Designated in 1983 by the President’s Council on Fitness to promote healthy lifestyles among Americans, National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is a great opportunity to take the first step toward a healthier lifestyle. All month long, local organizations will be hosting events geared toward both seasoned athletes and newcomers, with the goal of helping people invest more into their physical fitness. Getting started is easy, and we’ve put together a helpful guide for you to use.

Get Sporty

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Joining a rec sports league―or signing your children up for one―is a great way to stay consistently active. Playing sports is a fun way to blow off steam, meet new people and exercise in a group setting. If you’re a student, consider joining your university’s rec sports organization, or use this guide from Meetup.com to find sports groups near you.

Play With the Kids

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Teaching your children the importance of fitness is a vital part of their development and helps establish a healthy lifestyle. Playing catch in the backyard, going for a walk or kicking the soccer ball around are all great ways to engage with your kids while developing healthy habits. The best part: you can burn up to 300 calories an hour playing catch.

Join the Program

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National Physical Fitness month is full of government initiatives designed to help you get moving.

• The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award is a free 8-week course designed to jump-start your journey to being active and eating healthy.
• The Presidential Champions Program is for people who are consistently active. Log in to your SuperTracker to earn rewards for your healthy lifestyle.
• I can Do It, You Can Do It! is a program designed to facilitate activity regardless of ability and includes resources for children and adults with disabilities.

Developing your own physical fitness regimen is something you can do over time, with the help of resources like National Physical Fitness & Sports Month and your healthcare provider. BetterMed offers year-round sports physicals and on-site testing and labs to evaluate your fitness.

Fitness Events Near You

• K9 Heroes Day With Pooch Pursuit 5K Run / 2K Walk April 20
• Bubble Run Richmond-Free May 11
• Powhatan Warrior Run 2019 May 18

 Sources

“Get Moving with National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.” Calorie Control Council, 3 Nov. 2015, caloriecontrol.org/get-moving-with-national-physical-fitness-and-sports-month-this-may/.

Missett, Judi Sheppard. “National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.” ACTIVE.com, 2 May 2011, www.active.com/fitness/articles/national-physical-fitness-and-sports-month.

“National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.” Healthfinder.gov, healthfinder.gov/nho/maytoolkit.aspx.

ODPHP. “#MoveInMay for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!” Health.gov, 7 Nov. 2018, health.gov/news/blog/2017/05/moveinmay-for-national-physical-fitness-and-sports-month/.

Rhodes, Daniel. “How Many Calories Are Burned From Throwing a Ball?” Healthfully, 10 Jan. 2019, healthfully.com/321655-how-many-calories-are-burned-from-throwing-a-ball.html.