Press Releases

Harrisburg - Governor Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania has been selected to take part in the National Foundation for Governor's Fitness Councils' National Champion School campaign. The foundation will select three Pennsylvania schools to receive new, state-of-the-art, Live Positively^&trad; fitness centers.

The campaign is open to public and charter elementary and middle schools in Pennsylvania. The schools will be chosen based on their commitment to physical fitness and the wellness of the student body.

"Pennsylvania schools have a great opportunity to compete for a new, state-of-the-art fitness center," said Governor Corbett. "It's so important for kids to learn early that exercise and living a healthy lifestyle will help them do better in school and ultimately serve them for the rest of their lives."

The National Foundation and its chairman, Jake Steinfeld, founder of the "Body by Jake" fitness programs, are committed to the advancement of youth fitness. They also strive to reduce a number of health problems affecting our youth, including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

"I encourage all eligible public and charter schools across Pennsylvania to participate," said Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis. "This program is a great way for schools to upgrade their facilities without negatively impacting the taxpayers."

The fitness centers will be provided by The National Foundation through public-private partnerships. They will be awarded to schools at no cost to taxpayers or their school districts.

"It is important for children to engage in some form of daily physical activity to help them to develop healthy behaviors," said Dr. Eli Avila, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. "I am honored that Pennsylvania has been selected to participate in this national fitness campaign. We all have to work together to maintain our health."

For more information on the guidelines and to obtain a nomination form to be considered as a National Champion School contest, visit www.nationalgovcouncil.org. Nominations are due by Friday, April 20.

Los Angeles, CA (January 24, 2012) – Body by Jake Global announces the appearance of Mario Lopez on HSN for the first time. Mario will be showcasing The Solution, a revolutionary new piece of equipment designed to make abdominal work simple, effective and fun.

The Solution from Body by Jake features a biomechanical breakthrough called Gravitational Linkage, which takes your body through the perfect synchronized abdominal motion, while sitting in an upright contoured seat with awesome back support. The upright handgrips open up your abdominal cage to give you the deepest ab-ripping contraction possible. And best of all, it only takes two minutes a day!

A man of many trades, Mario Lopez has the overwhelming desire to always keep active. He is the single host of the nationally syndicated daily show EXTRA while concurrently hosting the highly rated MTV program, America’s Best Dance Crew. As an avid sports fan, he followed his love for boxing to become a recurring commentator on HBO Boxing. He continues to act in front of the camera for networks like ABC Family, F/X, and Oxygen and also performs on Broadway, recently concluding a star turn in the long running hit musical A Chorus Line. His best-selling books focus on fitness and family including a recent children’s book he wrote for his daughter Gia called Mario and Baby Gia.

Taking his love for fitness to the next level he partnered with Body by Jake on The Solution. Joining forces with the leader in home fitness equipment, The Solution is designed to allow the user to get the greatest ab-shredding workout while seated in a comfortable seat with back support. He is introducing The Solution to Home Shopping Network for the first time on the weekend of January 28-29. This will mark his first appearance on the shopping network featuring a product he truly believes in and together with BBJ believes the HSN viewer will benefit greatly from The Solution. Tune in at 11:00pm ET on Saturday, January 28, 2012 or on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 7:00am ET, 2:00pm ET, or 7:00pm ET to see Mario present The Solution.

About Body by Jake
For over 30 years Body by Jake has been finding ways to bring people fun, easy-to-use fitness products that deliver results. Founded by Jake Steinfeld, the creator of the personal training industry, the brand has become globally recognized as the leader in fitness standing for quality, health, and a Don’t Quit attitude. Through inspiration, motivation, and innovation, the goal is to help people of every generation have the means and the will to believe in themselves and achieve healthy, rewarding lives.

More info available online at www.bodybyjake.com

Los Angeles, CA (January 3, 2012) – FitOrbit announced today the launch of their all new FitOrbit 2.0, with a radically simplified way for consumers to interact with the USDA foods database as they track their meals. FitOrbit, launched two years ago, is the first-of-its-kind solution that provides a real, certified personal trainer to its members with a one-on-one, proven-effective training and nutrition plan over the internet, all for less than ten dollars a week.  The all new FitOrbit 2.0 now offers even more intuitive features that further enhance the relationship between client and trainer.

The new “smart” USDA food logging database makes it simple and easy for FitOrbit members to track their food and calorie consumption in a user-friendly format.  This smart foods innovation logs “green beans” as is.  Previously, the USDA database required users to enter multiple variations of “beans, green, canned, in water.”  This solution pioneered by FitOrbit is the key to ease of use which allows real people to achieve real success.

Using feedback from their 10,000 current clients, FitOrbit 2.0 has also revolutionized multiple aspects of its users’ online experience, including a redesigned mobile App that makes on-the-go accessibility to FitOrbit’s trainers and personal plans faster and more convenient.  Additionally, there are newly revamped communications tools that allow state-of-the-art web and mobile user-to-trainer contact as well as an updated user interface that simplifies logging with FitOrbit’s Progress Tracker, which monitors weight loss, calorie and water intake, exercises, and sleep.

"The keys to a successful personal trainer are being able to motivate and inspire clients by listening to their needs and giving them the tools to achieve real results.  Since its launch, FitOrbit has enabled our trainers to change people's lives worldwide.  Our 2.0 version includes newly invented 'true-to-life' tools in a warm, friendly and intuitive user interface.  Weight loss success with personal training has never been easier, more affordable or, most importantly, more effective,” says Jake Steinfeld, Chairman of Body by Jake Global and FitOrbit Founder and Chairman.  Jake Steinfeld is the fitness industry visionary who is credited as making personal fitness training an industry. 

About FitOrbit
FitOrbit was founded in 2009 by one of the fitness industry's reigning icons, Jake Steinfeld, of “Body by Jake” fame.  For less than $2 a day, FitOrbit delivers personal trainers and individual fitness and nutrition programs online.  FitOrbit members get a full lifestyle package, including a smartly personalized workout plan, a realistic meal plan (with suggested recipes/ingredients/ and even local restaurant menu suggestions), plus 24/7 standby support. Members get to choose a certified trainer whose personality and approach mesh with theirs. And if for some reason the chemistry isn't there, users can switch as often as they want.

FitOrbit: Ridiculously Affordable, Remarkably Successful.  Available at www.fitorbit.com

WASHINGTON – Whoops and hollers greeted the announcement that Capital City Public Charter School will receive the first of three Live Positively fitness centers to be built in Washington, D.C. schools. Jake Steinfeld made the announcement in a program where students also heard about the importance of healthy lifestyles from Mayor Vincent Gray and U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A.

“We’re giving schools the tools to help this generation of kids grow up healthy and fit,” said Steinfeld, chairman of the National Foundation for Governor’s Fitness Councils. “We’re bringing fully funded fitness centers and healthy gardens to schools that need them, so these kids will be ready to learn and lead.” Through the Foundation, Steinfeld, founder of Body by Jake Global, Major League Lacrosse, FitTV and FitOrbit, is taking nationally the program he started as chairman of the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Along with the news that their school will receive a fitness center and healthy garden this spring, students at Capital City Public Charter School got the word on fitness and learning from the Surgeon General. “Research has made a clear connection between physical activity and academic achievement,” said Dr. Benjamin. “We know that exercise and good nutrition have a direct effect on cognition and learning at any age. It’s important that we give our children the opportunity to grow in learn where they can get daily exercise and eat well.”

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray lauded the program that will build fitness centers and gardens at Capital City and two other District Schools to be identified. “This enhances the culture of wellness and inquiry that go hand-in-hand at Capital City Public Charter School,” he said. “Particularly in times of economic challenges, public/private partnerships are making possible the kinds of facilities and programming that will ensure that American students are healthy, well prepared and competitive.”

Karen Dresden, Head of School for Capital City, noted that the timing of the new fitness center and garden fits perfectly with the planning and timeline for the school's expansion. "Capital City Public Charter School embraces health, fitness, and wellness as part of its curriculum and culture," she said. "We have a new campus under construction. This grant will allow us to have the resources to fully support our students in establishing healthy habits for life. We're so excited and grateful!"

