Kirk M. Bauer Executive Director DS/USA

I was recently appointed to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. This means

that I am going to be ranting even more than before about this nation’s and our disabled members’ need to be fit!

At the recent O&P Extremity Games, I had the opportunity to observe a new generation of athletes with disabilities who were skateboarding, rock climbing, wakeboarding, BMX biking, and kayaking. These young people really showed the promise of how rewarding physical activity is! They were fit and lean, and were using their prostheses to do maneuvers that we
all thought were reserved only for elite Olympic athletes! The picture on the front of this edition of Challenge tells it all! The Extremity Games participants proved that disability is NO EXCUSE for inactivity! We disabled can – and should be – as active as anyone else. When, not if, we
get and stay active, we will feel better, be able to do more, have healthier bodies, and look better. It is a fact, exercise actually produces energy and builds on itself. The more we exercise,
the more fit our bodies are, and thus the more energy we have to enjoy recreation and the pleasures of life.

Not everyone is cut out to be a competitive athlete, but there are things that we can do to enhance our physical well-being. Experts recommend that spending as little as 30 minutes each day engaged in physical activity provides benefits including lower risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis. An added benefit is that exercise is proven to help elevate mood and fights depression by raising endorphins.

Taking steps to becoming physically fit does not have to mean acquiring expensive training equipment or a gym membership. Exercise can include simple walking and running, gardening, cleaning the house, swimming, tennis, bicycling (stationary or on the road), an aerobics DVD, rollerblading, canoeing, kayaking, Nordic and alpine skiing, and a host of other activities. The key is to do it on a regular basis.

Healthy lifestyles also require good nutritional habits. We all should know by now that smaller portions on our plates is the sensible way to eat. When choosing foods, nutritionists advise whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, and lean cuts of poultry and meat. The benefits of drinking eight full glasses of water a day are also documented. Water provides the means for nutrients to travel to all our organs, improves skin tone, and regulates body temperature. Plus, water protects our joints and organs, and contributes to muscle strength and control.

Fitness results in completing the tasks of daily living, working a full day, and still having energy to participate in recreational activities. And, by being fit, you’ll find you’ll enjoy those recreational activities even more because you’ll not be tired, or suffer from sore muscles.

It is time, folks, to get moving. So let’s all get out there and do something!

Sincerely,

Kirk Bauer, J.D.
Executive Director

Kirk Bauer and other appointees to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports were sworn in May 24 at a ceremony held in the library of The White House.