INTRODUCTION:  

    Montana has the 47th highest level of adult obesity in the nation at 21.1 percent, and
    the 28th highest overweight high school student level at 8.1 percent. The state
    spends and estimated $191 per person each year on medical-costs related to
    obesity, which was the 45th highest amount in the nation.

MONTANAFiT (MTF)
MONTANAFiT is a special statewide honor system promotion of Alternatives Magazine. It incorporates all
the popular forms of recreational fitness activities, a team and solo format designed to help with the
motivation aspect and a unique points system.

THIS HOW IT WORKS

Activities:
    MTF features the most popular forms of recreational fitness activities that can be measured by
    distance and the results determined by time: walking/running, cycling, kayaking, swimming, nordic
    skiing and snowshoeing.

Team or Solo Participation
    Participants may form three person teams or compete individually. Teams provide the motivation
    and encouagement to individaul teammates to stick with it. Teams can be made up of co-workers,
    family, friends, office staff or school classmates. However, if you prefer to do your thing at your pace
    and schedule and not be involved with organizing a team, or looking for a team to join, you can
    particpate as an individual, or until you find a team to join. You can also compete with and against
    others in similar age groups, male and female divisions.

    Division 1: 10 - 15
    Division 2: 16 - 20
    Division 3: 21 - 25
    Division 4: 26 - 30
    Division 5: 31 - 35
    Division 6: 36 - 40
    Division 7: 41 - 45
    Division 8: 46 - 55
    Division 9: 56 - 65
    Division 10:  66+
    For teams, average age of teammates determines division.

Points System:
    A unique points system converts miles logged into points. The faster your pace and the further you
    go, the more points you earn. If you're already involved in a training program, now you can convert
    those miles into points.  If you enter races that feature MTF distance events, you can log those
    miles and earn bonus points, regardless if you're registered with the Shape Up Montana program,
    running in the Boston  Marathon or your local community 5K fundraiser. You keep track of your
    miles and log your own points. Click on the individual activity below for points breakdown for each
    venue. For a paper copy of the entire MONTANAFiT program please download PDF here.


    Note: Although weight lifting or training is not an activity measured by distance/time it's very
    important in maintaining a balanced fitness program and should be part of your regime.

Activity Log Sheet
    You can devise any system you like to log you miles, points and other workout information, or you
    can download our PDF Activity log sheet.

Two Stages Per year
    There are two individual stages or sessions per year.
    Stage I: October 1 through March
    Stage II. May 17 through September
    Points are tabulated each month during each stage. Standings are recorded and posted each
    month and published on the website and in the magazine and sent to all major medias throughout
    Montana. After each stage participants can move on, join another team, or form one, go solo, find
    new sponsors or simply regroup and get ready for the next stage.  

Registration: See online registration form
  • $30 per member, per 6 month stage. Includes event t-shirt
  • $5 of each entry fee will be donated to the Lance Armstrong LIVESTRONG Cancer Foundation
  • Several competitive events and tours will be promoted throughout the year TBA. Bonus points will
    be awarded and proceeds of the entry fees will be donated to LIVESTRONG froundation. Be
    watching for schedules and other information on this site and in the weekly event update
    newsletters.


What is "A Certified MONTANAFiT Event?"
    If race or tour directors label, or declare their event "A Certified MONTANAFiT Event" it simply
    means registered MONTANAFiT team members and individual participants will receive bonus
    points just for entering the event. 5 for registering and 5 for complying with the events advance
    registration requirements. Click HERE for details and request form. PLUS! for expanded exposure
    and promotional benefits find out how to turn your event into a BioFestTour event.
An Exercise
in Activity
by Cory Holly, DN

Most people do not
understand what
exercise is. Going for a
walk isn’t exercise.
Neither are golfing,
gardening, hiking,
dancing or any sport.
These are all examples
of physical activity, but
they are not exercise.

Exercise is the means;
physical activity is the
end. You strengthen
and condition your
body so you can use
your body in freedom
according to its natural
design. If you don’t, it
falls apart. When
performed correctly
and consistently,
exercise will give you
total physical fitness.
But fitness cannot occur
without resistance
training, aerobic
conditioning and
stretching. No single
sport or physical
activity provides total
physical fitness.

Read full article >>
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Questions, comments, or feedback:
If you have a question, suggestion or comment about any part of the proposed fitness program,
or see an error, let us know about it so we can make changes and share it with others. Please
use form below. Thank you.
CONTACT:
WALKING FACTS

• Americans walk an
average of 5,300 steps in
a day.

• Many health experts
recommend doing at least
10,000 steps a day.

• People who wear a
pedometer walk about
2,000 more steps a day
than those who don't.


Source: USA TODAY research
"Unfit people die sooner,
have more heart disease
and cancer, suffer from
impotence,
sluggish sex drive and
slow metabolism, and get
more stomach ulcers
than fit people."
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