The Coca-Cola Company has provided five years of funding for the Foundation to build Live Positively fitness centers in selected schools across the U.S., beginning in 2012 with three each in Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the lead partner for the National Foundation for Governor’s Fitness Councils. Jim Whitehead, CEO,  said,  “ACSM will work with the Foundation to build and dedicate fitness centers and healthy gardens in schools across the country and to share the most promising, innovative ideas for promoting physical activity and good nutrition among young people. The science shows that exercise truly is medicine, and the Foundation is putting that into practice by giving American students the means to develop lifelong habits of health and fitness.”

In coming months, the Foundation will work with the governors of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York to identify schools that will receive fitness centers and healthy gardens in 2012. For more information, visit www.nationalgovcouncil.org.

This month Jake has been in the studio recording the voice of his lead character for a new animated project that he created. Animated Jake is being co-produced with some of the most legendary people from the world of kids programming and for the first time has found a unique way to educate kids about healthy living in a FUN and entertaining way. Below are links to a few behind-the-scenes clips of Jake and the team at the studio. Stay tuned for more!

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Following a moderated discussion with President Clinton at the Governor’s 2010 Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity: Actions for Healthy Living, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced eight specific actions he will pursue to support healthy living in California. The actions announced by the Governor will fight childhood obesity and encourage all Californians to live a healthy, active lifestyle through promoting healthy beverages, increasing physical activity and incorporating the idea of “health in all policies.” “My top priorities include the health and well-being of our children and all Californians, and reducing obesity will help improve both,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “At the 2010 Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity, we discussed the link between fitness and educational success, the importance of making sure kids have healthy beverages and water available at school and the relationship between the environments that we live, work, study and play in and access to physical activities, like walking and riding bikes, and healthy food choices. Now I want to take what was discussed at the Summit and turn our state goals into action that will attack obesity on every level and create a healthy foundation for California’s future.”

Since taking office, Governor Schwarzenegger has led the fight against California’s obesity epidemic and the actions he announced today will continue the state’s legacy of promoting healthy living and active lifestyles. The Governor’s 2010 Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity brought together a cross-section of public health, education, community and local government leaders from around the state who have been active in promoting healthy eating, physical fitness and community-level health efforts. In addition to the Summit, the Governor’s Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshé, Department of Public Health Director Dr. Mark Horton and staff have been working since the fall to identify promising practices and innovative policy developments to further combat obesity. This includes reviewing current state programs and studies on community health and meeting with a wide variety of stakeholders including physical education, public health and think tank groups. As a culmination of this work and discussions at the Governor’s 2010 Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity, Governor Schwarzenegger is taking specific actions to increase healthy living in California, particularly for schoolchildren, in order to reduce the rate of obesity. The Governor’s actions are:

Promote the Consumption of Healthy Beverages in Schools
Adequate hydration is necessary for the academic achievement and health of students, but many students do not have access to fresh, free water in schools, particularly in low-income communities. In schools where there is water available, it is often not provided in food service areas during mealtimes, and while some school districts have found ways to provide access to water in food service areas, it is currently not a requirement for California schools. Additionally, the consumption of electrolyte replacement beverages, which are becoming increasingly popular in public schools, is associated with weight gain, diabetes and obesity. In fact, beverage standards recommended by the Institute of Medicine call for the elimination of electrolyte replacement beverages from public schools to promote healthy beverage consumption. To promote the consumption of healthy beverages in schools, the Governor proposes to:

• Increase Access to Free Drinking Water during School Mealtimes: SB 1413, by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by Governor Schwarzenegger, has been introduced to require school districts to make fresh, free drinking water available in food service areas by January 1, 2012. Click here to read more about the proposal.
• Eliminate Electrolyte Replacement Beverages from California Public Schools: SB 1255, by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) and sponsored by Governor Schwarzenegger, has been introduced to eliminate electrolyte replacement beverages, commonly known as sports drinks, from being sold during the day in public middle and high schools by July 1, 2011.

Increase Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Educational Programs
After school programs provide the opportunity for youth to achieve the recommended daily dose of physical activity in a safe environment, but California’s After School Education and Safety program includes physical activity as an optional, not required, education enrichment component. Further, moderate to vigorous physical activity in physical education (PE) classes has the greatest potential for increasing health benefits for the most students and contributes to obesity prevention while improving self-esteem and concentration. California requires all students to participate in PE classes for a specified number of minutes per every 10 days, but studies show that students spend as little as four of every thirty minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity in PE classes. Moreover, schools that have participated in the Governor’s Fitness Challenge have seen benefits to their students, from increased test and API scores to improved levels of fitness. As a result of their participation in the Governor’s Fitness Challenge, many schools have also won new state-of-the-art fitness centers and facilities to promote physical activity. To increase moderate to vigorous physical activity in educational programs, the Governor proposes to:

• Increase Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in After-School Programs: AB 2705, by Assemblymember Isadore Hall (D-Compton) and sponsored by Governor Schwarzenegger, has been introduced to require after-school programs to provide at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity to all students in after-school programs using the new Physical Activity Guidelines commencing January 1, 2013. Click here to read more about the proposal.
• Increase Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in PE Classes: AB 2705, by Assemblymember Isadore Hall (D-Compton) and sponsored by Governor Schwarzenegger, has been introduced to require that students spend at least 50 percent of PE class time in moderate to vigorous physical activity by January 1, 2013. Click here to read more about the proposal.
• Expand the Governor’s Fitness Challenge to 1 Million Participants: Through public-private partnerships, Governor Schwarzenegger will work with Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Chairman Jake Steinfeld to expand the Governor’s Fitness Challenge to 1 million participants in 2010.

Incorporate Healthy Living Options through “Health in All Policies”
Physical, social and economic environments influence individual health behaviors and health outcomes; considering health in all policies can improve health and advance other statewide goals such as economic well-being and addressing climate change. Policies and practices that support joint use of school facilities – where schools jointly share recreational facilities with another governmental agency, community-based organization or the community – can provide opportunities for physical activity for the community before, after or during the school day. Additionally, Safe Routes to Schools aims to allow students to safely walk or bike to and from school, thereby promoting physical activity and healthy living. But, currently many low-income communities face barriers in applying for funding in terms of regulations and a resource-intensive application process. To incorporate healthy living options through “health in all policies,” the Governor proposes to:

• Increase Flexibility to Develop Joint Use Facilities: AB 2705, by Assemblymember Isadore Hall (D-Compton) and sponsored by Governor Schwarzenegger, has been introduced to expand eligibility opportunities and flexibility for communities to apply for joint use funds. This proposal aims to ensure vital joint-use projects are not hindered by burdensome restrictions. Click here to read more about the proposal.
• Simplify and Focus Safe Routes to Schools: Through a letter to Caltrans Director Randell Iwasaki, Governor Schwarzenegger has directed the Safe Routes to School funded Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC) to analyze whether or not the schools that have the highest concentrations of children in need are participating in Safe Routes to Schools. Based on the findings, the Governor also directed Caltrans and TARC to develop strategies that will ensure equitable access to Safe Routes to Schools funds. This proposal seeks to eliminate barriers and ensure that communities in need are receiving funding.
• Strategic Growth Council Executive Order: The Governor has issued Executive Order S-04-10 instructing the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) to establish a Health in All Policies Task Force, facilitated by the California Department of Public Health, to work with existing SGC working groups to identify priority programs, policies and strategies which improve the health of Californians.

www.californianewswire.com

Randy Couture, one of the athletes credited with bringing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) into the mainstream of American pop culture and sports, has teamed with Don’t Quit! Music - the world’s first digital music and fitness record label - to create a special downloadable music playlist for high-energy workouts.

