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A new fitness focused curriculum was implemented at Springfield High School in Akron, Ohio in the fall of 2006. The curriculum followed the format of a successful girl's only fitness program that had been introduced a few years earlier (see Girls' Fitness Class above). The goal of the program is to help students understand the connection between their nutrition and physical activity habits and their health. Every day fitness activities were included in the curriculum with three days a week dedicated to fitness activities only. Traditional games were played twice a week. The students were required to keep a nutrition and exercise log in their Nutrition & Activity Journal. Six lessons are taught that focus on nutrition and fitness basics. Three assignments are given to re-enforce the concepts taught. Student journals were graded weekly and the scores contributed to their grade for the course. A distance challenge and push-up/ab challenge were implemented to motivate students to exercise through competition and prizes. These programs provided a level playing field for competition between students. Administrative support was instrumental in getting the program in place at Springfield. A local publisher, Bill Jelen with Holy Macro Books!, published the curriculum and provided the books for the first year. The biggest "hurdle" for the new program was simply changing the curriculum from the "way it always was" to a new Physical Education that helps to set students on a path towards wellness! Students were tested using the President's Challenge program and a large percentage of students made great gains in their fitness markers. Students decreased body fat, lost weight, gained flexibility, increased strength, and many learned to love fitness activities. One of the greatest surprises of the program was how much the students who don't like to participate in sports or games enjoyed the new routine.
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