Don't Drop the Ball this Winter!
Issue 6.1
The Policy Issue
Welcome!
What's Inside...
destination for Get FIT programs,
Don't Drop the Ball
Welcome to your one-stop
news and inclusive wellness tips!
Spotlight: New Year, New
You!
NEW States!
Honey Chicken Kabobs
Recipe
Get FIT, Texas
Is Your New Year's
Resolution Achievable?
The most exciting and sometimes daunting
task of a New Year's Resolution is sticking
to it. As we near the end of the first month of
the year, it's important to check-in and ask
yourself, "Is my New Year's Resolution
Achievable?" I've put together a simple
checklist to help you upgrade your New
Years Resolution so that it's accessible and
attainable for YOU! Read more
Wellness Corner:
Don't Drop the Ball
Our vision is that New Jersey provide
accessible information and resources
that can allow adults with disabilities to
Get FIT where they choose, whether at
Recipe:
Turkey Chili Taco Soup
Make a healthy meal this winter to keep
you full and warm! After the Holidays it's
hard to get back into the routine of eating
healthy and working out. Here's a quick
home, at the gym or at a local YMCA. To and easy recipe that can jump start your
accomplish this, we need YOUR
healthy lifestyle again! Read more
HELP! Read more
Don't Drop the Ball!
-Dr. Adeola Sonaike
Nearly half of all adults with a disability get no aerobic
physical activity, and when it comes to children,
physical activity is 4 times lower for those with a
disability than for those without disability. These are
only 2 of the many reasons why the Get FIT movement
was launched in New Jersey in 2008. Get FIT believes
that people of ALL abilities have the right to access a
healthy lifestyle. Working with over 25 partners
nationwide, Get FIT has decreased many of the barriers
faced by people with disabilities and has provided
fitness and nutrition programs to over 2,000 children and
adults.
Today, you can find people with disabilities and their
caregivers participating in Get FIT at their local school, private gyms, YMCA's,
college gyms, day programs and even at home. These "lifetime Get FIT members"
are not only experiencing a healthier lifestyle, but they are also learning key
independent living and social skills that will improve their growth, development and
quality of life throughout the years.
Despite these achievements, access to Get FIT and other wellness programs may
be limited once again for New Jersey residents. The New Jersey Department of
Human Services' Division of Development Disabilities recently released a new
draft for the Supports Program Manual as part of the Community Care Waiver. We
encourage you to review the Supports Program Manual by clicking here. Many
services that are important to you, including home-based physical activity
programs, were not included in the current draft.
Our vision is that New Jersey provide accessible information and resources that
can allow adults with disabilities to Get FIT where they choose, whether at home,
at the gym or at a local YMCA. To accomplish this, we need YOUR HELP, don't
drop the ball on wellness for people with disabilities! Join Get FIT as we advocate
for the inclusion of home-based physical activity opportunities by attending
upcoming Q&A webinars and sharing your personal stories, comments and
concerns!
For more information on how you may be involved in this advocacy effort, please
contact Get FIT at [email protected] or 609-392-4900 ext. 113.
Can YOU Get FIT at Your Local YMCA?
Get FIT will be offering group fitness and
nutrition programs for youth ages 13-21,
and adults 21+ with special needs at the
following YMCA's:
Raritan Bay Area YMCA (NJ)
Trenton Area YMCA (NJ)
Lakeland Hills YMCA (NJ)
Summit Area YMCA (NJ)
YMCA of Gloucester County (NJ)
YMCA of San Antonio (TX)
YMCA of Houston (TX)
*Please contact your local Get FIT office for more information*
New Jersey: 609-392-4900
San Antonio:201-653-5353
Houston: 713-789-6295
Upcoming Events
Get FIT @ YMCA Open House
Tuesday January 26, 2016 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM EST
Please join us at the Raritan Bay YMCA to learn more about and
register for the FREE Get FIT @ YMCA program!
"We all can Get FIT, if given a chance"
Is Your New Year's Resolution Achievable?
-Dr. Adeola Sonaike
The most popular New Year's Resolutions are weight-related. The New Year
marks an opportunity to leave unhealthy habits in 2015 and adopt a healthy
lifestyle in 2016. Gyms are crowded with newly registered members, and the Kale
is flying off the shelves at the grocery stores. However, a few weeks into the new
year, the excitement dies down and the old habits begin to creep back in. While
there are many reasons that people may have for abandoning their New Year's
Resolution, I feel that one of the biggest challenges that we often ignore is the
attainability of the goal itself.
Before committing to a goal, Survey your surroundings. While your goal
may be to exercise at your gym 3 times a week, the excessive stimuli at a crowded
gym in the first few weeks of the year may not be optimal for you. A flexible and
accessible version of this goal may be to exercise anywhere 3 times a week- this
may include going for a walk/run outside, or exercising at home with an online
trainer. By February, take a few trial classes at your local gym so that you can
identify the best time of the day to go to the gym.