Don’t Quit! Music Presents: Randy Couture Mix, Volume 1 will be available via the Don’t Quit! Music iTunes site www.itunes.com and the new iTunes fitness store beginning February 23, 2010, and soon thereafter at www.dontquitmusic.com, coinciding with the site’s relaunch. Following the launch of Couture’s role as the spokesperson for the Body By Jake® Tower 200™ exercise system, Body By Jake Founder Jake Steinfeld asked him to develop a playlist for Don’t Quit! Music. Said Steinfeld: “I’m psyched that Randy wanted to do this. His mix is a perfect example of what Don’t Quit! Music is all about. This mix is going to keep you motivated and make you feel great! If you are an MMA fan or looking to fire up your workout, Don’t Quit! Music is just what this DOCTA ordered!” Don’t Quit! Music takes the work out of creating your own workout music playlist by giving leading fitness experts access to a phenomenal vault of hit songs and having them do it for you.

Launched on January 1, 2009, Don’t Quit! Music has been greeted with extraordinary success. A promotion with My Coke Rewards exhausted the projected six-month allotment of downloads in only two months. More than 100,000 tracks have been downloaded to date. Individual tracks and full playlists play on all MP3 players and iPods. Featuring 15 of the Mixed Martial Arts Hall of Famer’s own favorite workout songs, Randy Couture Mix, Volume 1 is filled with fun, fist-pumpin’, classic rock and dance party R&B hits, from Wang Chung’s “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” and Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love” to Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration,” Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” and Smash Mouth’s “All Star.”

“Music gets my adrenaline going when I’m working out,” says Couture, considered the most popular fighter in MMA history, “and I wanted to help others by making available a playlist like one I would listen to. Don’t Quit! Music is a great idea and I’m really happy to contribute to its goal of making it easier for people to get in shape and stay in shape.” A three-time NCAA wrestling All-American, Couture is the only five-time titleholder in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history. Don’t Quit! Music is a partnership between Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) and Body By Jake Global.

Don’t Quit! Music Presents: Randy Couture Mix, Volume 1 Tracklisting:
“Everybody Have Fun Tonight” (Album Version)/Wang Chung
“Hair Of The Dog” (Album Version)/Nazareth
“Addicted To Love” (Edit Version)/Robert Palmer
“Somebody’s Watching Me” (Album Version)/Rockwell
“Celebration” (Single Version)/Kool & The Gang
“All Right Now” (Single Version)/Free
“You Keep Me Hangin’ On”/Kim Wilde
“Gimme Three Steps” (Album Version)/Lynyrd Skynyrd
“Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)”/Elton John
“The Boys Are Back In Town” (Album Version)/Thin Lizzy
“Oh Sheila” (Album Version)/Ready For The World
“Show Me The Way” (Live Version)/Peter Frampton
“Heat Of The Moment” (Album Version)/Asia
“Give It To Me Baby” (Album Version)/Rick James
“All Star” (Album Version)/Smash Mouth

It wasn’t advertised. It wasn’t publicized. “Don’t Quit” fitness guru Jake Steinfeld wouldn’t even do any radio, TV or print interviews for the show he debuted at MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theater -- yet the place was filled and standing room only. Admittedly, the tickets were free because Showtime filmed the 85-minute stand-up storytelling. But other than a long conversation with me that we posted on Vegas DeLuxe, there was no advance publicity. The show was titled No Expectations because Jake didn’t have any. He also didn’t know how it would be received. He didn’t even know if anybody would show up. But when I arrived at MGM on Saturday night, Jake had the crowd roaring with laughter, rolling in the aisles and held them quietly in the palm of his hand as he related inside secret stories of working with Hollywood stars.

He told laugh out loud stories of a night in a British pub with Harrison Ford. Jake regaled the audience with wild, hysterical tales of how he got tipsy with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and movie mogul Steven Spielberg at a theater premiere. He told humorous secrets from his days of selling fitness equipment on the Home Shopping Network and just what happened to the porcelain doll he put on the “silent and soft” treadmill. “The response was so positive,” Jake told me yesterday. “It felt so great. We got offers to take it to New York immediately, plus some special weeks here in Vegas. But I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to accept. So we had an unexpected success, and I don’t know the next step. Can you believe not one four-letter word, no obscenities? Just down-home funny stories and an inspirational message that sent everybody home saying, they, too could achieve something successful in life.”

I told Jake his show is so funny, warm and likable that he has to perform it and myriad other stories again -- be it a week on Broadway or a week in Los Angeles or Las Vegas -- and then shoot it as a TV series. He might have had No Expectations, but now we have high expectations for him!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground. For photos and to view the original article go to www.vegasdeluxe.com

Sacramento –The gold medal winners of the 2009 Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Spotlight Awards presented by the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation were announced by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Council Chairman Jake Steinfeld Wednesday, September 16, at an awards ceremony at the Capitol Area East End Complex Auditorium in Sacramento. The Spotlight Awards recognize the efforts of principals, teachers, non-profit organizations, events, park programs, parent associations and schools that positively impact the physical activity, fitness levels and well being of California children.

The grand prize winning schools and other Spotlight Award Gold Medalists were selected from over 700 nominees based on their use of innovation, inspiration and initiative to positively impact the physical activity, fitness levels and well being of California children and youth. “I congratulate all of this year’s Gold Medal winners including the three grand prize winning schools of my Fitness Challenge,” Governor Schwarzenegger said. “This year participation doubled with a record 339,000 students, teachers and parents who took my Fitness Challenge, and I’m proud of each and every one of them for their fantastic efforts. It’s Californians like them who will help make us the strongest and healthiest state in the country.”

The Governor announced that this year’s Governor’s Challenge Competition among California’s K-12 schools will run from September 17, 2009 to May 31, 2010. Rancho Las Positas Elementary School (Livermore), Bobby Duke Middle School (Coachella) and Warren High School (Downey) were announced as the Council’s Elementary School of the Year, Middle School of the Year and High School of the Year respectively, and the winners of the 2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition. The three schools, which will each receive brand new fitness activity centers valued at $100,000, were selected from 1,165 schools and more than 330,000 students that engaged in physical activity 30-60 minutes a day, at least 3 days a week for 4 weeks during the previous school year.

The Governor was joined in his praise of the winners by Council Chairman Jake Steinfeld, founder of Major League Lacrosse and Exercise TV. Also joining them was Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, a founding sponsor of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and presenting sponsor of the Spotlight Awards. Anthem Blue Cross Foundation has granted more than $1.75 million to the Council over the last 5 years. “We’re proud to shine a spotlight on each of our awardees because they are each doing something amazing to help California’s children. It’s especially heartwarming to know that the students at Rancho Las Positas Elementary School have decided to donate their $100,000 brand new fitness center to another deserving elementary school in a community of greater need. For a group of kids to be that generous is absolutely fantastic and renews my optimism for the future of this great state” said Steinfeld.

In addition to announcing the 9 Spotlight Award gold medalists, Steinfeld also gave special recognition to eleven school districts and the Stanislaus County Office of Education for their support of children’s fitness. “Stanislaus County led the way in participation in the Governor’s Challenge last year with over 100,000 students recording more than a million active days. Students in the County’s top performing schools in the Governor’s Challenge had more than twice the rate of improvement in English and Math than the rest of the state this year showing that physical activity not only increases students’ health, confidence and self-esteem, it can help students academically too.”

“Anthem Blue Cross Foundation recognizes the benefits of physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said Leslie A. Margolin, president of Anthem Blue Cross of California. “As the Presenting Sponsor of the Spotlight Awards, the foundation is delighted to be supporting efforts to instill the importance of wellness in the children of our state. We’re also thrilled to announce today that the foundation is continuing as a major sponsor of the Governor’s Council and the sole sponsor of the Spotlight Awards in 2010 with an additional investment of nearly $375,000.” Research shows that regular physical activity during childhood and adolescence helps build healthier bones and muscles, increases self-esteem, and reduces the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a leader in preventing childhood obesity and encouraging all Californians to live healthier. Since taking office, the Governor has:

• Increased fresh fruits and vegetables in our schools.
• Banned junk food and soda from schools.
• Banned trans fats and foods fried in unhealthy oils from schools.
• Increased funding for physical education classes and equipment.
• Held an obesity summit to raise awareness and get families involved.

