How Active for Life Works

What is Active for Life?

Active for Life is a 10-week program designed to promote health awareness and physical fitness. You set a personal goal for regular physical activity -- anything from moderate activities like walking to more intense ones like running. You record your daily activity on a Life Points log for 10 weeks. You participate as part of a team, and you will receive tools and support to help you reach your goal. There are also fun prizes and events throughout the program to help keep you motivated. Active for Life encourages participants to be more active on a regular basis by combining individual and group strategies that help people change their behavior.

Are You Active for Life?

Being 'Active for Life' is simple. It's as easy as getting off that comfy chair behind your desk.

It could be as simple as taking a walk at lunchtime, or using the stairs instead of the elevator. It could be going to the gym after work, or training for a 10K run. It doesn't matter what the activity is. You set personal goals, then you work as part of a team to achieve them. And you don't have to be a marathon runner to get in shape. The thing to remember is that it's important to set realistic goals and to look for ways to stay motivated.

That "sweet spot" of fitness makes all the difference in maintaining your energy level and managing stress.

Break it Down!

Active for Life is an easy-to-follow program that motivates you to stay active.

Your success can be measured in points. Points have been used for decades to help us accomplish goals -- like earning free travel through frequent flyer programs, or being rewarded for accomplishing workplace objectives. The Active for Life program uses points as a way for you to measure your commitment to yourself. We call this the Life Points system.

In Active for Life, each minute of physical activity is equal to 1 life point. But depending upon how your company chooses to run the campaign, you could earn bonus points for other activities, such as attending a seminar or agreeing to evaluate the program at its conclusion. Check with your team captain to see if bonus points are available in your Active for Life program.

With Life Points, getting to your optimal level of fitness has never been easier. We help you identify where you are now, and then you set a personal goal for where you want to be.

Choose a goal that will take you to your next level: stretch a bit but make it realistic. The Life Points Log does the number-crunching for you. It's that easy.

How It Works

• One Life Point for every minute of physical activity
• Three Levels of Activity
• Automatically calculated by your personal Life Points Log

Active for Life offers something for everyone. Active for Life recognizes that each of us is different. The program is structured to meet the needs of all employees. From those who are just thinking about being more active to people who exercise every day, everyone can participate and feel a sense of accomplishment.

How Do I Get Points?

As a participant in Active for Life, you earn 1 Life Point for each minute of daily activity. If you're fairly inactive, yet do 45 minutes of yard work on a given day, you're still entitled to 45 points. And you can talk to your team captain to see if your program offers other opportunities to earn bonus points.

The American Cancer Society's physical activity recommendation is at least 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise, 5 days a week. This is the recommendation of most health organizations.

The most rewarding part of the program is knowing that with a little self-discipline, you can achieve your goals and continue to reach for higher levels of fitness. Your goal may be as ambitious as 500 points a week, or you may prefer the American Cancer Society's recommended 150 points a week. It's up to you.