President John F. Kennedy sparked our enthusiasm for fitness with his challenge of an old
executive order dating back to Theodore Roosevelt, which challenged Marine officers to walk 50 miles in 20 hours. He challenged the White House staff to take a 50-mile hike. JFK’s brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, accepted the challenge and walked the 50 miles wearing leather oxford shoes.

American citizens mistakenly thought the President had challenged the public to undertake 50-mile hikes. The Council office quickly explained that while walking for exercise was strongly encouraged, the Council was not sponsoring the hike.

Amazingly the public response to the perceived president s challenge signaled that the Council’s physical fitness message had been heard. Thus, it

gave the Council legitimacy among its most important audience Mainstream America. The country had readily embraced a public awareness campaign promoting physical fitness by the National Advertising Council. Peanuts creator Charles Schulz and other cartoonists joined the campaign by promoting exercise in their cartoon strips. Baby boomers may recall exercising to the song “Chicken Fat,” a song performed by Robert Preston and written by “The Music Man” himself, Meredith Willson.

One million school children took part in Council sponsored pilot projects to test children’s fitness levels. Numerous other national projects were developed, including state demonstration centers to serve as a showcase for model elementary and secondary physical education programs. Other projects included clinics and the production of educational films and

booklets.

Although both youth and adult fitness had been the focus of the Council’s mission throughout the Kennedy administration, during his final year in office, the president officially expanded the Council’s mission to include Americans of all ages and renamed the organization the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.

The enthusiasm for fitness seems to have withered away after President Kennedy s assassination. Currently, obesity and lifestyle diseases are on the rise and healthcare costs are soaring.

While most people understand the importance of taking responsibility for maintaining their health, there seems to be a lack of focus and enthusiasm for fitness. In 2005, only 4 states had obesity prevalence rates less than 20 percent, while 17 states had

prevalence rates equal to or greater than 25 percent, with 3 of those having prevalence equal to or greater than 30 percent (Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia).

Obesity is such a growing problem that the president s proposed fiscal year 2007 budget for the federal health department allotted $640 million for obesity-related efforts. This effort is being followed by companies who are paying for employees to exercise. Companies are realizing that gym memberships and personal training fess are substantially cheaper than the health care and prescription drug costs for inactivity and subsequent obesity.

Foremost, if you are not getting enough exercise and are ready to make a change, your number one goal needs to be to move more each

day. Forget fancy equipment or complicated exercise methods and techniques, all that is important is that you move. A fifteen to twenty minute brisk walk every day can make a difference.

Commitment to workouts and fitness in general seems to be more successful in a group environment because social support is a key factor of success. If you lack support for your active lifestyle, it will be more difficult for you to maintain it over time. Similar to President Kennedy s national fitness challenge, you could start a neighborhood fitness challenge such as a walking or hiking group.

Corporate wellness programs are creating teams and measuring success by the progress of all team members. These group-based programs

are reporting great success all around the country. The buddy system creates camaraderie among participants and is generally thought to be more fun than solo exercise. Within athletic style training programs, teamwork and support are integral parts of your success, mastery, adherence and enjoyment. TV reality shows The Biggest Loser are promoting healthier lifestyles.

If you are already active, but are looking for a way to kick up your exercise, or if you are planning to incorporate exercise into your life, it would be beneficial to find a workout partner or team who are committed to being healthy and with whom you share similar goals.

Your workout team can be from your neighborhood, a group of parents who walk

while pushing their baby or toddler in a stroller, co-workers or family members.

When you have a workout partner or team in place, you need to set goals together. Set a goal for what the group wants to achieve and what you want to achieve as an individual. Goal setting will create support and accountability for everyone s success. It is more effective for team members to share their exercise struggles, triumphs, progress working together to manage exercise goals.

Challenge yourself and your teammates to push harder, to stay committed and to achieve success. And remember to have fun. This is your opportunity to take control of your life and your health. This is not a

temporary fad in your life, but a new way of living, enjoy it.

If you believe in yourself, you will find others who will believe in you too. The important question is What are you waiting for? Be part of a winning team and inspire yourself and your teammates to be fit and healthy. Today is the first day of the rest of your life, spend it well.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, “101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life.” Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net