2009 Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Spotlight Awards Presented by the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation - Gold Medalists and other Honorees:
Principal – Rick Oser, Golden Avenue Elementary, Lemon Grove
Teacher – George Velarde, Sierra Vista Junior High, Canyon Country
Non-Profit Organization – Trips for Kids, Mill Valley
Event– California Kids Triathlon, Woodland
Park& Recreation Program – Westside Steppers Drill Team & Drum Squad
City of San Bernardino
Parent Association – Monroe Elementary School PTA, Santa Barbara
Schools

• Rancho Las Positas Elementary School, Livermore
• Bobby Duke Middle School, Coachella
• Warren High School, Downey

County of the Year – Stanislaus County

School Districts of the Year
Bay Area – Redwood City School District
Central Coast – Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Central Valley – Delano Union School District
Desert Sierra – Etiwanda School District
Gold Coast – Oak Park Unified School District
Gold Country – Manteca Unified School District
Los Angeles – Monrovia Unified School District
North Coast – Petaluma City Elementary School District
Orange County – Buena Park School District
San Diego and Imperial – Chula Vista Elementary School District
Sierra Cascade – Fall River Joint Unified School District

A full listing of the gold, silver and bronze medalists, plus the eleven regional award winning schools in the 2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition can be found at www.CalGovCouncil.org .

Sacramento – The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports’ Chairman Jake Steinfeld visited Sacramento’s Hazel Strauch Elementary School today and cut the ribbon on a state-of-the-art “XRKade” an interactive, high-tech fitness facility complete with Dance Dance Revolution, a mixed-martial arts arena, and virtual mountain biking. Hazel Strauch Elementary School earned this prize, which was made possible by Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and iTech Fitness, for winning the 2008 Governor’s Challenge Competition, a contest among all California schools that promotes physical activity and good nutrition.

“We’re so proud of you for accepting the Governor’s Challenge and stepping up for your own health. Today, you are California’s Champions of Fitness and we’re excited to present you with this high-tech facility where you can work out and get active every day. Congratulations, you’ve earned it!” Steinfeld told the assembled students, teachers, parents and administrators. Hazel Strauch Elementary School was selected from more than 1,200 schools across the state in which students were challenged to engage in physical activity 30-60 minutes a day, at least 3 days a week for 4 weeks – in addition to their regularly scheduled physical education classes. All x students for Hazel Strauch completed the Governor’s Challenge last year and the school has made sweeping changes to promote good nutrition including developing a “Parent University” in which parents attended nutrition presentations and received healthy recipes in English and Spanish.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell praised the school’s students as well. “I commend you all for fitness efforts. Getting active and eating well are obviously important for your long-term health and well-being, but beyond that Jake and I are big believers that healthy bodies lead to healthy minds. In fact, our research has shown that academics and fitness go hand-in-hand.” This past year, more than 158,000 students from more than 1,200 schools increased their level of physical activity by taking the Governor’s Challenge. The API (Academic Performance Index) score of the 40 highest performing schools in the 2008 Governor’s Challenge Competition was 12.5% higher than the state average. Linda Reuter, Principal of Hazel Strauch Elementary said that her school’s API rose higher than the state average this year and that fitness, may well have played a part. Revise details and quote: He added that in communities like Delano whose populations consist primarily of economically disadvantaged families, that the school’s role in promoting fitness is especially important. "Similar to most small communities, we are somewhat limited in the programs and resources available, outside of school, where all children have the opportunity to be active and to eat right, so it’s incumbent upon us, the school, to take the responsibility of promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle very seriously while at the same time showing our students how fun fitness can be. That’s why we’re so excited to start using this XRKade.”

“Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is proud to be a founding sponsor of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the presenting sponsor of the Governor’s Council Spotlight Awards, which recognize California individuals, organizations and events that positively impact the physical activity, fitness levels and well-being of California children” said Leslie A. Margolin, president of Anthem Blue Cross. “Over the past 4 years our foundation has donated over $1.5 million to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and much of our support has been passed directly on to schools, parks, and other non-profit organizations in the form of rewards like this XRKade. It’s especially rewarding for us to know that through our support the Council and its Spotlight Award winners have encouraged millions of California children to get active and develop healthy lifestyles.”

The 2010 Governor’s Challenge Competition runs from September 17 through May 31 and once again Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is providing funding for the top elementary school, middle school and high school in the state to win $100,000 fitness centers. Eleven regional awards of $5,000 each are being provided by CVS/pharmcy and funding of individual certificates in the Governor’s Challenge is provided by General Mills. Individual incentives to take the Governor’s Challenge include free passes to 24 Hour Fitness facilities for high school students, teachers and parents, and free lift tickets at Mammoth Mountain for all students. Schools can sign up to participate in the Governor’s Challenge at www.CalGovCouncil.org .

The Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is also the presenting sponsor of the 2009 Governors’ Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Spotlight Awards. In addition to awarding three Schools of the Year with $100,000 fitness centers, the Council will award a gold, silver and bronze medal – and prizes up to $10,000 – to its Teachers of the Year, Principals of the Year, Parent Associations of the Year, Park and Recreation Programs of the Year, Events of the Year and Non-Profit Organizations of the Year. Nominations forms are available at www.CalGovCouncil.org/spotlight

Cloud should be ashamed of putting this drivel forward, especially now. He's telling the American people that exercise doesn't really matter at the time when our country's leaders are wrestling with how to incentivize preventative medicine as a means of promoting good health and reducing overwhelming health care costs. Cloud points to various studies indicating that by exercising, one may want to eat more. BIG DEAL, I love to eat and one of the main reasons I exercise is so I can indulge myself from time to time. This doesn't mean I go rushing out to buy french fries every time I work out like some sort of heroin addict. I also exercise to feel good, to look good and to keep my brain alert -- and exercise does the trick for me and millions of Americans in all three of these areas.

To imply that we shouldn't be working out or playing sports because exercising alone won't help us get thin is missing the point of exercise entirely. Yes, of course we should be exercising and eating healthy nutritious foods so we can have active minds and healthy bodies -- that is the message that the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports puts forward and that is the message that the media should be putting forward to our fellow Americans. Our doctors get it, our nutritionists get it, our moms and dads get it -- why doesn't John "my head is in the Clouds" get it? Is it perhaps because he really wants to sell magazines more than he wants to be a responsible journalist? Cloud states that the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association's guidelines regarding weight loss and exercise are unrealistic, especially for those with jobs or those looking for jobs. The guidelines encourage exercise for 60 to 90 minutes on most days of the week. What he fails to mention is that they also say that "research shows that moderate-intensity physical activity can be accumulated throughout the day in 10-minute bouts, which can be just as effective as exercising for 30 minutes straight. This can be useful when trying to fit physical activity into a busy schedule."

"If exercise were a pharmaceutical it would be the most potent drug ever invented," says my friend Dr. Robert Sallis, past president of the American College of Sports Medicine. "Exercise has been clearly proven to prevent and treat chronic diseases and lower mortality rates. From a scientific perspective, any attempt to discredit the value of exercise is just laughable and potentially very harmful to the public. As a physician who works hard to get patients more active, I find it very irresponsible for Time magazine to run a story that so misrepresents the facts." While exercise alone won't make you thin, it does play a significant role in helping to keep one fit, and helping to avoid a host of chronic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and more. Exercise, coupled with the intake of fewer calories, is just what the doctor ordered to help keep this nation healthy... and the best solution to helping Americans lose weight.

Unfortunately, a great number of Americans do not regularly exercise, resulting in a nation of children and adults who are overweight or obese and suffering from health problems that can be avoided with proper diet and exercise. Lack of exercise has led to more than 20 million Americans living with Type 2 Diabetes. This will only get worse if we give up on exercise. In fact, for this generation of children, if things don't drastically change, they may be the first in history to have a shorter life-span than their parents. Health care expenditures in the United States exceeded $2.2 trillion as of 2007 and are continuing to spiral out of control. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases account for 75% of the national health care expenditures. One thing both Democrats and Republicans can agree on is that exercise is good for the mind and body. While the Obama administration is actively working to deliver a sustainable health care reform package that will provide health care insurance to all Americans, a significant way to reduce health care costs is through preventative measures, which includes exercise.

