Gobble Gobble! The turkey, gravy, stuffing, pies, and ice cream are calling your name! Prior to the Thanksgiving Feast and food coma that I eagerly anticipate, my family and I will be running the annual 8k Turkey Trot Run in Northern New Jersey this Thursday morning…I can’t wait!
In spite of the gluttony that this week surely brings, I am jazzed to start my blog series on “The Power of Exercise.” The word “exercise” conjures up such mixed emotions – especially for women – from guilt (“I was supposed to go to the gym last night, but I had a cheeseburger instead”) to euphoria (“I just had the best work-out of my life.”) Chances are you can relate to both ends of the spectrum. According to a recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, men were more likely than women to participate in sports, exercise, or recreation on any given day—21 percent compared with 16 percent, respectively. On the days that they participated, men also spent more time in these activities than did women, 2.0 hours compared with 1.4 hours. SWSG’s Get Active! Curriculum aims to reverse these statistics- one girl at a time.

Me Completing a Half-Marathon last year!


Because we are so jazzed about the benefits of physical activity, I’ve decided to create a blog series on just that. Each month, I will profile a different constituent– girl, college student, Leadership Coach, or adult volunteer- and share her relationship with exercise and what it means to be healthy. I will also cite research and feature cutting-edge programs that foster healthy lifestyles at work, school, and in the home.  For now, I’ll share my own relationship with exercise:

  • I love marathons, triathlons, and challenging myself through physical activity.
  • It is way more fun to exercise with a friend, and I always look for group-exercise opportunities!
  • Salads, veggies, and fruits make me feel full and happy!

What does being healthy mean to you? Does it help you relieve stress? Connect with your friends? Do you cringe at the thought of exercise or count down the hours to your workout? Get ready for the next blog where I will share some videos of girls in SWSG talking about- and showing us- what it means to be healthy!