealth of scientific evidence that sugar-sweetened beverages increase the risk of metabolic syndrome," says Vasan. Already, he says, the rise in sugary drink consumption has been linked to the epidemic of obesity and diabetes among children and teens and to the development of high blood pressure in adults. So grab the water for a healthier you! Don't forget to come by and get a free sample of Fitness Spa's delicious Alkaline Water which restores the body's PH to a perfect 7.365.

Mollie McCarl, Personal Trainer
Fitness Spa
770-632-3595
http://www.ptcfitnessspa.com/
Comcast ON DEMAND
Press 886 and scroll to Workout Videos

Pepperidge Farm Scores Partnership with NBA All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to Help Promote Fitness among America’s Youth

(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of a continued effort to encourage an active lifestyle among America’s youth, the Pepperidge Farm Goldfish® brand will serve as a partner of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and the NBA FIT Program, a health and wellness initiative that inspires youth to make healthy life decisions by encouraging proper eating habits and regular exercise. In support of this new partnership, NBA All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will serve as program ambassadors.

Pepperidge Farm will tip off the partnership during NBA All-Star 2008 in New Orleans, with involvement in a host of activities including the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam and NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas. During the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, February 15, the Goldfish brand will host an NBA FIT Break, which will showcase a variety of exercises for kids who want to stay active while having fun. At the Goldfish NBA FIT Zone area at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, Pepperidge Farm will host basketball clinics throughout the weekend with NBA and WNBA players. On Saturday, February 16 at 4:00pm at the Goldfish NBA FIT Zone, Pepperidge Farm will present a donation to Wade’s World, a foundation initiated in 2003 by Dwyane Wade that provides support to community-based organizations to promote education, health, and social skills for children in at-risk situations.

Wade, the 2006 NBA Finals MVP and Sports Illustrated for Kids Athlete of the Year, has built a universal fan base, captivating admirers with his athletic abilities, strength in overcoming obstacles, boundless community support, and continuous dedication to children. His winning record on the court as well as his long-standing commitment to children off the court, make him a natural ambassador for the Pepperidge Farm Goldfish brand.

“I’m honored to work with the Goldfish brand in my quest to leave the world a better place than I found it,” said Wade. “Their long-standing commitment to American youth is inspirational and our mutual interest in helping kids has created a meaningful partnership that will benefit countless children.”

“We are pleased to announce our partnership with the NBA, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh,” said Steve White, Vice President, Youth Snacks Division for Pepperidge Farm. “Our dedication to helping children achieve their full potential through a positive outlook and a healthy lifestyle is brought to life through our Fishful ThinkingSM program, which stresses the importance of instilling optimism in children. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh both personify optimism and physical fitness, two traits that will make them dynamic partners for the Goldfish brand.”

“Our partnership with Pepperidge Farm Goldfish is a significant step forward in our effort to promote health and wellness in America’s youth through the NBA FIT and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programs,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Senior Vice President of Marketing Partnerships. “With the help of NBA All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, we are looking forward to working with Pepperidge Farm Goldfish to develop fun and motivating programs to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for our young fans.”

In the coming months, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish and the NBA will debut a series of television advertising, retail promotions, and consumer events. Dwyane Wade will be featured in branded marketing, advertising, and packaging, including special edition NBA-themed Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers.
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Positive Attitude in Exercise

Attitude is everything when you exercise. You must develop your ability to feel good in spite of your weight and current circumstances. Because they are only current, you can start changing how you feel and thus influence the outcome of your future. You are never stuck. Nothing is ever hopeless. You are never defeated. Do not give in to those kinds of thoughts and feelings. Begin feeling good now and thinking of good things now and move toward happiness and joy. Expect everything to work out and it will, but you must expect and know it for sure. Life is composed of ups and downs but if you maintain a joyful and positive outlook and can smile during you trials, you will experience many more ups than downs and maintain the perfect weight!

Mollie McCarl
Owner and Trainer for Fitness Spa
770-632-3595
http://www.ptcfitnesssspa.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy07QxlykPI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADJqBrYIh4

New program designed to help Georgians move more

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agents across the state are encouraging the people in their counties to increase their physical activity. As an incentive to get Georgians moving, agents are inviting them to spend eight weeks on a virtual walk around the state.

Starting Feb. 18, Georgians can register to participate in Walk Georgia, an online program they can use to log the time they spend doing various exercise activities between March 2 and April 30. The program converts the exercise time into virtual miles.

For example, 29 minutes spent throwing a Frisbee equals one mile. Jumping rope for eight minutes will give you a quicker one mile. Twenty minutes of actual walking equals one mile in the program.

Over the course of the program, participants can take the virtual miles and use the online map to electronically chart a course as they “walk Georgia,” said Maria Bowie, a marketing specialist with UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

“As you move, you will read about the counties you visit virtually and learn new ways to improve your health,” Bowie said.

Program miles aren’t the same as actual road miles. You only need 15 miles to move from one county into another.

Participants can compete against individuals or teams in their counties. Patricia Stuckey says her county will be the best.

“From what I see, the Web site is a friendly one, and it won’t take a lot of time,” said Stuckey, UGA Extension coordinator in Cobb County. “We’re all busy. This is in and out before you know it.”

“We’ve learned through our research that 58 percent of adults in Georgia are inactive,” said Jan Baggarly, UGA Extension coordinator in Bibb County. “Our goal is to get some of that 58 percent moving.”

One out of four adults in Georgia is obese, totaling 1.8 million people. Obesity leads to a variety of health problems, especially cardiovascular disease, which is the No. 1 killer in Georgia.

“We hope to make a difference for some people as far as that statistic is concerned,” Baggarly said.

To find out more or to register, go to http://www.walkgeorgia.org/. While an e-mail address is required to register, individuals without one can join as part of a team as long as the team captain has an e-mail address.

(Stephanie Schupska is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)