You don't have to take my word for it. Here is what Rear Admiral Steven Galson M.D., M.P.H, Acting Surgeon General of the United States has to say: "For the past two years I've been crisscrossing our country talking about the value of exercise and diet in prevention of chronic disease. I'm worried that the Time magazine article could discourage Americans from engaging in physical activity. We know from hundreds of scientific studies that physical activity is linked to good health. If more Americans engaged in exercise, over time we could save lives and health care dollars." Those who exercise regularly are fitter, feel better about themselves, have less propensity for developing a chronic disease, and ultimately do lose weight. I was a fat kid with a bad stutter growing up. Exercise helped me lose weight while boosting my confidence and self-esteem. Exercise changed my whole life. Cloud's article interweaves some of the positive outcomes of exercise but overall he has gone to great lengths to disavow the correlation between exercise and weight loss and in turn could provide couch potato Americans with one more excuse for sitting around instead of getting out and exercising.

Not only is an "exercise doesn't work" mentality detrimental to adults, it will be disastrous for our children. Today's kids already have to be reminded to get off the computer, put down their handheld videogames and get outside and play. Suggesting that exercise will do nothing for weight loss could put the future health of our entire country in peril. I'll give the last word on this subject to my friend Dan Broughton, pediatrician at the Mayo Clinic: As I watch political leaders wrestle with how to improve the quality of care in this country and lower our overwhelming healthcare costs, it is clear that reasonable people from both sides of the aisle have different opinions on the best way to proceed. In contrast, medical professionals ALL agree that exercise, as part of a healthy lifestyle, improves one's health and lowers costs to the health care system. Americans should be encouraged to do more of it, not less. Of this there can be no debate.

Jake Steinfeld is the Chairman of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity and fitness for all Californians especially children and youth.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global Fitness Media announced today the launch of FitOrbit (www.fitorbit.com), a revolutionary new service that connects the consumer with a real-live personal fitness trainer, and provides – for the first time – universally affordable and accessible one-to-one personal fitness training and meal planning over the internet. FitOrbit is a solutions-focused approach for millions of Americans who are frustrated, confused, and overwhelmed because they can’t find an effective fitness plan that works in their life, on their terms. FitOrbit is fitness that revolves around you, and starts with the user, understanding their lifestyle, goals, and needs. After the user picks a trainer ideally suited for their schedule and preferences, this trainer works one-to-one with them to create, monitor, and modify a daily workout and meal plan that fits into the their life, and accommodates the daily realities of work, family, and travel.

FitOrbit sustains the vital human connection of the trainer-client relationship by using straightforward web and mobile technologies that enable daily activity monitoring, a continuous plan feedback loop, and timely motivational support. Personal fitness training pioneer Jake Steinfeld, of Body by Jake Global, Exercise TV, and current Chairman of the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, founded Global Fitness Media with renowned Internet investors Ron Conway and Polar Capitol Group amongst others, to create FitOrbit.

“We’re here for you, you’re in control,” says Jake Steinfeld, Founder. “The most important part of personal training is the personal element and how you relate to your trainer. We’re all strongest in our own environment, so our expert trainers are available to support you any day, anytime, anywhere! Whether you want specialized training because you’re pregnant or you’re a senior preparing for your first marathon, or you want to look great on the beach this summer, FitOrbit has the perfect trainer for everyone!”

What makes FitOrbit unique?

Diversity… With FitOrbit there is something for everyone. FitOrbit features hundreds of real fitness professionals from all over the world, who collectively embrace thousands of different specialties, activities, and certifications.

Comprehensive… With FitOrbit the user gets everything they need in a daily plan that includes meals, recipes, and full nutritional information for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, along with custom workouts demonstrated through multimedia exercise instructions.

One-to-one… The FitOrbit trainer gets to know the user’s real life, their habits, lazy days, and what really gets them going. Features like “cheats,” “panics,” “extra credit,” and messaging between the user and the trainer enable a strong feedback loop for attentive personal fitness training that effortlessly fits into the user’s unpredictable daily schedule.

Affordable… With FitOrbit the user gets all the benefits of both a professional personal trainer and nutritionist at a 97% cost savings.

Accessible… A user gets full access from any web browser or mobile device to their personal workout and meal plan at anytime, and anywhere - whether they are at work, home, school, or the gym.

Fast… It takes a user less than 3 minutes each day to access their plan, log their activities, and get encouragement, tips, and plan updates from their FitOrbit trainer.

Real… FitOrbit accommodates real life with restaurant meal replacements - courtesy of GoodFoodNearYou – the award winning location-based restaurant menu nutrition search. And, when real life gets in the way of the plan, the FitOrbit user sends a “panic,” and gets multiple text messages of encouragement from friends, family and other supporters.

Flexible… The phrase ‘nothing goes according to plan’ applies to fitness. In case of last minute travel, or other schedule changes that come up during the day, the FitOrbit trainer quickly and easily makes modifications to the user’s workouts and meals so that fitness works in the user’s world.

Nick Desai, Chief Executive Officer of Global Fitness Media, says, “Your fitness plan is a living, breathing dialogue between you and your FitOrbit trainer. It is not a computer server generating your plan - it is an actual fitness professional.” FitOrbit has partnered with Time Inc., which runs Health.com, Health Magazine, MyRecipes.com, and Cooking Light Magazine. Time Inc. has provided FitOrbit with thousands of recipes from MyRecipes.com and CookingLight.com. Time Inc. will also feature FitOrbit as a prominent partner on Health.com. “FitOrbit is a natural tie-in for our ongoing mission at Health.com and Health Magazine to break down barriers so that health and fitness can be accessed by everyone, everywhere,” says John Brown, President of Time Inc.’s Health franchise.

FitOrbit also has partnered with Michelob ULTRA, a superior light beer, with only 95 calories, 2.6g carbs, 0.6g protein and 0.0g fat, per 12 oz. bottle. To support FitOrbit’s launch, Michelob ULTRA is posting a link to FitOrbit on www.michelobultra.com and on the brand’s Facebook page. Dan McHugh, Vice President, Media, Sponsorship & Activation, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. says, “Michelob ULTRA supports golf, running and cycling events across the country, making FitOrbit an excellent match for our programs. Adults who enjoy Michelob ULTRA are seeking new ways to tailor fitness for their busy schedules and FitOrbit’s customized tools will help people ‘live life to the ULTRA’ by leading active lifestyles.”

“FitOrbit is a product for everybody…that anybody can afford. We are the first service to overcome common fitness setbacks by connecting people using straightforward technology,” says Nick Desai, Chief Executive Officer. “FitOrbit works for regular people like me, who will gladly accept the last piece of pizza, but are also interested in making an effort to get in shape and lose weight.”

About FitOrbit FitOrbit takes the proven formula of the one-to-one trainer-client relationship online, and brings unprecedented efficiency, and new business opportunities to the fitness professional, and accessible, flexible, and affordable personal training to consumers. FitOrbit launched to the public in June 2009. FitOrbit is developed by Global Fitness Media, a start up company headquartered in Los Angeles, CA that is focused on developing web and mobile technology, products, and services that work for real people living in the real world. Global Fitness Media launched the award winning restaurant nutrition search, GoodFoodNearYou (www.goodfoodnearyou.com), in February of 2009. To find out more information about FitOrbit, visit www.fitorbit.com.

Yoga now has its first specially-designed download-only soundtrack. Yoga Chill, available for download beginning May 19, 2009, from Don’t Quit Music (dontquitmusic.com), the world’s first digital music and fitness record label, features renowned yoga instructor Sara Ivanhoe giving cues for movements during a soundtrack of nearly 45 minutes of original music. The result is an effective and inspiring workout soundtrack playable on all MP3 and iPod devices. Yoga Chill emphasizes a relaxing, calming and even spiritual vibe as Ivanhoe leads motivational cues to accompany any yoga practice.

