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On April 22, 2008, over one billion people in 17,000 organizations around the globe joined together to celebrate Earth Day to increase awareness and appreciation of our environment. We all know how important it is to reduce our carbon footprint. Some of us have conscientiously changed our habits: we use paper instead of plastic grocery bags (or bring our own reusable bag), recycle cans and bottles, carpool, and take public transportation when available. Do you know that your fitness activities can affect the environment as well

Earth Day is the perfect time to lighten your “fitness footprint” and to think green as you get FIT:     
 

  F: Fill your kitchen with fresh foods that are locally grown, seasonally available and unprocessed. Become a conscious consumer. Feed your spirit with friends, family and fun activities so you don’t need to find nourishment through consuming surplus food or goods.

I: Integrate your environmental concerns with your fitness activities. For example, walk instead of drive, drink water from reusable containers and recycle athletic shoes. You could also find trails in your neighborhood, invite neighbors to join you for a walk, and pick up trash as you hike.

T: Turn off the television and sedentary video games (you’ll save electricity) and get moving. Team up with others for outdoor activities that help the environment. For example, teams can build a trail or restore a marsh. Enroll your children on your team so they learn the value of being outdoors and develop a love and appreciation of nature.        

 Every action we take—or don’t take—affects the environment. Common sense tells us that we cannot charge environmental resources on a single global credit card indefinitely. When we lighten our fitness footprint and make environment-friendly activities part of our routine, we make every day an Earth Day.