Well known for community impact, the YMCA of South Hampton Roads was recently named “Community Change Agent” by the Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH) for keeping local youth healthy.

“The YMCA stands as an example in the community for recognizing the need to not only do something good, but to change the way we live,” said Amy Paulson, Director of the CINCH program.

Living healthier means making smarter food choices and integrating more physical activity into your daily life. These two simple priciples are the basis for all YMCA Activate America programs.

• Y-Change
  If you are ready to embrace a healthy lifestyle, and excel with the support of your peers, check out our Y-Change program. Designed to help you meet your personal fitness goals, this program will allow you learn about good habits, partake in regular exercise and benefit from the fellowship offered through this group setting. The program consists of education, motivation, recognizing and defeating bad habits, settling into new habits, setting and achieving goals and tracking progress.
• SPARK
  Every YMCA of South Hampton Roads location offers a minimum of one group fitness program for youth per week and all licensed YMCA child care centers have incorporated SPARK - Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids, a twice weekly fitness curriculum, into their after-school programs.
• Interactive Zone
  Interactive fitness equipment makes it fun for video game buffs to get active while playing their favorite Xbox, Playstation and Gamecube games! Housed in the Interactive Zone, the equipment provides members an exhilarating workout, no matter what their age and physical abilities are. Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is also now available in the Interactive Zone!
• Introductory Group Exercise Classes
  We offer Group Exercise programs for all fitness levels including 20-, 30- and 40-minute classes in addition to the typical hour-long format, which can be intimidating for someone new to exercise.
• Quarterly Fitness Assessments
  The YMCA's fitness assessment program measures blood pressure, resting heart rate, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, body composition and flexibility. This evaluation determines your current fitness level and provides a base from which to measure future fitness accomplishments. After each assessment, the individual will meet with a FitQuest Coach to review results and receive fitness program recommendations. We encourage all YMCA members to participate in the fitness assessment program.
• Jump Start to a Healthy You
  Your FitQuest Coach can help you kick start your healthy lifestyle and make the most of the free resources included in your YMCA membership.
• Making Healthy Food Choices
  In conjunction with CINCH, we have developed nutritional guidelines for YMCA Youth Sports leagues. The guidelines suggest healthy snack options to help ensure participating children are not “undoing” their physical activity by taking in more calories than they have burned during the game or practice session.
  
  Our “Stop Light” program in the vending machines also helps patrons make informed nutritional choices. The types of foods and beverages offered has also been updated to offer more healthy options.

• Raising Healthy Kids in a Busy World
  Healthy Kids Day, a national community outreach event hosted by YMCAs each spring, promotes healthy lifestyles for kids and families.
• YMCA and America On the Move join forces
  America On the Move Week, celebrated the last week of September, is a national effort designed to motivate and inspire you to take “small steps” to promote active living and healthy eating.

• CHKD's Healthy You partners with the YMCA
  A partnership with CHKD brought Healthy You to select YMCA of South Hampton Roads locations in 2006. The program, previously offered in CHKD facilities, educates and counsels participating families on the importance of adapting healthy lifestyle habits. Today the program has grown to include extended sessions at additional locations.
• Families Learn "Healthy Lifestyle" Skills
  Healthy Lifestyles, an ambitious two-year project aimed at combating obesity and associated diseases, will provide Suffolk youth and their families tools they need to improve their health behaviors.
• The Standford Health and Lifestyle Assessment
  The Stanford Health and Lifestyle Assessment, or SHALA, is a tool for understanding your current health status. Becoming aware of your health can be one of the most important discoveries you will make. This awareness will help you identify your personal needs for optimal health and assist you in making choices on how to improve your overall health and well-being. Good health offers vitality and the opportunity to enjoy the special moments in life that you share with family and friends.

• Everyday Ways to be Healthy
  Start living healthier every day in four easy steps.
• Health and Fitness Recommendations
  Find out what the experts recommend for a healthy workout routine.
• Try Something New
  Find a new program or activity at a YMCA near you to try.

America's startling statistics!

• More than 60% of American adults do not get the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
• 25% of American adults are not physically active at all.
• More than 120 million Americans - 64.5% of the adult population - are overweight, nearly 59 million, or 31%, are obese.
• The average American adult is gaining one to two pounds each year, and some people gain even more. (J Hill et al., "Obesity and the Environment: Where Do We Go From Here?" Science, February 2003).
• Inactivity and obesity can contribute to asthma, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
• Child obesity has increased by more than 50% in the last 30 years.
• 16% of youth ages 6-17 are overweight.
• The amount of daily vigorous physical activity decreases as the grade level increases.

For more information about Activate America visit: www.ymca.net/activateamerica