President Barack Obama would be proud of me. I've joined the President's Active Lifestyle Challenge and have filled in the first point on my first star by going to yoga class. The challenge asks children and adults to commit to regular physical activity five days a week for six weeks to earn a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. Children under the age of 18 are asked to engage in an hour of physical activity, and adults are asked to spend at least half an hour.


The challenge for me will be to log significant activity five days out of seven.

I have a history with Presidential physical fitness challenges. I sweated and groaned through the first Presidential physical fitness tests, created by President John F. Kennedy, when I was in high school. At that time, mechanization had decreased the amount of physical labor that most Americans did, and Americans were beginning to entertain themselves by watching, not doing. As President-elect, Kennedy himself published an article entitled "The Soft American" in Sports Illustrated.

The 60s era fitness program rewarded physical prowess. Today's Presidential programs, both the President's Challenge and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Program, reward activity. I think that's a beneficial change. We can't all do 100 sit-ups, but most of us can move for half an hour. The President's Challenge also features incentive programs for those who are already active, who can become Presidential Champions and Advanced Program Presidential Champions.

That's my next step. But first I'm going to earn my Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. Why not join me?

Read more about Let's Move from Family Fitness Guide Catherine Holecko and from Apryl Duncan, Guide to Stay-at-Home Moms.