Fit for Life

Fit for Life! What do these words mean to you? They have a different meaning for just about everyone.To me, it's having an overall feeling of wellness and being able to do the activities I want.

I am fortunate that I have a job I love and can work on being “Fit for Life" at the same time. I started teaching the 5^th grade at Nachman Elementary in 1990 and was also teaching aerobics at the Courtyard Health Club. My principal, Mrs. Kathleen Poole, had an opening in the P.E. department and she thought I would be perfect for the job.Teaching in the classroom was great, but P.E. is truly where I belong. I'm so grateful for Mrs. Poole and the support of my other principals-Mrs. Nancy Crump, Mrs. Rosalie Jackson, Mr. Rick Tison and asst. principal Mrs. Annette Richardson.

Enough about my background, lets focus on how to be “Fit for Life." You can't work on it for six weeks and stop because you feel better and have lost a few pounds. It has to be a commitment you make for life.If you ever ask someone who exercises regularly why they do it, they would probably not give you one specific reason. To them it's just part of their everyday life, they're addicted to it! They make time to workout and they have more energy to do the other things they desire.

Did you know that you have over 600 muscles in your body?! When you vigorously exercise you work almost every muscle.You also work the most important muscle - your HEART! Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day! In one year that equals to over 36,500,000! WOW! Can you understand why it is important to exercise and keep your heart healthy?

You have to do it for your family, but you have to do it for YOURSELF first! I have two boys, Bailey (11 years old) and Brady (8 years old). Bailey is now at Brame Middle School and Brady is a 3^rd grader at Nachman. They are my two greatest motivators when it comes to the P.E. program at Nachman and the Kid Fit class I teach at the Courtyard. As a parent and teacher I think, “What life lessons and skills do I want to teach so they will strive to be Fit for Life?" I know what they experience during their daily P.E. (running, aerobics, stretching, President's Challenge Fitness testing…) but I also know that their fitness needs to reach beyond school. Because let's be honest, most people are only able to get their workout before or after a long work day. I also know that as adults my boys won't have a daily P.E. class, soccer, basketball, Kid Fit and Rapides Junior Runners to maintain their fitness level. It will be up to them to be disciplined enough to include it in their daily routine. That's why my husband, Kenny, and I try to be examples for them so they will truly understand how important it is to get some form of physical activity on a daily basis.

How can you start getting “Fit for Life?" My suggestion is - JUST DO IT!!! Stop “talking the talk" and start “walking the walk." Just remember, “If you don't take care of your body, where are you going to live?" As all the students at Nachman know, all it takes a lot of sweat and a little perseverance!

Margaret LaBorde was recently named the Louisiana Outstanding Elementary P.E. Teacher for 2006. This award is given by the Louisiana Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance.

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