Outdoor-Fitness Blog

Outdoor Fitness Equipment Being Installed in 19 San Antonio Parks and Libraries!

www.outdoor-fitness.com — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:08:50 +0000

Now, working out in San Antonio’s parks will be even easier for residents hoping to get a health boost.

Fourteen parks and five libraries either have received or are getting outdoor fitness equipment stations. Earlier this week, city officials also launched a new program called “Fitness in the Park,” aimed at increasing physical activity by providing free group exercise in city parks.

“These will be free classes at parks all over the city, done by professional instructors,” said Elizabeth Delgado-Luna, spokeswoman for San Antonio’s Metropolitan Health District.

“We’re providing these classes so people don’t have to join a gym to get this kind of physical training,” Delgado-Luna.

It’s all part of a push by Mayor Julian Castro’s Fitness Council to help residents embrace an active and healthy lifestyle.

“My goal is that we help to usher in a fitness culture in San Antonio, so more folks get out and lead healthy lifestyles but also watch what they eat. And that means adding years to life,” Castro said in a Feb. 6 article in the San Antonio Express-News.

The outdoor fitness equipment and the “Fitness in the Park” are part of the more than 40 projects the city will be rolling out over the next few months as part of its anti-obesity campaign.

The funding for the campaign comes from $15.6 million in federal stimulus money San Antonio received last year.

Outdoor equipment is already in place at Apache Creek Linear Park, 4239 W. Commerce; Cuellar Park, 5626 San Fernando; Garza Park, 1450 Mira Vista; John James Park, 1300 Rittiman Road; and Lockwood Park, 801 N. Olive.

Other parks receiving outdoor fitness equipment by the end of the year include South Side Lions, 3100 Hiawatha; Arnold, 1011 Gillette; Copernicus, 5003 Lord Road; Miller’s Pond, 6175 Pearsall Road; Elmendorf Lake, 3700 W. Commerce; Concepcion, 600 E. Theo; Comanche Lookout, 15551 Nacogdoches; McAllister Park, 13102 Jones Maltsberger; and Lion’s Field Park, 2809 Broadway.

Along with the outdoor equipment, “Fitness in the Park” is an initiative that kicked off this week and is scheduled to run from February through the end of May.

The program will also expose neighborhood residents to a variety of physical activities while encouraging community interaction and social support.

Right now, “Fitness in the Park” classes are scheduled to be held at HemisFair, Woodlawn Lake, McAllister, Panther Springs, Lions Field, Pittman-Sullivan, OP Schnabel and Rosedale parks, as well as the Woodward Center.

Classes and activities include Zumba, yoga, Tai Chi, kickboxing, boot camps and walking /running groups. The date and times vary and can be viewed at www.safitness.org.

The goal of the Mayor’s Fitness Council is to implement “Fitness in the Park” into every City Council district in the near future.

“We’re looking for more instructors to help expand the program to all over the city,” Delgado-Luna said.

Fore more information on “Fitness in the Park” and the city’s anti-obesity campaign, visit www.safitness.org. If you are a fitness instructor who would like to volunteer for the “Fitness in the Park’ program, call Pete Garcia at 207-5378.

Article Credit: http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/southside/news/article/Fitness-equipment-being-installed-at-S-A-parks-1029113.php

Your Fitness is Tax Deductable With the P.H.I.T. and W.H.I.P. Act!

www.outdoor-fitness.com — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:55:38 +0000

The Healthy Choices Act from the U.S. House of Representatives includes both the Personal Health Investment Today (P.H.I.T.) Act and the Workforce Health Improvement Program (W.H.I.P.) Act. These two acts are promote exercise through tax benefits for certain fitness expenses.

The Healthy Choices Act establishes body mass index as a vital sign, expands obesity treatment and preventive services and coverage of medical nutrition therapy, provides grants to promote health in underserved communities and to train health professionals and health profession students, improves and increases access to nutrition and wellness programs, improves access to and opportunity for physical activity for adults and children, improves access to nutritional information and healthy foods, realigns transportation policy to help promote healthy lifestyles, and expands research and assessment tools on obesity.

The International Health, Racquet and Sports Club Association (IHRSA) president and CEO, Joe Moore says, “We commend Congressman Ron Kind and his fellow co-sponsors for introducing this precedent-setting legislation that provides a comprehensive approach to treating obesity. With the introduction of this legislation, and the release of our country’s first-ever National Physical Activity Plan, a unifying vision for a healthier future has been laid out—a future wherein engaging in regular physical activity and healthy lifestyles can be an easy choice for all Americans. The legislation that IHRSA is promoting fits into that vision. The inclusion of P.H.I.T. and W.H.I.P. in the Healthy Choices Act demonstrates the importance of these bills in helping to remove financial barriers to exercise and to making regular physical activity possible for more Americans.”

