The idea behind this organization is wanting people to get active and participate in physical activity, to help improve their chances of living and being healthy! I joined the Marine Corps after high school in order to afford to go to school and support my country. I am currently a full time student at East Carolina University, studying to be a Health Fitness Specialist. I am creating this non-profit organization in order to share my concerns and ways I hope I can help make a difference. The reason I feel strongly about this and why I want you to join is mainly because my mother has high blood pressure resulting from lack of exercise and a bad diet. She wasn't concerned about what she put into her body, and she didn't get out too much. Other than work, she would just come home and grab food, usually something fried or fast food, then go lay down on the couch and watch television. Work is an activity but when you eat junk food all the time it will take its toll. It is not enough to be active but to also try to eat healthy. So now my mother is having to restrict herself from eating what she likes a lot more now, all because of her lack of caring for herself. This is part of the reason why I take such good care of myself. Not only to be healthy, but also I enjoy how I feel afterwards! I feel confident, happy, stress-free, I have more energy, I just feel amazing so much more than when I wasn't as active. I do this not only for myself but to show my family it's possible to change! I went from 210lbs to 175lbs last year, I wasn't overweight, but I was lacking in my diet and it showed. By making this change not only did my mom change but also my brother, Josh, who decided to follow by my example. He was 50-80lbs overweight, and he decided that he would drop that weight after watching me. Afterwards, he decided to join the Marine Corps, my prior service military branch. I am just happy I can be such a great influence upon my family, they are proud of me and I couldn't be happier to be that reason for their change! "Get Fit, Stay Alive", is about being active and supporting one's own well-being. It helps controls weight, boosts one’s energy, relieves stress, and improves one’s mood. Also, regular physical activity can help prevent or manage many health issues and concerns, such as strokes, metabolic syndrome, depression, type 2 diabetes, types of cancer, and arthritis. So staying active has many positive benefits that can help a person in many aspects! Being active is more than just sports, it is any physical activity that allows movement in one's body. Just going for a short brisk walk or playing frisbee, playing in a pool, or just walking around in the mall, is a form of physical activity. It doesn't have to be heavy excessive activity, that would cause a high heart rate. Simple movements is all that is needed to be active; taking 30 minutes, 5 days out of the week is all that is recommended to be considered an active individual. I encourage all to participate! So what this organization does is help people get active. What I want to do is get together once a month and we will participate in a physical activity. We do anything from play football, softball, volleyball, go swimming, skating, anything that allows us to be active and have fun doing it! It also allows you to meet people and make new friends! Also, an event is made once a year. This event is a physical activity log; by signing up, all you do is input your activity andlength of time and it is done. There will be prizes for first, second and third place winners, but whats important is that everyone wins just by participating. This is completely voluntary, but by staying active you become the reason and cause for your own survival. So, come on out to one of our events and join in the festivities and make some friends. Guarenteed that you won't only feel great, but you will be happier doing it! "It's never too late to improve oneself"