Include your goal in your budget. A dramatic change in your daily habits
can often be a costly endeavor. If your goal is to eat more vegetables or to begin
using the new juicer, make sure you've included these costs in your grocery
budget. Do some research and purchase in-season goods at the local Farmer's
Market to save some money. This is also a great way to add some variety into your
diet (you can only enjoy kale for so long)!
Time is of the essence. Every goal should have a schedule and a timeline. If
your goal is to improve stress management by meditating for 30 minutes every day,
be sure to identify a 30 minute space in your schedule that can be used for
meditation. Perhaps in January your goal can be for 10 minutes a day, then
increase to 20 minutes a day in February. You are more likely to stick to your New
Years Resolution if it fits seamlessly into your daily schedule.
Lastly, Have Fun with your New Year's Resolution! Invite like-minded friends to
join you on this journey and let them know that this is a no judgement zone. When
you think you may be going off course, simply do an accessibility check-in, and
adapt your goal as needed. Remember, there's no rule book when it's your own
goal!
Attention Runners!!
Autism Family Services of New Jersey (AFSNJ) is
proud to partner with the
Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon.
www.autismfamilyservicesnj.org/njmarathon
We have entries for May 1st, 2016:
Full Marathon (26.2),
Half Marathon (13.1)
Relay on Sunday May 1st, 2016.
In addition we have spots for the 5k distance on April 30, 2016.
Please consider setting a personal goal for 2016 to take part in one of these
challenging events while raising awareness and funds for
Autism Family Services of New Jersey.
For more information contact Jacqui Moskowitz at 732 915-7751 or
[email protected]
Start a Get FIT-U Chapter at your College!
Looking to benefit your education and future career?
Get FIT is presently accepting applications for college interns
and volunteers in the fields of health promotion, nutrition,
communication and marketing
For more information please email
[email protected]
Get FIT Launches in Pennsylvania, Minnesota AND
Maryland!
The Epilepsy Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, the Confidence
Learning Center in Minnesota and the Spirit Club in Maryland are
the 3 newest members to the National Get FIT Partnership! The
Epilepsy Foundation of Western Pennsylvania joins additional
Epilepsy Foundation affiliates in the opportunity to improve quality of
life in people with epilepsy. The Confidence Learning Center's
Camp Confidence will be implementing Get FIT programs
throughout the year in a variety of setting for adults with intellectual
and developmental disabilities. Spirit Club provides specialized
fitness programs for all abilities with services such as Spirit Yoga,
Spirit Zumba, and personal training to name a few. Program start
dates will be provided soon!
Young Gourmet Cooking Club!
Do you have children/young adults ages 13-21 who are looking
for a fun and interactive way to learn how to create their own
healthy meals? Join us this Fall for Young Gourmet Cooking
Club in Toms River. This program is open to youth with and
without special needs, we encourage siblings to also join.
To register, please contact
Nicole: 609-392-4900 or [email protected]
Recipe: Turkey Chili Taco Soup
-Mikaela Saunders
Make a healthy meal this winter to keep you full and warm!
After the Holidays it's hard to get back into the routine of eating
healthy and working out. Here's a quick and easy recipe that can
jump start your healthy lifestyle again!
Ingredients:
1.3 lbs 99% lean ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
10 oz can tomatoes with green
chili's
15 oz canned or frozen corn,
drained
15 oz kidney beans, drained
8 oz tomato sauce
16 oz fat free refried beans
1 packet taco seasoning
2 1/2 cups fat free low sodium chicken broth
Directions:
In a large pot, brown turkey on medium heat, breaking up with a
wooden spoon as it cooks.
When cooked through, add onions and pepper and cook 2-3
minutes.
Add tomatoes, corn, beans, tomato sauce, refried beans, taco
seasoning and chicken broth.
Bring to a boil and simmer about 10-15 minutes.
Brought to you by The Center on Nutrition and Disability
Get FIT Texas!
Join Get FIT Texas in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston,
Lubbock and San Antonio!
Register for Get FIT Texas today and receive your own Get
FIT kit including a backpack, water bottle, pedometer, and
booklet full of healthy nutrition and exercise tips along with
an activity log.
Get FIT Texas is now also available in community based
location, such as the San Antonio YMCA!
For more information please click here or call Ryan at The
Epilepsy Foundation of Texas at 713-789-6295 (Houston)
or Ariel at The Epilepsy Foundation of Central & South
Texas at 210-653-5353 (San-Antonio).
Get FIT Texas is supported by a grant by the Texas Council for Developmental
Disabilities
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