Don’t Quit Music is a partnership between Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), a division of Universal Music Group, and Body By Jake Global (BBJ). Said Jake Steinfeld, the iconic entrepreneur who has been credited with creating the personal fitness training industry: “We already had playlists designed for various levels of aerobics, strength and conditioning, and fitness but not one for those who do yoga, where the music’s bpm (beats per minute) is around 80 and has to set a particular mood. To have someone as respected in the yoga community as Sara to be the instructor makes Yoga Chill a tremendously valuable addition to the Don’t Quit Music experience.”

“Don't quit music has provided a magical soundtrack to transport the listener into the relaxed, energized world of yoga. My cues and tips should be a nice encouragement to accompany any style of yoga," said Ivanhoe, the creator of several best-selling yoga DVDs including her self-produced “Yoga on the Edge” who regularly instructs celebrities recovering from substance abuse on VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab.” Starring in “Yoga with Weights” and “Yoga Zen” on the Discovery Channel’s FitTV Ivanhoe wrote and performed the voiceover for Yoga Chill. “Marrying workout instructions to original music in this format makes it so much easier for people who want to improve their lives, their health and their fitness.”

Yoga Chill is now available for download at www.dontquitmusic.com and on iTunes. Launched on January 1st, Don’t Quit Music has been greeted with extraordinary success. A promotion with My Coke Rewards was so popular that the projected six-month allotment of downloads was exhausted in only two months and additional access codes had to be created. Free trial download offers from Shape and Star magazines were also met with unprecedented response.

Don’t Quit Music takes the work out of creating your own workout music playlist. Previously released playlists include Run Fit (Moderate), Run Fit (Intense), Gym Bike Workout, Aerobic Base, 10K Treadmill, Strength & Conditioning, Warm Down & Recovery, Just For Moms, Motown Workout, Funk Workout, Sweating Disco Dance Party, 80s R&B Burn & Groove, Modern Pop, 80s Flashback Dance Fitness, Hollywood Body, Gold Medal Body, Getting Started, Bootcamp Burn, Slim & Sexy Dance, Flexibility & Flow, Ripped & Toned, and Tone & Sculpt Hip Hop. Don’t Quit Music will release new playlists every few weeks.

Chair of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and personal trainer to the stars Jake Steinfeld talks to middle-school Health and Fitness Ambassadors at the Baldwin Park Medical Center on March 20. Below, Steinfeld signs autographs for students. (Photos by Leo Jarzomb / Staff)

Dancing in front of more than 130 students in a medical center was not something two Baldwin Park girls thought they would have the confidence to do. But after Kathia Guardarrama, 13, and Mileena Acosta, 12, listened to presentations by several physicians and a fitness guru, that all changed. As two of California's newest fitness ambassadors, the Jones Middle School students mustered up the courage to lead a room full of physicians, teachers and students with a few disco moves. Their newfound confidence emerged at their appointment as ambassadors for California Governor's Council on Fitness and Sports at Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center Sports on March 20, after learning about healthy eating, fitness and self-esteem.

"It encouraged me more and made me more confident," seventh-grader Acosta said about the speeches and her groovy dance. She and Guardarrama were asked to show off dance skills to demonstrate a way to stay fit. The pair were among 135 students. The event encouraged students to promote fitness and health at their schools and homes, as well as their aspirations to become doctors. "As I'm learning more, it makes me more interested in it, and that's the career I want to learn," eighth-grader Guardarrama said. "I feel glad they do things like this to help us to be doctors, eat healthier, get into shape, and go to college."

"It's an upward spiral to see these kinds of kids who are already passionate to get them excited too - that could be the missing ingredient that this country needs," Steinfeld said. Steinfeld shared his personal experience as an adolescent, illustrating that he was an unconfident "fat kid with a really bad stutter." Steinfeld, also the founder of "Body by Jake," explained how he gained self-esteem as a body builder and became successful by following his dream. "If you have a dream, don't ever quit on that dream. Don't ever quit on a passion that you have because it's what you're made of. And if you love what you're doing, you will succeed," he encouraged during his speech.

Along with Steinfeld's speech, students were shown the gruesome realities of an unhealthy lifestyle - such as the effects of diabetes - and the positive correlation between fitness and doing well in school. "During my career as a family physician, I've really seen first hand the effect that physical activity has not only on your health but also your success in life," Dr. Robert Sallis, Kaiser Permanente family physician, said during his presentation.

Governor's Council is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that has promoted physical activity for Californians since 2005. March 20 marked appointment of the council's first seventh- and eighth-grade group of ambassadors to help battle obesity. "Today, we're adding a new tactic in getting middle schools to promote," Governor's Council Executive Director Kenny Rogers said at the event. "We're hopefully sparking a revolution."

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, perhaps the nation’s leading proponent for physical activity and good nutrition thanked NAHF for the recognition and said,“I am very proud to accept this honor on behalf of the people of California. Under the leadership of Chairman Jake Steinfeld, our Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has inspired over 500,000 Californians to accept my fitness challenge, encouraged more than three thousand doctors to begin prescribing exercise to their patients, and shined a spotlight on unsung heroes throughout the state who work tirelessly to help young people develop healthy lifestyles. I am especially proud that our Council has achieved its success by partnering with health-minded businesses and foundations, demonstrating once again the power that public-private partnerships can have in working toward a common goal.”

In announcing the Council of the Year award, Phil Haberstro, Executive Director of NAHF said, “Governor Schwarzenegger, Chairman Jake Steinfeld and the entire California Council have worked diligently to promote health and fitness for all Californians. Their creativity and passion for the well-being of children and adults is both commendable and inspiring.”

“Now is the time for all of us around the country to re-double our efforts and ensure that this generation of children doesn’t become the first in history to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.” said Jake Steinfeld, Chairman of the California Council. “My fellow Council members and I stand ready to work with leaders from other states to help make our country fitter and healthier than it has ever been.”

After seeing obesity rates rise to epidemic levels over the past quarter century, researchers have noticed that the steep climb in obesity appears to have leveled off in the past couple of years. Still the problems associated with overweight and obesity lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths and over $100 billion in health care costs a year.

Among the California Council’s specific initiatives cited by NAHF as contributing to its recognition are:

• The Governor’s Challenge - For the past several years Governor Schwarzenegger has challenged Californians to be active 30-60 minutes a day, at least three days a week for a month. Through the Governor’s Challenge, presented by General Mills, Californians have already recorded more than 3 million days of physical activity this year. Individuals accepting the Challenge qualify for free passes to 24 Hour Fitness and free lift tickets at Mammoth Mountain. The Governor’s Challenge Competition is a contest among all k-12 schools in the state, top school prizes include three $100,000 fitness centers donated by Anthem Blue Cross Foundation with support from iTECH Fitness. Eleven Regional Awards of $5,000 each and thirty-three Front Runner awards of $1,000 are made possible by CVS/pharmacy.
• The Spotlight Awards – The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Spotlight Awards presented by Anthem Blue Cross Foundation provides gold, silver and bronze medals and awards of up to $10,000 to individuals, organizations and events that inspire California children to be more physically active and fit. Governor Schwarzenegger attends the annual spotlight award ceremony and has personally presented gold medals to the Spotlight Award winners. In 2008 the Council awarded more than $400,000 in Spotlight Award prizes. It received 600 nominations for awards across seven categories: School of the Year, Principal of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Parent Association of the Year, Park and Recreation Program of the Year, Non-Profit Organization of the Year, and Event of the Year.
• Activity Guide – The Governor’s Council Activity Guide, sponsored by CVS/pharmacy provides Californians with an on-line listing, by zip code, of parks, sporting activities and organizations where people can go to be physically active in their communities.
• Exercise is Medicine – A national initiative started by the Governor’s Council in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association, this initiative encourages physicians to prescribe exercise to patients who would benefit from being more physically fit. In 2008, over 3,400 California physicians pledged their support for this initiative and began prescribing physical activity to patients who would benefit from being more active.
• Live Like a Champion Tour – This mobile community outreach effort sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross engages California youth in fun physical activities and inspires them to develop healthy habits. The tour targets its outreach to low-income communities and visits schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and other locations throughout the state. In 2008 the tour directly engaged over 80,000 tweens with its positive message.

