National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

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NAACP Freedom Fighter Fitness Challenge

Welcome to the 12 week “NAACP Freedom Fighter Fitness Challenge” sponsored by the NAACP Health Department. We would first like to congratulate you for committing to take the first step to take control of your health and wellness.

The NAACP Freedom Fighter Fitness Challenge is a 12-week challenge of the mind, body, and soul. The NAACP Health Department has designed this challenge to aid in the incorporation of healthy living principles as a part of the everyday living concepts of NAACP members, supporters and friends. It is our sincere hope that this fitness challenge will inspire you to make exercise, health and wellness, along with proper nutrition a top priority in your life. This challenge is about harnessing our untapped potential to change – thereby moving forward and improving all aspects of our lives.

Free Yourself: The Guide to Healthy Living (Download Manual)

Q: What does it take to join the NAACP Freedom Fighter Fitness Challenge?

A: You can join the fitness challenge two ways:

  1. Sign up at the NAACP Annual Convention or other NAACP sponsored event. You will go through a health screening process where you will be screened for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and will receive a body-fat analysis. Participants entering at the NAACP Annual convention, will complete a one-on-one personal training consultation with a professional trainer, and will have their "before" photos taken. After the preliminary screenings and consultation, participants will officially register on the database and receive the "Freedom Fighter Fitness Pack" which includes a gym bag, a pedometer/fm radio, challenge t-shirt, water bottle, tape measure, and most importantly Free Yourself: The Guide to Healthy Living. This guide will be your reference tool over the next 12 weeks. This guide is broken up into several sections providing insight into what is good health and how to achieve and maintain it. Moreover, further sections examine these topics in more depth by providing essential information and tips regarding exercise and healthy eating.
  2. You can print out the registration form that is included in the tools section of this guide and mail it to: NAACP Freedom Fighter Fitness Challenge, 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215. In this case you would need to submit your "before" pictures (The photos must be current and taken within 30 days of entering the challenge) in the mail. Photos will not be returned. Please have a copy made and keep copies of these photos. Do not send in negatives. All photos become property of the NAACP and may be used for promotion.

Q: Are there specific requirements on the photos submitted?

A: Professional photographs are not necessary, but good, clear photos are essential. The   photo should be taken against a plain background. To show your results best, please stand with your arms at your sides in the pictures and include your whole body from head to toe.

Q: What are the official dates of the NAACP Freedom Fighter Fitness Challenge?

A: The first fitness challenge is scheduled to occur from August 14, 2006 through November 5, 2006. Challenge participants will have one month after November 5, 2006 completion of the challenge to submit "After" photos and results to be entered for competitive prizes.

If you do not want to be a part of the challenge during the established dates, you can start the challenge on your own established date. The goal of this challenge is simply to encourage good health and healthy lifestyles. That can be done at any point in the year as long as you are willing to make the commitment.  
 
Q: What if I make a mistake and miss a workout? Or a meal?

A: If you miss a workout, you missed it. If you miss a meal, you missed it. Just get back on schedule, and please don't let setbacks, or mistakes as you call them, stop you. We've all made mistakes in the past, and we're all going to make mistakes in the future. Especially if we're trying to do something new and challenging. The important thing to do is to resume your schedule and identify what in your planning allowed for the mistake to occur. Once that's identified, fix it!

Ready…Set…GO!
We must admit that the next 12 weeks will not be easy. You may encounter some difficulty depending on your current level of fitness. However, we have included substantial tools that will alleviate some of the challenges. If used in combination with proper dieting and exercise, they will guarantee results and more importantly will allow you to cross the finish line successfully. One of the most fundamental lessons we hope that you learn when using this guide is that we are ultimately advocating that you incorporate it as the beginning of a healthy lifestyle change, one that you will maintain for a lifetime. So let's get started!

Tools for you

Conclusion

Congratulations! You now have the power to change the trajectory of your life – as far as your health is concerned. By using this guide you have taken an important step towards healthy living for yourself and for your family. Now that you know better, it is the time to DO BETTER! You might find that that you will need to make significant changes to your lifestyle to achieve good health as many of us do. Take it one step at a time and do not become discouraged. This is the first day of the rest of your life. Make changes incrementally and comfortably so that they may be added to your lifestyle over the long run and not as a fad.

Take it one day at a time. If you make a plan but miss a step, do not give up. Keep moving forward! Now is the time to take charge of your health. Reading this guide was the first step. We encourage you to keep up the good work. Here's to your good health and the good health of your loved ones!


NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215

Toll Free: (877) NAACP-98
Local: (410) 580-5777

© 2008 NAACP
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