A Hearty Challenge!

It's Heart Health Month!

On SingSnap, February is the 'Month of Love' where we celebrate the friendships and special bonds that we've formed across the miles. In the USA it also happens to be 'Heart Month' where healthy heart awareness is put at the forefront and people are encouraged to take care of themselves - and their hearts. We want all of our Snappers, across the globe, to be proactive in being healthy so we've decided to dedicate an entire challenge to the cause!

The Hearty Details!

On February 24th we will invite everyone to get heart healthy with us by completing the challenge below! This will be the kick-off for an even larger event that we're having for the entire month of March. We're calling that March Through March and hope that everyone who participates next week, will join us marching in March!

The Challenge!

Please complete both Part A, Part B AND Part C of the challenge below! Once successfully completed, your song will be added to our Hearty Playlist and you will be awarded a banner!

Hearty Challenge Part A: Sing any song from our special 'Get Up and Move' Feature Page!

Hearty Challenge Part B: Whether you're on cam, or off cam - we want you to MOVE! We realize not everyone is able (or comfortable if on cam) getting up and moving around - but during your song we want you to move. Whether it be walking, jogging on the spot, doing jumping jacks, lifting a can over your head, curling it with your arms, shrugging your shoulders, absolutely any kind of movement that you don't usually do while singing! It's okay if you get a little out of breath, or if you need a break - the goal is to get moving!

Hearty Challenge Part C: Make a Healthy Goal and tell us about it in your Song Comment section. We will offer some help below, but we want you to make your very own, personal goal of something you can (and will) do in your own life to help your heart health! Maybe you'll add additional exercise, maybe you'll add some healthy food, or even cut out some unhealthy habits! Whatever you decide to do, we encourage you to give it a valiant effort and stick to it. YOU CAN DO IT! Read below for some healthy heart tips of super simple things you can do to improve your heart health! We will be featuring videos of our Snappers who are decked out in their work-out gear and giving it their all! Don't be shy!

Part C of the challenge requires you make your own personal goal of how to improve your heart's health. Here are some ideas that you can incorporate into your every day routine that can improve your heart's health and literally add years to your life.

Remember when making your goals, that they should be S.M.A.R.T

S – Specific (clear)
M – Measurable – you will know when you’ve achieved them
A – Achievable – you can achieve them
R – Relevant – they mean something to you
T - Time-based – you set yourself a time limit to achieve your goals.

Heart Health Tips!

Dietary:

Did you know...

- A diet rich in fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, and eases symptoms of Irritable ..Bowel - Optimal Health

- Cardiovascular disease and stroke is 21% less likely in people who eat 2.5 or more servings of whole grains per ..day - Harvard Health

- Eating 1 to 2 servings of fish per week could reduce your chance of dying of a heart attack by 1/3 or more.
..- Mayo Clinic

- Drinking 5 glasses of water a day will improve the look and texture of skin and can reduce the risk of colon and ..bladder cancer by 50% - Dumb Little Man

Helpful Links...

Snack Girl - A website with great recipes, tools to find healthy snacks and how to avoid the bad ones!
WebMD - A general overall 'healthy' website with great recipe and exercise tips!
Live Strong - Learn how to stay hydrated!

Fitness:

Did you know...

- A study published by The Lancet shows that if inactive people increased their physical activity by just 15 minutes per day, they could reduce their risk of death by 14% and increase their life expectancy by three years. - WebMD

- Walking in short bouts improves fitness, too! A study of sedentary women showed that short bouts of brisk walking (three 10-minute walks per day) resulted in similar improvements in fitness and were at least as effective in decreasing body fatness as long bouts (one 30-minute walk per day). - MedicineNet.com

- Stretching daily improves circulation, balance, coordination, helps alleviate lower back pain and improve cardiovascular health - Functional Fitness

Helpful Links...

Chair Exercises & Limited Mobility - Not a problem - check out these links!
30 Easy Exercise Tips - The small things in your every day life, make a big difference!
Make Exercise a Habbit - It's easy to start but it's hard to keep going! Check out these tips to stay committed!

Tools:

Calorie Calculator - Tool for calculating how many calories you should consume per day to reach goals or maintain
Calorie Directory - See how many calories are burned with various exercises
Food & Exercise Log - Need help documenting your progress! Check out this printable log!

Rules & Guidelines:

1. The Challenge is open from 12:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST Friday February 24, 2012! The song must be dated Feb 24.
2. No Two-Person duets allowed. You may harmonize with yourself.
3. Gender Benders are acceptable
4. You MUST have FUN! Fun, Fun, Fun!
5. Post your challenge link back in this thread.
6. Web cams are encouraged but not required.
7. Challenge is open to all members.
8. One song per Snapper.
9. Promotion of non-challenge songs is strictly prohibited.
10. Post your link only once, if you think you've been missed contact the SingSnap Events Team.
11. Did I mention you must have FUN?
12. The song must be submitted in the following format.

Username
Song Title
Song Link
Goal: (Also to be included in your song comment section)

Happy Exercising!

Be Safe!

Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any new physical or dietary regimen if you have any health concerns.

lol hmmm ........i dunno bout this oneMike_Deth

LOL!

You can dew it! Nothing but good can come from it! =)

I cannot do this one.. I live on coffee and chocolate.. I get my exercise chasing my kids and climbing up and down a ladder and eating junk food.. Good luck to all that join in!!Chanda

Well how about drinking more water and rather than chase your kids, take them on a walk around the block with you? I'm not calling YOU lazy (I know better lol) but this link has really neat things you can do, every day during your busy schedule, to be more active!

http://www.low-caloriediet.com/articles/fitness/30-fast-simple-exercise-tips-lazy-person

Awww Ladycup ... My thoughts are with you and your son! I hope everything turns out okay!!!

GREAT JOB JUNKIE!

sometimes i need a crowbar to pry my as- off the chair but i will be here lol
halfpint31743

bahahahahahahahaha! Me too!!!!!!

Taking this into consideration. During the Smokeout Challenge I was able to quit smoking...but put on some weight in the process.bubbaglenn

I am so impressed that you were able to give up smoking Glenn!!!! Truly!

HOW NICE OF YOU SWEETIE SHANNON....IT MAKES ONE FEEL BETTER WHEN THEY KNOW SOMEONE CARES HOW A PERSON FEELS IN SADNESS.....
I'VE GOT TO TRY TO STAY POSITIVE FOR MY SON DOESN'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ME.
GEE, HE WAS IN THE NAVY FOR 5 YEARS AND NEVER ANYTHING WITH THE HEART.
IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.....

HUGS
BEVERLYLadycutup1

Life is just precious... ((((((((Hugs)))))))))

Flagging!

And Novella... you're a bit off with the birthday! ( I am a Swede and my Birthday is on March 1st ) lolol

I think I know who's your fave Swede though! =o)Daydreamer2008

LOL! Knowing my memory, I'll forget so allow me to say HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!!! =)

I already drink about a gallon of water a day...guess I'll be limiting visits to Cheesecake Factory...maybe :) And I am NOT giving up java...guess I'll go vegetarian for a week...wait, chicken is ok right? LOLDefense

LOL! Get Fat Free Cheesecake and park waaaaaaaaaay at the back.