The National Association for Health and Fitness
The National Association for Health and Fitness (NAHF) is a non-profit organization that exists to improve the quality of life for individuals in the United States through the promotion of physical fitness, sports and healthy lifestyles. NAHF accomplishes this work by fostering and supporting Governor’s and State Councils and coalitions that promote and encourages regular physical activity.

About the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians with an emphasis on children and youth. Governor Schwarzenegger is the Honorary Chairman and Council members include Chairman Jake Steinfeld, Vice Chairman Peter Vidmar, and California sports legends such as Laila Ali, Tony Hawk, and Michelle Kwan. Founding sponsors are Applied Materials, Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. For more information visit www.CalGovCouncil.org

“It’s a thrill for me to welcome these Health and Fitness Ambassadors to our team. We want all Californians from Baldwin Park to Menlo Park and from Oceanside to Riverside to feel the benefits that come from being physically active and eating well,” said Steinfeld. “Engaging middle school students as Health and Fitness Ambassadors provides us a new and innovative way to encourage children to take control of their own health. I can’t think of anything that is more important to the future of this great state.”

Dr. Jeffrey Weisz, the Executive Medical Director and Chairman of the Board of Southern California Permanente Medical Group, said “we believe that exercise and eating well are two of the best forms of preventive medicine available. As we educate the next generation of physicians, we need to give them the tools to promote exercise and physical activity, particularly in communities where obesity and inactivity are more acute.”

The first order of business for the new Health and Fitness Ambassadors will be to encourage their fellow students to take the Governor’s Fitness Challenge of being physically active 30-60 minutes a day, at least 3 days a week for a month. The Governor’s Challenge is a contest among California’s k-12 schools that provides incentives for individual students, parents and teachers as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars of school based awards including a brand new fitness center worth $100,000 to the winning elementary school, middle school and high school. So far more than 250,000 California students from over 1,000 California schools have signed up to participate in the 2009 Governor’s Challenge. Steinfeld is confident that with the support of the new Health and Fitness Ambassadors the Council will be able to reach its goal of engaging 300,000 students in the Challenge by May 31st. Schools interested in joining the 2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition can sign up at www.CalGovCouncil.org

Prior to being named as Health and Fitness Ambassadors, the students heard a college-level lecture on important role that exercise plays in the preventative medicine and were instructed on how they can begin positively impact the health and well-being of their fellow students immediately. As members of the Hippocrates Circle Program the students also receive mentoring from practicing physicians, tour a Kaiser medical center, visit a local medical school, and interact with medical students.

Steinfeld and Dr. Weisz hope these 7th and 8th graders, by virtue of being students themselves, will be uniquely able to communicate the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle to other students in their communities. Recognizing that only one third of California youth are considered fit today, Steinfeld and Weisz hope this innovative peer-to-peer model of promoting fitness will become replicated throughout California.

Kaiser Permanente is a founding sponsor of the Governors’ Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In addition to providing the non-profit, non-partisan Council with on-going support that enables it to promote physical activity and fitness to millions of Californians each year, Kaiser Permanente has been the leading medical group supporting the Council’s Exercise is Medicine initiative. Following the leadership of Dr. Weisz and Kaiser’s Dr. Robert Sallis nearly 3,500 Kaiser Permanente physicians in Southern California have pledged their support of the Exercise is Medicine initiative and have agreed to prescribe exercise to patients who would benefit from being more physically active. Sallis, the immediate past-president of the American College of Sports Medicine, and the person most responsible for developing the Exercise is Medicine initiative, provided the Governor’s Council Health and Fitness Ambassadors with information on the long-term effects that physical activity has on their health, as well as the more impact it has on their self-esteem and academic success.

Participating Schools Health & Fitness Ambassador Training:

• Crozier Middle School (Inglewood)
• Earhart Middle (Riverside)
• Gage Junior High (Riverside)
• Holland Middle School (Baldwin Park)
• Jones Junior High School (Baldwin Park)
• La Tijera Middle School (Inglewood)
• Lawrence Gifted Magnet (Chatsworth)
• Mesa Union School (Somis)
• Villa Fundamental Intermediate School (Santa Ana)

About the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians with an emphasis on children and youth. Governor Schwarzenegger is the Honorary Chairman and Council members include Chairman Jake Steinfeld, Vice Chairman Peter Vidmar, and California sports legends such as Laila Ali, Tony Hawk, and Michelle Kwan. Founding sponsors are Applied Materials, Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. For more information visit www.CalGovCouncil.org

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation’s leading integrated health plans. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.3 million members in Southern California. Today it encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California Region includes more than 55,800 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,400 physicians representing all specialties. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at www.kaiserpermanente.org

While it only makes sense that physical education and physical activity are needed for our children to get fit, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s put into practice. California law requires that grades 1-6 have 200 minutes of physical education every 10 days and grades 7-12 have 400 minutes of physical education every 10 days. Yet, fewer than half of California’s school districts meet this requirement according to a study conducted by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.

Academically, to ensure that “no child is left behind” and to increase standardized test scores, many school administrators have felt compelled to give the three R’s - reading, writing and arithmetic - greater emphasis than physical fitness. Some of these administrators even dropped physical education from their curriculum to ensure more classroom time for these subject areas. Administrators argued the need to focus on these academic areas at the expense of physical education, art and music, activities that benefit a child’s overall development. The irony is that study after study has shown that physical education plays a key role in the improvement of academic performance. By being more physically active, students are more attentive in class and have fewer discipline problems.

The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports was revived three years ago to help increase physical fitness among school children. During its first year, 10,000 students participated in the Governor’s Challenge Competition, a contest among k-12 schools to encourage students to get active 30-60 minutes a day, 3 days a week for a month. This past year, more than 150,000 students from over 1,200 schools increased their level of physical activity by taking the Governor’s Challenge, and for their efforts they were rewarded with hundreds of thousands of dollars of fitness equipment.

Administrators from schools participating in the Governor’s Challenge Competition report positive health impacts, increased confidence and improved self-esteem among their student participants. Interestingly, these schools have begun reaping academic rewards as well. The average API scores (Academic Performance Index) of the 40 highest performing schools in the 2008 Governor’s Challenge Competition was 835 compared to 742 for schools statewide last year, and their average increase over last year was 2.2%, compared to 1.9% statewide. Just imagine the increases we would see if every school in California participated in the Governor’s Challenge Competition.

Recently, the Council launched the 2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition among k-12 schools. Not only is this healthy competition open to all California students, parents and teachers, it can be administered without taking up any class time, and it’s FREE!

But the point we’re making here is not about the Challenge, it’s about the children. Our children deserve the very best education we can offer and schools that focus too narrowly on reading, writing and arithmetic at the expense of their students’ health and fitness face unintended consequences that put a limit on our children’s success.

Physical activity is not a republican or democrat issue, it’s an issue that affects everyone, especially our children. Children are our most precious resource and if we fail them, we put the future of our state and our country in peril. We can and must do better!

About Jake Steinfeld
Jake Steinfeld is the Chairman of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity and fitness for all Californians especially children and youth.

About Pam Brady
Pam Brady is the President of the California State Parent Teachers Association, representing nearly 1 million volunteer members.

Schools can sign up to participate in the 2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition at www.CalGovCouncil.org

Jake Steinfeld
10250 Constellation Blvd, #2700
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 867-2953

Pam Brady
2327 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 440-1985 ex: 101

“We’re proud to shine a spotlight on each of our awardees because they are each doing something very special to help California’s children. From the Tommie Smith Youth Track Meet that lifts the spirits and builds the bodies of Bay Area children, to Principal Jean Richmond who has revolutionized the way her San Diego students view physical fitness and nutrition, these are OUR heroes,” said Steinfeld.

“Anthem Blue Cross Foundation recognizes the benefits of physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said Leslie A. Margolin, president of Anthem Blue Cross of California. “As the Presenting Sponsor of the Spotlight Awards, the foundation is delighted to be supporting efforts to instill the importance of wellness in the children of our state. We’re also thrilled to announce today that the foundation is continuing as a major sponsor of the Governor’s Council and the sole sponsor of the Spotlight Awards in 2009 with an additional investment of $382,600.”

