This month's section is provided for readers to share the celebration of physical fitness with others. I don't believe just one month should be set aside for celebrating, rather it should be a year long commitment. But, if one month has to be designated for celebration then May is a great month for lots of reasons.

For one reason, across most of the country, May is fully into Spring which represents an awakening or renewal. Shed the thoughts of hibernation and long dark winter nights, and bring on the longer days of warm weather activities. Shed the layers of clothing required for colder winter sports, and replace with a pair of shorts and cross-trainers. For kids, Spring is a time to reacquaint with Spring teams and outdoor playing fields. It's time for Physical Education instructors to move their classes to the great out of doors. This could be the time to network with the people of great organizations that deliver the ideas, the tools, and the support to get your juices flowing.

Debra D'Acquisto
Health & Fitness Section Editor

Publishing for Fun and Profit

This month we would like to feature a chapter from the Project ACES Handbook entitled "Publishing for Fun and Profit!" This chapter is targeted toward physical education teachers, many of whom are very modest about the great work that they do. The author, Len Saunders, states that "We work hard, do our job, and leave school each day feeling good that we were able to help our students value physical education." However, almost always the community is not aware of the breadth of knowledge, or the effectiveness of teaching skills that physical education teachers possess.

Saunders encourages you to share your expertise by publishing articles. He assures you that it is not difficult if you start out simple. For example, he suggests submitting an article to a monthly newsletter at a school or health club in order to hone your skills. From there you can work your way up to submitting articles to professional journals.

Saunders includes a writing pyramid that illustrates the path that could be taken from submitting articles to local newsletters onto professional journals. Within this chapter he includes advice about writing and submitting work, as well as examples of articles, a press release, and a checklist.

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
This site is chock full of ideas, nutrition tips, health awareness sites, and daily/weekly observances to help you, your group, your community, and your classes commit to increased physical activity for a month. Who knows... it could be contagious!

National Bike Month
'Bike to Work Week' is May 16th, and 'National Bike to Work Day' is May 20th. Why not change this into a 'Bike to School Week or Day?' And, if you think your community isn't as cycling friendly as it could be, you can learn more about a program which helps municipalities become more bicycle friendly at Bicycle Friendly Community.

National Running and Fitness Week
Check out the 'American Running' Youth Fitness Resource Center, and an exciting new program called One-on-One - Walk and Run, created especially for young runners. And while you’re thinking about running, check out this site for girls who want to begin running, train for races, celebrate healthy living, and participate in uplifting encouraging workouts - Girls on the Run International.

May 25th is National Senior Health and Fitness Day. The motto for the Senior Health and Fitness Day is to keep older Americans healthy and fit. Why not encourage kids to spend some active time with a grandparent or a senior citizen neighbor? There are plenty of ways to "play" sport together in which both the young, and the young at heart could participate. Here are a few examples to get you moving:

	Take a nature walk to identify budding foliage
	"Play" golf at a driving range or putting green
	Play catch - any size ball will do
	Explore racquet sports including badminton, tennis, pickleball, even table tennis
	Fly a kite

Chores around the house and yard are also a great way to bring generations together, and to be physically active together. Here are a few suggestions:

	Plant a garden together
	Wash the car together
	Walk or play with the family pet(s)
	Hike for the sake of bird watching

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Make the whole wide world your playground. ~ Betsey Shea

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May is Tennis Across America Month
The United States Professional Tennis Association is a great place to look for tennis clinics, lessons, and leagues. USPTA recognizes the month of May as a time for promoting the game to newbies, to encourage community involvement, and to generate interest in taking tennis lessons and in forming leagues.

National Water Fitness Week is the last week in May. When you think of water fitness you might only picture lap swimming. Sure, you can look up swim classes at the local swimming pool, but there's more to water fitness than just swimming! Think outside the pool. There's boating and sailing, kayaking and canoeing, water skiing, scuba and snorkeling. There's the combination of the two called snub!

The kid in all of us would love to wake board, body surf, or shoot the rapids. Maybe a mechanical wave pool, or a water theme park full of chutes and slides come to mind. A meandering river is a great water attraction, too!

Water fitness starts with honoring water in terms of what water can do. To enjoy the beneficial aspects of water to the fullest, having knowledge of water safety is a must. Make this week your week to become informed about water safety. The Red Cross is a good place to start to become informed about basic boating safety, open water hazards, diving dangers and rescue.

