Ron Jones: "Fit for Life"
After-School Physical Activity/Obesity Prevention Program

"Beginning a lifetime of health today!"

"It is better to build strong children than to try to repair adults."
--Anonymous

I was hired as a health/fitness consultant by the Boys & Girls Club to design, implement, and administer an after-school physical activity program for obesity prevention in Central California.  Program funding was provided by Kaiser-Permanente.  The Kaiser-Permanente Grant was personally endorsed by California Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield).  The program targeted four sites.  Three sites were elementary schools and one was the local Boys & Girls Club.  Participation was requested by parents or guardians.  All children were invited to participate whether overweight or normal weight.  I named the program "Fit for Life" because we were trying to mold  healthy behaviors of physical activity and health--for life--not just for the school year. 

"Fit for Life" was a one-year pilot program that operated for the 2003-2004 school year.  At the present time, Fit for Life is no longer operational; however, I hope to eventually re-create this program in the future.  I have also been helping others to use the Fit for Life format for their communities.  I have received inquires about my Fit for Life Program from around the US and Australia including a national TV show based out of NYC.

Ron Jones with CA Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy
"Fit for Life" Activity Program Press Conference, July 2003

 "We need to tackle America's weight issues as aggressively as we are addressing smoking and tobacco...the lack of quality, daily physical education is one of the most glaring reasons for our obesity problem, particularly for children."
--Tommy G. Thompson, Health and Human Services Secretary, May 2004

The Fit for Life Program was based on what I call "Fitness Play."  There were NO traditional sports in this program!  No football, no basketball, no soccer, no baseball, no volleyball.  Competitions with winners and losers were eliminated and replaced with good healthy fitness play that created a quality experience and enjoyment.  I opted for "alternative" life-time activities like strength conditioning, balance and agility training, flexibility, fun aerobic activities with walking, playing, and Frisbees. Fit for Life also be taught children how to think differently about using existing playground equipment.  Each day began with a mini-nutrition lesson because physical activity alone will never be enough to combat the epidemic of obesity today in America.  For a healthy and secure America, our children must learn to Get Fit and Be Strong!
In health,

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."
--Plato

Girls are strong too!

Activity Leader Handouts: (PDF)

• Cooperative Games, Skills, & Exercises

• Intro to Dynamic Warm-Ups

• Getting a Good Start Organization Tips

• School-Site Equipment List

• Weekly Planning Guide

Fit for Life School & Program Sites:

• Boys & Girls Club

• Franklin Elementary School

• Hort Elementary School

• Nichols Elementary School

Nutrition Mini-Lessons

Photos

Press Coverage

Program Information: (PDF)

• Overview

• Program Outline

• Weekly Outline

• Daily Outline

• Parent Survey

"In California, 26.5% of all children are overweight and 39.6% of all children are unfit."
--California Center for Public Health Advocacy

Student Feedback & Letters

Videos (Fitness Fun in Action!) NEW!

Weblinks:

• Activity Leaders: (Health/Fitness/Nutrition Ideas)

  • 5-A-Day.Com (5-A-Day of fruits & veggies!) 

  • BAM.Gov (CDC's new health website for youth 9-13)

  • PE Central (Great place for lessons & ideas!)

  • Pizza Explorer (Purdue University interactive food science site for kids)

  • VerbNow.Com (VERB-It's What You Do. Physical Activity Site)
     

• Fit for Life Program Influences:

  • CATCH Program (Coordinated Approach to Child Health)

  • Hearts 'N Parks (NHLBI & National Recreation & Parks Association)

  • SPARK Program
     

• Research: (Program Justification)

  • America's Children: National Indicators of Well-Being 2003 (ChildStats.Gov)

  • An Epidemic: Overweight & Unfit Children in CA Assembly Districts (CA Center for Public Health Advocacy)

  • ChildStats.Gov

  • Fit Kids Proven To Perform Better Academically (CA Department of Education)

  • FitnessGram Results (Search by Region, County, City-CA Department of Education)

  • FitnessGram News Release (Delaine Easton, CA Superintendent of Public Instruction)

  • FitnessGram Letter (Delaine Easton, CA Superintendent of Public Instruction)

  • Healthy Kids Play Program (St. Louis Children's Hospital)

  • National Center for Health Statistics

  • NCHS-FASTSTATS

  • US Health Trend Highlights (Centers for Disease Control)

  • US Department of Health & Human Services
     

Visit my Child Obesity Section

Check out my "Fitness Play" Training Program for Overweight Children

 RonJones.Org | Back to Health & Fitness | Site Map

(Updated 4.2.08)

                      Get Fit.  Be Strong.
                                 Corporate Wellness · Consulting · Health Promotion