Did you know that May is Physical Fitness and Sports Month? The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) declared May to be our Nation’s fitness month in an effort to educate citizens about the importance of living an active, healthy lifestyle. Although it’s important to stay active all year round, Fitness Month serves as a great launchpad for an ongoing fitness plan. Here are 5 ways to celebrate Physical Fitness and Sports Month and jump start your fitness plan for the rest of the year.

1. Join the Challenge

Having a “Challenge” or a goal to reach can really help you to get into the spirit of exercise. As part of PCFSN’s program, they have issued The President’s Challenge, which is a customizable fitness plan to help motivate people to get fit. Anyone can join the challenge, but there is a special emphasis placed on fitness for children and teens.

If you’re looking for a challenge with more solidarity, join or organize a corporate challenge with your colleagues. Round up some co-workers to train for and compete in a local race or start a lunchtime fitness program.

2. Get the Kids Involved

It’s so important to get kids used to physical fitness at an early age. Celebrate Fitness Month with your kids by enrolling them in summer sports, taking them swimming or going for a family bike ride.

3. Participate in a Charity Race

There are so many 5K races for charities during the spring and summer months. Pick a local race to train for and participate in. Recruit some friends to run the race with you or put together a relay team for a marathon.

4. Create a Fitness Plan

If you don’t live an active lifestyle yet, getting started can be quite intimidating and overwhelming. Create a fitness plan or have a health professional create one for you so that you can take the guess work out of creating workouts. You can start the fitness plan in May and keep it going all year long.

5. Join a Summer League

May is when all of the summer leagues kick off their seasons in Wisconsin. Pick a sport that you know you will enjoy and join a league. Having that commitment every day or week will keep you on your fitness path well into the summer months.

• Baseball
• Softball
• Kickball
• Running Club
• Tennis League

May is the perfect month to celebrate living a healthy, active lifestyle. The beautiful weather begs us to get outside and get active. Get back on track with your fitness plan this month and keep it going through the rest of the year.