On Thursday, October 6, 2011, schools and organizations across the nation will be participating in the Third Annual Exercise US (a.k.a. Exercise United States) day. This event is aimed at fighting childhood obesity and it is just one of the many campaigns launched for this purpose by Len Saunders, a New Jersey physical education teacher and author of Keeping Kids Fit (LaChance Publishing, NY). Exercise US day unites children from all 50 states in a 10-hour exercise relay that begins on the east coast at 8:00 AM (EST) and ends on the west coast at 3:00 PM (PST). The idea is to have different schools and organizations around the country sign up for one (or more) of 40 designated 15-minute time slots during which their children will exercise. As one location finishes its 15-minute exercise session another one begins, creating a continuous pattern of exercise that runs throughout the United States.

According to The Surgeon General's Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation 2010 approximately one in three children are either overweight or obese. In order to combat this problem, the Surgeon General, Regina M. Benjamin M.D., stated that a united effort by all private and public sectors of the nation is required. Len Saunders is doing his part in response to this call to action. "I believe in team effort," he stated during our phone interview. He noted that a continuity in the message that we send to our nation's children is essential to help them form health-promoting habits that will last a lifetime. Both schools and parents need to stress the importance of regular physical activity, but it needs to be done in a fun and engaging way to get children on board.

Exercise US day motivates children to get active because they see other kids doing it too and they want to become part of the action. This is important according to Saunders. He also noted that it is essential to not only tell kids to exercise, but to explain why it is important. "A healthy lifestyle is not just physical, but it is cognitive as well," Saunders explained. Children become empowered when they understand why they are doing what they are doing rather than just doing it because they were told to do so. To help create this understanding, Saunders provides various downloads on the Exercise US website, such as word searches, puzzles and mazes that can help to spark conversations about why our bodies need to exercise to be healthy.

Saunders stated that the intent of the Exercise US initiative is to "jump start" good habits. The program is open to all children and schools and organizations are free to engage in any form of physical activity they choose during their 15-minute exercise segment. Schools and organizations who are interested in joining the campaign on Thursday, October 6, 2011 can visit the Exercise US website and sign up for a 15-minute time slot. They will also be able to access a list of suggested activities to perform during the event (e.g., dance, aerobics, yoga, etc.,).

Reference
Phone Interview; Len Saunders; September 28, 2011

Get healthy and be part of a kindred spirit this Saturday, May 7, 2011 by joining the PACES Day initiative, which puts family fitness at the forefront in the fight against obesity. PACES (Parents and Children Exercise Simultaneously) Day was introduced 4 years ago by Len Saunders, an award winning author and creator of the successful campaign, Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously), which just celebrated its 23rd year of uniting millions of children through simultaneous exercise activities in classrooms worldwide. Project ACES is celebrated each year on the first Wednesday in May. Saunders, who majored in Physical Education at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and who has a Master's degree in Exercise Physiology from Montclair State University in New Jersey, stated that the concept of PACES Day arose from numerous requests from parents who were pleased with Project ACES and wanted a program that included adult participation.

The PACES Day initiative involves parents committing to setting aside 15 to 45 minutes every Saturday to exercise with their children as part of quality family time. The main PACES Day event that kick starts this weekly trend occurs on the first Saturday in May after the Project ACES celebration. Saunders selected Saturdays for the PACES Day initiative because weekends are usually designated for family time in many households. "Family time is different than what is was 20 to 30 years ago," he stated during our recent phone interview. "Now, both parents are out of the house working until late...and kids are not getting out enough [to exercise]."

PACES Day blends family time with fitness fun. Family exercise time doesn't need to be elaborate or costly to be beneficial. In fact, Saunders explained that when exercise is made out to be too complex, it can be a turn-off and individuals opt not to do it. He pointed out that "exercise needs to be doable." He promotes walking as the best form of exercise. Saunders noted that when concerned families ask him what is the best way to manage body weight, his reply is "Eliminate the liquid calories [i.e., unnecessary sugar- and/or fat-laden drinks such as soda pop, dessert coffee drinks, etc.,] and go for a walk for 30 minutes."

Saunders raised another point to keep in mind when getting kids physically active. "The approach to exercise for kids has to be different than that for the adult. Kids like novel and fun activities," he explained. Saunders' website for the PACES Day initiative offers suggestions for family-friendly fitness activities to do throughout the year to keep kids motivated to exercise. He also noted that when kids see their parents and other kids and their families exercising too, it motivates them. This is one reason why Project ACES and PACES Day are such a success--"kids like to know that others are doing it with them," Saunders explained.

To sign your family up to join PACES Day this Saturday, May 7, 2011 and to learn more about this initiative, visit the website at http://www.pacesday.com/.

Note: Before beginning an exercise program or increasing the intensity level of a current routine, a physician's approval should be obtained, especially for older adults and those at risk for or who currently have chronic health conditions.

Reference
Len Saunders, physical education expert in the field of children's health, fitness and wellness; Phone Interview on May 5, 2011.