Observed on the last Wednesday in September, National Women’s Health & Fitness Day is one of the nation’s largest promotional events for women of all ages. According to the statistics from the past couple years, roughly 80,000 to 100,000 women around the country gathered at parks, recreation centers, gyms, hospitals, senior centers, retirement communities, and more to organize health and fitness events.
It is estimated that about 500 groups across the country will host women’s health and fitness events on National Women’s Health & Fitness Day. These local events vary, depending on the ages of women, levels of fitness, and access to resources. While some groups will hold boot camp or yoga classes, others may lead community walks or attend informational health workshops. The bottom line is that women will be learning about health, diet, or engaging in physical activity. Above all else, the fitness-related events will not be competitive.
If you don’t have time to sign up for an event in your area, you can either host your own celebratory event or engage in healthy activities as an individual. Need some inspiration for National Women’s Health & Fitness Day? Try one of the following suggestions to take control of your health, make healthier choices, and plan out time for regular exercise. The grassroots nature of this day provides the opportunity for women to take charge and illustrate what health programs and services are provided in their communities.
Ask A Friend To Exercises With You
One of the best ways to motivate yourself to exercise regularly is to team up with a workout companion. Not only will exercising be more fun, but studies have shown that having a workout partner increases the drive to exercise. Additionally, the accountability aspect has been associated with more weight loss than women who work out solo.
Get Your Thyroid Checked
According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), there are an estimated 20 million Americans living with some form of thyroid disease, and roughly 60% of them are unaware of their condition. Statistically, women are five to eight times more likely to have thyroid problems than men. An underactive or hyperactive thyroid can affect your mood, weight, concentration, and more, going undetected for years. If you have had trouble losing weight, get your thyroid checked because it may be the culprit.
Eat For Your Bones
There are roughly ten million Americans living with osteoporosis, and about 80% of them are women. About 50% of women over the age of 50 will experience bone break or fracture because of osteoporosis. In order to ensure that your bones stay healthy for as long as possible, eat the right nutrients for your bones. Magnesium, calcium, and vitamins D & K are essential nutrients to optimize bone health. Exercise and diet go a long way in keeping your bones healthy, so click here to learn more about the best foods for bone health.
Eat Some Superfoods
It’s impossible to be superwoman every single day, but you can include superfoods in your daily diet. Foods like spirulina, broccoli, apples, turnips, celery, pomegranates, cayenne pepper, leafy greens, avocado, asparagus, watermelon, garlic, and bell peppers all have varied nutritional profiles to help you satisfy your recommended daily intake of different vitamins and minerals. These foods can assist with weight loss, improve heart health, fight off colds, and keep your skin healthy.
Try A New Workout Class Or Sport
Have you been itching to show your dance skills at a Zumba class? Have you wanted to improve your cardio at a spin class? Maybe you are interested in the water aerobics class at the retirement home, or joining a local soccer league. Whatever your interest is, today is the perfect chance to summon the courage to try a new form of exercise. Don’t be afraid to get out there and be active.