Here's a water fitness opportunity that you have to try! Aquacises! Aquacises is a vertical water exercise program that uses lots of water toys. There's water noodles, long buoys and bar bells, water belts, booties, cuffs and mitts. Add music and you've got the making of great fun in the water. The fitness benefits are a bonus! Craig Stuart owner of Hydro Fit is a master of aquacise. Log onto HydroFit and you’ll find that this company has a Department of Education section which develops programs, conducts workshops, provides support services and sponsors training opportunities for health and fitness professionals.

While attending a recent fitness conference, my colleague raved about having attended a session that was so much fun. Doing the Dalmation Disco on The GeoMat TM was an instant success at our local health club here in Ellensburg, Washington, at an after-school program that she was promoting. Maybe you've seen the GeoMotion TM in GOPHER., Sportime and US Games catalogs.

GeoMotion proclaims to be the hottest new activity in schools across the nation. The curriculum is presented by physically guiding participants through activities on their own mat, and it's as easy as stepping to the number. Basic movements on the GeoMat progress to age specific workouts and include the following:

	K-5 focused choreographed music/dance
	body awareness
	math
	basic gymnastics
	basic geometry
	GeoSimon
	GeoTwister
	pattern/repetition skill development
	partner routines
	hip hop routines

More information can be found at GeoFitness.

So, celebrate May! Celebrate with a number of outdoor activities that organizations have declared as a special day, a special week, or a special month. Prepare yourself, and those around you with knowledge of water safety. And network with fitness professionals to get a fresh twist on promoting physical activity! Have FUN!

400+ Diet, Fitness, Health & Medical Cartoons
Just for fun. Featuring medical cartoons, menopause cartoons, pharmaceutical cartoons, diet and exercise cartoons. Cartoons about diabetes, cartoons about heart disease, cartoons about stress management and mental health. Also, Great way to exercise, and High Impact Workout.

Helping Kids Eat Right and Get Fit
This site provides tips from nutritionists at the CNRC that can help get your child on the road to good health.

Should you Change your Diet Habits?
The difference between "dieting" and developing a new lifestyle is huge - but it’s the step that people who want to reach their desirable weight must make. Also, read An easy diet that works.

Stop Dieting! Start Living Thin
This is an excellent article. Although it's not a real professional looking site, the information is factual.

Why Change?
A habit is what we do when we are not thinking. The process of developing a new habit is a very conscious effort. Once it is in place, however, it takes no effort at all. A big part of this site is exploring personal change and habit formation.

Habits Not Diets
With swimsuit weather right around the corner, many of us are once again faced with the daunting task of shedding the layers of flab we have accumulated over a long winter of eating and drinking. This year, instead of wondering "how can I get rid of this belly in time for the beach," why not ask yourself a totally different question: "How can I lose this excess baggage permanently so I don’t have to keep taking it off every year? - source: site

Exercise FAQ's
Aerobic exercise is the only way for your body to burn fat directly. Anaerobic exercise uses only carbohydrates, while aerobic exercise uses carbohydrates and fats. At a point after approximately 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, your body shifts from using mainly carbohydrates as fuel to using more fats. This is a good site to possibly find an answer to exercise related questions.

Exercise Library
Makemyworkout.com Exercise library includes a vast variety of exercises for every major muscle group. Exercises will cover strength training, muscle building, stretching and cardio exercises for fat loss and endurance development.

Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss
Not a 'easy on the eye' web site, but this site has excellent information. Well worth reading! Also see Benefits of Aerobic Exercise.

Aerobic exercise: What 30 minutes a day can do for your body. Read the many benefits of aerobic exercise, and how your body responds.

Aura's Kitchen
Many people have made the commitment towards a more natural lifestyle, including healthy cooking and baking. Aura's Kitchen provides a place to share ideas and innovations so that you can create even more delectable dishes, without ever compromising good health and nutrition. - source: site

All of Aura's recipes will hold up to the following standards:

	No processed or refined ingredients.
	Only whole grains and wholesome sweeteners.
	Low sodium.
	Only very small amounts of added sweeteners in desserts.
	No fried foods or overheated oils.
	Pure, healthy oils used in moderation.
	Lots of fruits and vegetables.
	Every dish, including desserts and snacks, will be nutritious.
	You will be proud that you cooked it for your friends and family.

Summer Recipes
Summer is the most carefree season of the year, so you want to keep your cooking light and easy too. We've collected 50 fabulous summer recipes that minimize fuss and maximize flavor from seasonal ingredients. If you're looking for something beyond potato salad, our summer recipes for glorious side dishes are sure to hit the spot. And, since no get-together is complete without melons, our summer recipes featuring the season's official fruit will bring smiles all around at your next picnic.

As the season starts to wind down, use our last blast menu of summer recipes to celebrate late Summer's amazing tastes. - source: site