Over the last year, the Surgeon General has been challenging communities across the country to get up and get moving. Now, they’re taking that challenge to the next level by asking everyone to Step It Up and take as many steps as possible from October 13-26.

NCHPAD is joining forces with Fitbit and the Surgeon General by taking the challenge to Step It Up, announced on October 5. The challenge is to move as much as possible from October 13th-26th. Are you ready to #StepItUpUSA?

Walking is one of the many ways you can accelerate your journey to your healthiest life.  In response to the 2015 Call to Action on Walking and Walkable Communities, we launched the inclusive communication campaign to rebrand the word walking known as How I Walk.  How I Walk supports the important messages of the Surgeon General’s Call to Action and builds upon the clear opportunity for us to ensure that all Americans have access to be physically active. By challenging the way we think of the word “walk”, the door is opened to creating full community health inclusion where perspectives are challenged and attitudes are changed. How I Walk is positioned to mobilize the disability and public health communities in rebranding walking to be an inclusive term. This campaign will be another important tool to address barriers that may exist in a person’s pursuit of physical activity.

To learn more and join the movement go here: http://www.nchpad.org/howiwalk/. 

We encourage people of all abilities to get moving and participate in the #StepItUpUSA challenge.  If you need information about alternative ways to track movement, please contact us or check out the resources available on our website including pedometer placement. 

Here’s how to get started:
1.    Sign up with Fitbit, Facebook or Google account at https://www.stepitupusa.org/.
2.    You can participate with or without a tracker! Sync your Fitbit or manually track and enter through your account.
3.    You can start a team, join a team or join the challenge as an individual!

Stay motivated by challenging other teams to a Face-Off! Use this to challenge family and friends or, inspire co-workers and teammates. It’s great opportunity to get people in your life moving.  You can also connect with Step It Up Challenge members and teams through an online messaging feature. And, don’t forget to share your progress on social media with #StepItUpUSA and #HowIWalk.