Have You Got What It Takes to Be Our Featured Fitness Person?

Are you a fitness minded person? Do you like sharing your vast knowledge of health and fitness with people seeking to improve their quality of life? Do you want to inspire others?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you just might be our Featured Fitness Person. So, what does that mean?

We are looking for individuals who are active, fitness minded, and willing to inspire and motivate others. We want to feature you here and tell the world about you. It's all about people inspiring people.

Here's what we need from you:

1) A short bio - tell us about you and your life, your occupation, your fitness activities, your interests, what you do for fun, and your goals.

2) Fitness/Activity Pictures - send us photos of you doing a fitness related activity such as exercising, walking, jogging, running, lifting weights, aerobics, yoga, martial arts, biking, skating, etc. - photos do not need to be taken by professional photographers

                                                          *****IMPORTANT*****
No shirtless photos or bikini photos will be considered. Fitness/Active wear is encouraged. This is a family friendly, non-profit website. Please send only photos that would be appropriate for this criteria.

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If you are selected as a Featured Fitness Person, we will write and post an article about you here with a photo of you. Your friends and family will be able to vote for you to become our Featured Fitness Person of the Month and Featured Fitness Person of the Year.

So, if you have what it takes to be a Featured Fitness Person:

Email Me Here with the information we've asked for and no more than 3 photos. Who knows? Maybe you can be our Featured Fitness Person!

See you back here!

Finding Fitness While Finding Nature

As the heat of summer wears on, fewer and fewer people seem to be venturing outside-and for good reason! Though there are a few very dedicated individuals braving the scorching sun and the high temperatures, most of us have retreated to the safety of our dens. Or, at best, we load up and go the an air conditioned gym for our workout. Well, who can blame us? These are the "Dog Days" of Summer.

One thing we are missing, however, is seeing nature at work. When temperatures are pleasant or even just tolerable, we tend to get out more on hiking trails or walk through the park. The good news is that the unbearable summer heat doesn't have to rob us of our time with nature.

Here are some solutions:

1. Get up a couple hours early for a stroll through a wooded park. If you are in a metropolitan area, you may have one nearby and easily accessible. You could ride your bike there for some extra benefit. Suburban residents often have "hike and bike" trails with natural surroundings.  Take advantage of these when no one else is. You'll likely have them all to yourself!

2. Get out later in the evening when you're more likely to see wildlife. Many animals are nocturnal and don't start moving around until dusk. With a flashlight or camping lantern, you'll have sufficient illumination for walking and seeing what's around you.

3. Wear an icy towel around your neck. Carry a small thermos with ice water to not only drink but to also make a cold towel to wear at the base of your skull. This will keep you from overheating as you walk or hike. Keeping your body temperature down like this will help you avoid heat exhaustion.

4. Do one or  more of these with a partner or a group. We tend to do better in groups when fighting extreme temperatures. Being able to converse with others will make the time pass quickly and the more eyes there are, the more that will be noticed in the natural settings around you.

It is possible to enjoy nature and achieve your fitness goals, even in extreme heat and drought conditions. It just takes a little planning and forethought. Happy Fitness!

A 4th of July Reflection and Decision

As we prepare to celebrate this 4th of July holiday, many among us begin reflecting on what has made America great and what keeps us moving as a nation. We often find ourselves in a state of gratitude for the men and women in uniform who serve our country and continue to provide us with Freedom.

It is because of our brave military that we enjoy the liberty to pursue our lives any way we see fit. Just as diverse as our population, so are the lifestyles we live as individuals. While some wake up each and every day looking for a new challenge, others will simply exist from one day to the next. Then, there are many who fall somewhere in between.

Where do you find yourself  today? Are you completely satisfied with your personal well being? Is there more you feel you should be doing?

We invite you to step up and challenge yourself this 4th of July weekend by making a decision to become the best version of "you" possible. Our men and women in uniform accept this challenge on a daily basis in order to afford each of us the Freedom we enjoy. Let's each make the decision to be committed to being healthy, active, and up for a challenge. It's not just good for each of us, it's good for all of us as Americans.

We have invaluable resources here on our website to help you. Please see our featured articles and calendar of events to stay current.

Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July!