Are you ready to put some pep in your step? The American Heart Association and Macy’s are!
The American Heart Association and Macy’s have teamed up for another year of Go Red Get Fit, an online fitness challenge for women. This initiative motivates participants to make transformational lifestyle changes, through its quarterly health and fitness challenges. From March to May, this year’s participants are being challenged to “pep their steps for good,†by logging 10,000 steps a day, getting their cholesterol checked, talking with their healthcare providers about what the numbers mean, and following the challenge to help lower and maintain healthy numbers.
Heart disease is the number one killer of all Americans, and strokes are also a leading cause of death. Every year, one in three women die of heart disease and stroke, impacting African American and Hispanic women at greater rates. Understanding the risks and taking simple steps to address these preventable conditions are vital, in order to change the health narrative for women of color.
I bet you’re reluctantly saying to yourself, “Nurse Alice–you want me to be more active with the help of an online health campaign???â€
YES!!! And here’s why….
The engagement of participants from online social media communities offers the social support needed to help others be accountable for their health and have fun. It provides a family oriented, sisterhood-like atmosphere that is easily accessible 24/7, 365 days a year, and at the touch of a button. Participants share recipes and post videos or photos to celebrate goals and inspire one another. This daily engagement and positivity can help keep healthy living on your mind.
The quarterly health and fitness goals will be led by popular celebrity fitness trainer Scott Parker and fitness mentor Lisa Morales. Check out their first- quarter fitness challenge invite:
 (Source: YouTube, User: Nurse Alice)
And the party won’t stop after this. The fitness challenge will stay strong throughout the year, with these challenges to look forward to:
- Glisten Up and Get Lean†(July—September): Get three days of strength and resistance training exercises, as part of your 150 minutes of exercise per week–or 30 minutes, five days a week–regiment. Also, eat healthy sources of protein, like lean meats and nuts, and eat less red meat.
- “It Takes Two to Tango†(October—December): Get 150 minutes of moderate activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity–30 minutes a day, five days per week. Also, focus on reading and understanding food labels.
- “She Got Moves†(January—March): Select from any of the previous physical activity quarterly challenges, with 150 minutes per week–or 30 minutes, five days per week–of physical activity. Also, make a weekly meal plan to keep meals healthy, balanced, and well proportioned.
So, why should you try the Go Red and Get Fit online fitness challenge? Other than America’s favorite nurse thinks it’s a great idea, you probably want to live a happier and healthier life. Maybe you want to feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally. Perhaps, you want to live a long life, and be able to see your children graduate from school or get married?
Whatever your “why” is, you deserve a happier and healthier life. Life is why.
Nurse Alice is a nationally board-certified and award-winning cardiac clinical nurse specialist with nearly two decades of experience in cardiovascular health. She is a community health activist and freelance media health expert. She has appeared on various national radio and TV shows including Dr. Oz, The Doctors, Dr. Drew, News One with Roland Martin, Tom Joyner Morning Show and more. She is also the author of “Curb Your Cravings: 31 Foods to Fool Your Appetite.â€
You can follow her at AskNurseAlice.com and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @AskNurseAlice