Research shows that regular physical activity during childhood and adolescence helps build healthier bones and muscles, increases self-esteem, and reduces the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a leader in preventing childhood obesity and encouraging all Californians to live healthier. Since taking office, the Governor has:

• Increased fresh fruits and vegetables in our schools.
• Banned junk food and soda from schools.
• Banned trans fats and foods fried in unhealthy oils from schools.
• Increased funding for physical education classes and equipment for our schools.
• Held an obesity summit to raise awareness and get families involved.
• Proposed a comprehensive health care reform plan that emphasizes prevention and wellness.

About the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians with an emphasis on children and youth. Governor Schwarzenegger is the Honorary Chairman and Council members include Chairman Jake Steinfeld, Vice Chairman Peter Vidmar, and California sports legends such as Lisa Fernandez, Julie Foudy, Tony Hawk, Lisa Leslie, Misty May-Treanor, and Jerry Rice. Governor’s Council Key Initiatives include the Governor’s Challenge, the Governor’s Council Spotlight Awards Presented by Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, the Governor’s Council Activity Guide presented by Longs Drugs, the Live Like a Champion Tour powered by Anthem Blue Cross and Exercise is Medicine. Founding sponsors are the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, Applied Materials, and Kaiser Permanente. For more information visit www.CalGovCouncil.org.

About the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association promotes Anthem Blue Cross’ inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that the company serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured as well as organizations and nonprofit charities that promote the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges.

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The gold medal winners of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports 2008 Spotlight Awards Presented by the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation
Principal – Jean Richmond, Chesterton Elementary, San Diego
Teacher – Michelle Kelley, Leggett Valley District, Leggett
Non-Profit Organization – Latino Health Access, Santa Ana
Company – Burgeson’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Redlands
Event – Tommie Smith Youth Track Meet, Oakland
Park and Recreation Program – CX3-City of La Mesa
Schools
- Hazel Strauch Elementary School, Sacramento
- Cecil Avenue Middle School, Delano
- Apollo High School, Simi Valley

Full descriptions of the gold, silver and bronze medalists in each of the first six categories, plus the eleven regional award winning schools in the 2008 Governor’s Challenge Competition can be found at www.CalGovCouncil.org

• Bradoaks Elementary in Monrovia
• CHIME Middle Charter in Chatsworth
• Daniel Webster Elementary in Pasadena
• Elizabeth Learning Center in Cudahy
• Emerson Parkside Academy Charter in Long Beach
• Kenter Canyon Elementary in Brentwood
• Larchmont Charter in Los Angeles
• Los Altos Elementary in Hacienda Heights
• Marvin Elementary in Mid-City Los Angeles
• NEW Academy Canoga Park in Canoga Park
• Plymouth Elementary in Monrovia
• Ranch Hills Elementary in Pomona
• Resurrection School in Boyle Heights
• Roscomare Road Elementary in Bel Air
• San Jose Edison Academy in West Covina
• Sixty Eighth Street Elementary in Athens Heights
• Utah Street Elementary in Boyle Heights
• Welby Way Elementary in West Hills

School finalists were chosen based on results of the 2008 Governor’s Challenge Competition, a state-wide fitness contest among k-12 schools that promotes increased physical activity and better health among California’s youth.

Throughout the state, more than 160,000 children accepted the 2008 Governor’s Challenge and pledged to be active 30-60 minutes a day, 3 days a week for a month - this compares to 69,000 students who accepted the Governor’s Challenge in ’07. Cumulatively, student participants in the 2008 Governor’s Challenge recorded more than 3 million active days.

Over the next couple of months the Governor’s Council will be reviewing how each of the Competition’s school finalists supported physical activity and good nutrition on their campus in order to help determine its awardees.

“I’m thrilled that so many schools around the state have been going the extra mile to help students get active and fit. I’m a big believer that healthy bodies lead to healthy minds and I can’t wait to reward these schools for their leadership in this area,” said Steinfeld.

“I’m also thrilled that our Council has been able to promote physical activity and fitness without adding any burden on California taxpayers,” said Steinfeld. “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, like Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, Longs Drugs and General Mills, we were able to encourage a record number of California children and teachers to take the Governor’s Challenge this year. In fact, thanks to our sponsors, our Governor’s Challenge attracted more than twice the amount of participants in California this year as a similar effort led by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports attracted nationally.”

Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is a founding sponsor of the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the title sponsor of the Governor’s Council Spotlight Awards that fund the Competition’s three grand prize fitness centers. Longs Drugs sponsors the Governor’s Council Activity Guide and funds the Governor’s Challenge Competition Regional Awards. General Mills’ sponsorship funds the Certificates of Completion and patches of the Council seal for which students completing the Governor’s Challenge qualify. Partners of the Governor’s Council include iTech Fitness, which helps design and build the fitness center awards, 24 Hour Fitness which provides free passes to students and teachers taking the Governor’s Challenge, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area which provides free lift tickets to middle school students taking the Governor’s Challenge, the Network for a Healthy California and Paramount Farms.

Research shows that regular physical activity during childhood and adolescence helps build healthier bones and muscles, increases self-esteem, and reduces the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Research also shows a connection between students’ levels of physical fitness and their academic performance.

About the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians with an emphasis on children and youth. Governor Schwarzenegger is the Honorary Chairman and Council members include Chairman Jake Steinfeld, Vice Chairman Peter Vidmar, and California sports legends such as Lisa Fernandez, Julie Foudy, Tony Hawk, Lisa Leslie, Misty May-Treanor, Daron Rahlves and Jerry Rice. Governor’s Council key initiatives include the Governor’s Challenge, the Governor’s Council Spotlight Awards presented by the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, the Governor’s Council Activity Guide presented by Longs Drugs, the Live Like a Champion Tour powered by Anthem Blue Cross and Exercise is Medicine. Founding sponsors are Applied Materials, Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. For more information visit www.CalGovCouncil.org

About Anthem Blue Cross Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation promotes Anthem Blue Cross’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that the company serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured as well as organizations and nonprofit charities that promote the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is an affiliate of the WellPoint Foundation. To learn more about the WellPoint Foundation please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.

About Longs Drugs Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE: LDG) is one of the most recognized retail drug store chains on the West Coast and in Hawaii. The Company operates 510 retail pharmacies and offers a wide assortment of merchandise focusing on health, wellness, beauty and convenience. Longs also provides pharmacy benefit management services and Medicare beneficiary prescription drug plans through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RxAmerica, LLC. Additional information about Longs and its services is available at http://www.longs.com and more information about RxAmerica is available at http://www.rxamerica.com.

About General Mills
General Mills, with annual net sales of $13.4 billion, is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products based in Minneapolis. General Mills' mission is Nourishing Lives – innovating to make lives healthier, easier, and richer – while Nourishing Communities and Nourishing the Future. Its global brand portfolio includes Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Old El Paso and more. With more than 100 consumer brands and operations in more than 100 countries, General Mills is also a leading supplier of baking and other food products to the foodservice and commercial baking industries. In fiscal 2007, General Mills awarded $82 million to communities across the country, representing more than 5 percent of company pretax profits that year.

• Support your child's choices by providing equipment, transportation and companionship.
• Create opportunities for them to be active with their friends.
• Your teen may not have time to play a team sport at school or in a local league, but many gyms offer teen memberships, and your teen may be able to squeeze in a visit before or after school.
• Your teen might also feel more comfortable doing home exercise videos.
• Try coordinating your teen's exercise schedule with your own.
• Talk with your teen about limiting time spent in sedentary activities.

Recent studies have shown that teens, on average, are spending more than six hours a day on various media, including watching television, listening to music, going online and playing video games. "If we can just get this across here that this is about a lifestyle change," Steinfeld says. And about turning around what he calls a sad prediction: "This generation of children, our children, might not outlive their parents. That's a scary thing."

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