The top New Year’s Resolution in 2015 was to ‘stay fit & healthy’ as reported by 37% of Americans. Wellness is trending globally and with West Virginia being at the top of the worst health lists in the US we want to help you decide to make and keep your Active Resolution.
The decision to become more physically active is a decision to make a lifestyle change. It’s often a misconception that health-related fitness involves going to the gym 3-4 times a week for 30 minutes, but more and more science shows that’s just not the case. We live in a sedentary world where we spend most of our day sitting whether it be at our desk at work, in the car to and from work, and then when we get home we are ‘too tired’ to do much, so we sit in front of the television for the rest of the night. This lack of physical activity and even general movement is detrimental to our health and wellness.
Making the decision to become more physically active can start with things as simple as changing small daily habits, that add up over time. You could start by downloading a pedometer app to your phone, there are many free ones that don’t have to involve going out to buy something expensive, and use that pedometer to monitor how many steps per day you are getting. Start by seeing how many you get normally, and then shoot for 10,000 every day. As you get more and more used to 10,000 steps work to increase that number. Some tips on increasing your step count include: Parking in the back of the parking lot when you go to work, the grocery store, and the gym so you have to take more steps going in and out, skipping the elevator and taking the stairs every opportunity you get, using lunch and other breaks to walk either in your place of work, or outside, walking while your kids are at practice, and/or going to your local Humane Society and walking dogs as a volunteer.
Another way to be sure keeping your Active Resolution is made easier is to explore recreational or other activities that you and your family enjoy doing so that getting your workout for the day doesn’t become a hassle or a bore. You want to always try to keep it FUN, you and your family are more likely to stick with it that way. So try new things! Try walking, running, biking, hiking, dance, paddle boarding, disc golf, geocaching, backyard sports such as basketball and wiffle ball, yoga, or skiing. If you and your family find your niche with a recreational sport then being physically active will come so much easier, because you will accomplish it while doing something you already love.
And finally the way we can help you to keep your Active Resolution is by keeping you in the loop about all the opportunities we offer to be physically active in Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, and Nicholas counties. Another great way to stick with a physically active lifestyle is to do it with your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and kids and making it a social occasion. We offer community groups throughout southern West Virginia that meet on a weekly basis with the goal of helping all the residents of these communities stick with it and have fun doing it! We have walking groups, running groups, a Zumba group, and a hiking group right now and are always recruiting volunteers in new communities to expand on the existing opportunities. Keep up with what is going on with our groups by joining our Facebook Group Active Southern West Virginia Bulletin Board and by checking out our Events Calendar, you can also see what our organization as a whole is up to by liking our Facebook page Active Southern West Virginia. For information about what physical activity opportunities there are going on outside of our region check in with the WV Physical Activity Network.
To help you get off on the right foot we have put together an inventory of opportunities to be physically active with a group throughout our region on January 1st, 2016.
Beckley-Raleigh County
Who: Susan Hoskins & Community Captains Terry Hoskins, Ryan Gilkerson & Missy Burleson
What: 5K walk/run
Where: Meet @ Beckley Running Supply
When: January 1st, 10am
Fayetteville-Fayette County
Who: Community Captain Autumn Bess
What: 2-4 mile walk
Where: Meet on the steps of the Memorial Building
When: January 1st, 12pm
Pipestem-Summers County
Who: Kim Hawkins
What: First Day Hike, Lake Shore Trail for approximately 3.2 miles
Where: Pipestem State Park, Pipestem McKeeever Lodge
When: January 1st, 1pm
Dress appropriately. Plan on about a 1-1/2 to 2 hour afternoon outdoors. Layer for the weather. Come hike. Get outside and meet the New Year! Hike will leave from McKeever Lodge, crossing through the Arboretum and hiking to Long Branch Lake. First Day hikers will be following the Lake Shore Trail for approximately 3.2 miles ending back at McKeever Lodge to warm up with some hot cocoa! Contact: 304-466-1800
Fayetteville-Fayette County
Who: Community Captain Matthew Bailey
What: Park Loop Trail Run (1-3 miles)
Where: Park Loop Trail in Fayetteville Town Square, meet in the gravel parking lot near the Park Loop Trail Head
When: January 1st, 1pm
Beaver-Raleigh County
Who: National Park Service Ranger Richard
What: National Park Service Centennial 100 Mile Challenge, hike Grandview Rim Trail (a little over 3 miles)
Where: Grandview Park, Grandview Rim Trail
When: January 2nd, 10:30am-12:30pm
Accountability is also a huge part of maintaining a physically active lifestyle, committing to lead the way for your friends and family to make this positive change will also help to keep you in check. This is the reason some of our Community Captains have stepped us as leaders in their communities, to keep themselves in the routine and to provide the same opportunity for their friends, family, and neighbors. Community Captains don’t have to already be on top of their physical fitness, they just have to be willing to be the organizer, the motivator, and role model and Active Southern West Virginia will support and promote their programming. We encourage you to utilize the upcoming family time to brainstorm with your loved ones on how you can get something started in your community or how you can support programming that may already exist.
To lead out 2016 in recruitment we are focused on getting things started in: Smithers, Ansted, Gauley Bridge, Pax, Meadow Bridge, Shady Spring, Stanaford, Mabscott, Rhodell, Daniels, Lester, Jumping Branch, Summersville, and Richwood. But are ready to program in any community in Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, or Nicholas county with a willing volunteer.
