The Presidential Challenge

[akelly]

For those who didn't know it, the Presidential Fitness Award is NOT just for school age kids. ANYONE can sign up to earn awards by completing certain activities or exercises. I personally signed up for the Presidential Champions Program, where you earn points for the energy used during certain exercises. You can even create a workout group, if you don't want to try it on your own.

Check it out at http://www.presidentschallenge.org/ and take the challenge for yourself. :act-up:

Arnold

[revwally]

it is an excellent way to keep up the motivation. Once you have achieved gold though, it is a long way to the next step.

Do note that there is a difference between the challenge level and the performance option. In one of them there is a limit tot he number of points you can earn in a day -- though it takes less points to earn an award.

EXCELLENT PROGRAM!!

wally

[akelly]

Yeah, I would guess that they limit the number of points you can enter every day to prevent someone from cheating by putting in a bunch of stuff in one day. :)

Arnold

[Hank_Z]

Arnold,

Thanks for posting this! I haven't been able to log onto the site yet, but it sounds like a great idea. I had no idea that anything like this existed for adults.

- Hank

[akelly]

I just figured that there had to be something like it for adults, so I went to search for the site and there it was! :)

Glad you like the post. ;)

Arnold

[revwally]

Arnold,

the limits are based on which program you choose. If you choose "champions" you are limited to 500 points a day (I think) -- because it's goal is to get you working out more than 30 minutes per day 5 times a week

the advanced performance program is for those who are already active -- and there isn't a limit to the number of points, which is why there are some who have earned 1,000,000 points (the platinum award) in a little more than a year -- they are long distance runners and it is geared toward aerobic fitness in its point system. The awards are listed athttp://www.presidentschallenge.org/earn_awards/awards_available.aspx#ala though that doesn't list the platinum.

Not understanding that, I went back and forth between the two, and had to contact the people to reset mine to give me credit for all my points. Yes there were days, especially when I was doing some heavy work around the house that I ended up earning 1,500 to 2,000 points in a day (and I was beat).

wally

[akelly]

I just went back and looked. Here's what it says under The Presidential Champions program: "This program has a 750-point daily cap to encourage staying active every day." Like you said, it's to encourage people to exercise on a regular basis. Which is cool by me. :)

Arnold

[revwally]

arnold,

I try to get in at least 500 points a day -- but often come close to the 750. I figure it will take me a total of about 5- 6 years to get the platinum -- but I find it a good place to keep track.

And again, there are simple things like walking, and work around the house that get to be added in. That way, when my wife had me moving furniture and painting for a number of days -- I could add that in. But again, in that higher program you double the points to get to each award (except for platinum).

I wish families would get more involved in this. My wife has started and restarted a number of times -- just not her thing, and that is o.k. as long as she keeps active.

wally

[akelly]

Yeah, my wife joined so we could create a group because according to the website it only takes two people to form a workout "group". :)

Arnold