The P.H.I.T. Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is intended to amend the IRS code to allow fitness-related tax deductions for up to $1,000 for individuals, or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly or heads of household from pre-tax health spending accounts to make expenditures related to organized individual and team sports, fitness and exercise, recreation and other physical activities.

Here are some of the expenses that are covered by the P.H.I.T. Act:

Youth camp and physical activity fees
Membership fees for a health club
Exercise/fitness classes or personal trainer’s instruction
Sports league fees (any age)
Marathon/triathlon registration fees
Equipment used exclusively for participation in physical exercise/activities

The W.H.I.P. Act would help small businesses provide wellness benefits to their workers. Increasing physical activity participation is being slowly embraced as a cultural change.

Let us celebrate our elected officials for putting this together! Incentives to help America get healthier is a fantastic idea. The act is sponsored by Rep. Ronald Kind of Wisconsin. His co-sponsors in the House of Representatives include:

Tammy Baldwin (D) of Wisconsin
Joe Barton (R) of Texas
Earl Blumenauer (D) of Oregon
Kevin Brady (R) of Texas
Robert Brady (D) of Pennsylvania
Christopher Carney (D) of Pennsylvania
Jim Gerlach (R) of Pennsylvania
John Gingrey (R) of Georgia
Marcy Kaptur (D) of Ohio
Mike McIntyre (D) of North Carolina
Jerry Moran (R) of Kansas
Donald Payne (D) of New Jersey
Todd Platts (R) of Pennsylvania
Zach Wamp (R) of Tennessee
Robert Wexler (D) of Florida

Contact your congressman or congresswoman to show your support for the Personal Health Investment Today (P.H.I.T.) Act and the Workforce Health Improvement Program (W.H.I.P.) Act!!!

NASPE, Carol M. White PEP (Physical Education Program) Grant

www.outdoor-fitness.com — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:09:52 +0000

The purpose of the Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant is to provide funds to local educational agencies and community-based organizations to initiate, expand, and improve physical education programs.

This federal grant program provides funds to school districts to initiate and improve physical education in schools. Grants range from $100,000 to $500,000 and funds can be used to purchase equipment and train teachers.

The PEP grants may be used to initiate, expand or improve physical education programs designed to assist the students in making progress toward meeting State standards for physical education by providing funds for training and education of teachers and staff, and for equipment and support, to enable students in one or more grades kindergarten through 12 to participate actively in physical education activities.

LINK: Federal Grants including PEP Grants Discretionary Grant Application Packages

Check out other school grants:

LINK: School Grants

NASPE has put together basic information about PEP, a recommended timeline and steps for meeting the July 19 deadline, guidance for addressing FY2010 Priorities and Requirements, key things to do, important things to avoid and a list of resources. [CLICK HERE]

Michelle Obama on Childhood Obesity: Let’s Move!

www.outdoor-fitness.com — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:07:58 +0000

Michelle Obama on Childhood Obesity in Newsweek, “It wasn’t always like this.” Way to go, Let’sMove!

http://outdoor-fitness.com/fitnesstidings/

FOX SPORTS NET – TIME WARNER CABLE – OUTDOOR-FITNESS.COM-progam helps keeps kids fit for life!

www.outdoor-fitness.com — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:42:27 +0000

An innovative partnership of business, educators and parents aims to attack obesity and keep youngsters fit for life.

It’s called the Fit-n-Fun-4-Life program and some Cary elementary school students are excited about getting some exercise on a new fitness course.
(Courtesy News 14, Carolina)

http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/74204/program-helps-keep-kids-fit-for-life

FIT-N-FUN 4 LIFE

Let’s Move Program: Healthier Families and a Healthier Nation

www.outdoor-fitness.com — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:31:53 +0000

http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/sebelius_nation_1.html

WWW.OUTDOOR-FITNESS.COM: THE LET’S MOVE PROGRAM HAS BEGUN!

www.outdoor-fitness.com — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:47:46 +0000

OUTDOOR-FITNESS: THE LET’S MOVE PROGRAM HAS BEGUN! For physical activity, children need 60 minutes of active and vigorous play every day to grow up to a healthy weight. To increase physical activity, the program recommends that children need safe routes to walk and ride to school, parks, playgrounds and community cente…rs where they can… play and be active after school, and sports, dance or fitness programs that are exciting and challenging to keep them engaged. Let’s Move hopes to increase opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in and out of school and create new opportunities for families to be getting fit together.

What Is Your Community Doing to Help Keep Kids Healthy?

www.outdoor-fitness.com — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:37:49 +0000

WWW.OUTDOOR-FITNESS.COM : Let’s Move! What Is Your Community Doing to Help Keep Kids Healthy This Summer? http://letsmove.gov/blog/summerhealthykids_1.html

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www.outdoor-fitness.com — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:26:11 +0000

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www.outdoor-fitness.com — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:10:12 +0000

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