 |
|
|
What
is it? Is this "Imagine Action"?
TOP
|
This year, the spring physical activity
program combines some of the features of "Imagine Action"
with " Physical Activity Counts," a way to keep track of the
amount of time you're physically active.
We all know that physical activity is important.
And we know it's fun. "Imagine Action" helped us to keep track
of "all of the fun" we were having and it motivated us to
challenge ourselves and our co-workers and friends. You can
still do that with "Imagine Action, Your Way" with the help
of the "PAC" scoresheets.
|
|
When
does it start?
TOP
|
It starts whenever you want it to and you
can keep it going as long as you like. Check in with your
co-workers, people who may have participated in "Imagine Action"
before and decide if you would like to challenge each other
to become more physically active this spring.
|
|
What
do we need to do to get started?
TOP
|
The only supplies you need are scoresheets.
Contact the Health Promotion Program at 274-6710 or taroca@tompkins-co.org.
We'll send you, through inter-office mail, a poster with a
pad of personal scoresheets.
Each pad contains 50 scoresheets. The pads
are intended for a group of people in a work area. For example,
8 people would have enough sheets to last them 5 weeks (with
a few left over). But you decide what works best for you.
|
|
What
do we do with the scoresheets? Do we send them in when they're
completed each week?
TOP
|
You don't send in or return the sheets.
You and your group keep track of scores, if you want to. Since
you may have participated in "Imagine Action" before, you
know how to set up challenges, drawings and how to encourage
yourself and your co-workers to be more active. You know what
works best for you. Check the website, www.tompkins-co.org/wellness/
for some ideas.
Some ideas:
- You may want to have a pot luck lunch when you're group
has met it's goal.
- Your group can chip in to purchase a gift certificate to
a sporting goods store towards the purchase of walking shoes.
The person with the most points at the end of 4 weeks, for
example, wins the gift certificate. Or the group could chip
in to buy a bouquet of summer flowers.
Welcome the season and have fun!
|
|
How
do we win prizes?
TOP
|
You decide if you want to have prizes or
not. The Wellness Committee and the Health Planning council
are not providing prizes this year. Think about setting goals
for your group and choosing a reward or prize that all of
you would enjoy working towards.
|
|
Why
are scoresheets only being supplied to groups?
TOP
|
One of the goals of the Physical Activity
Counts (PAC) program is to encourage
co-workers at worksites around Tompkins County to support
each other when it comes to getting regular physical activity
(PA).
Getting regular PA is a big -- and often
difficult -- lifestyle change for most people (only about
1/4 of New Yorkers get the recommended amount of PA. Close
to another 1/4 get no PA.) Support and encouragement from
friends and co-workers can be critical to the process of setting
and achieving challenging goals.
|
|
I've
always done Imagine Action on my own rather than with a group
or team. Why can't I do that this year?
TOP
|
You can still work on your own. The PAC
program that is part of this year's Imagine Action (see
above) encourages co-workers to support each other
when striving to get regular physical activity.
Still, it is up to each individual to look
for the best way to bring regular PA into their daily or weekly
routine. For some that might mean working alone, while others
may make better progress with a buddy, in a small group, or
by 2-3 groups setting up a team challenge. Visit one of the
PAC pages listed below for more
info.
|
|
Why
does the scoresheet we get for Imagine Action say PAC on it?
TOP
|
This year, the spring physical activity
program combines some of the features of "Imagine Action"
with " Physical Activity Counts" (PAC), a way to keep track
of the amount of time you're physically active.
Worksites in Tompkins County have been
participating in -- and looking forward to -- Imagine Action
for the past number of years. The PAC program is new, developed
by the Health Promotion Program at the Health Department.
The PAC program encourages co-workers to support each other
when striving to get regular physical activity.
|
|
Do
I have to see a doctor before I start Imagine Action?
TOP
|
The following is from the American Heart
Association web site:*
"People middle-aged or older who are
inactive and at high risk for heart disease (or who already
have a medical condition) should seek medical advice before
they start or significantly increase their physical activity.
Most apparently healthy people of any age can safely engage
in moderate levels of physical activity (e.g. moderate walking,
gardening, yard work) without consulting a doctor first."
*http://www.americanheart.org/
>Healthy Lifestyle >Exercise & Fitness >Physical
Activity in Daily Life >Physical Activity and Cardiovascular
Health: Q & A. Accessed January 2002
|
| |
|
