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Hi GCC participant,
Congratulations!
Your personal best is 0 steps and your total steps to date are 0 (as of 17th July). This week try to focus on a bit of stretching before and after walking. Even just a few minutes can add greater flexibility to the new improved you!
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Well this week represents the halfway mark of the GCC. So whether you are a "glass is half full" or "glass is half empty" sort of person, it doesn't matter, because you are on the run
home and that means you can start to charge up the efforts and recommit to what you want to take out of the GCC. Of course, if you're an "I can't remember where I left my glass" type you also have an
opportunity to get firing and have a fantastic 2nd half of the GCC even if the first half was a bit wobbly.
Now is the time to harness the momentum and really stretch your individual, team and organisation goals. Keep asking - "Am I challenging myself?", or "Am I maintaining a comfort level?" If you're
too comfortable, set your goals higher, the rewards will be huge.
In the words of Homer Simpson - "Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers."
The Crew at the GCC
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It's week three of Challenge Month and here is your choice of two challenges.
1. Physical challenge
Increase your step count every day by 10%. E.g. If you're averaging 10,000 take an extra 1,000 steps a day.
Or
2. Behavioural challenge
Change one walking habit. This may be parking further from work, getting off the train one stop early, or not using a lift for a week.
Give it a go and see how nice a self satisfied grin feels in a week.
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Taking care of yourself from the tip of your toes to the top of your head:
The demands of daily living - bearing our entire body weight, walking, jumping in and out of the car, standing for long periods and lifting - can all put our
feet under pressure. Now that the GCC has come along (woo hoo) it is even more important that you think about caring for your feet.
Whether you decide to increase your steps by taking up mountain climbing, bush walking, marathon running, lunchtime walking or walking instead of emailing, it doesn't matter.
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Having correctly fitted shoes will impact on your comfort, wellbeing and performance across the board.
You may not realise that poorly fitted shoes
can exacerbate and lead to stress fractures, strains, corns, calluses, shin splints, back problems, neck problems, tight muscles and headaches. So when was
the last time you thought about two of your hardest working body parts (your feet) and invested in a new pair of shoes? Did you know that the average sports shoe
would only be good for about 800-1000km / 500-620 mi of walking (that's roughly 1,250,400 steps)? Have a look at your shoes, how old are they? The soles are
the last things to go, so if the grip has started to disappear then the cushioning and support would have left long ago. If you haven't done so recently, you
may want to consider the following tips when purchasing your next pair of sports shoes:
- Go to a store that has professional shoe fitters like The Athlete's Foot
- Think of what you'll be using them for. Do you need walking shoes or running shoes, what will you be doing more of?
- Make sure you choose a shoe that fits best and not ones that necessarily look the best. Your toes shouldn't touch the end and they should be broad enough for your feet.
- Be sure to try on a range of shoes, try both shoes on in the shop and walk around before purchasing them. They should be comfortable the moment you put your foot in.
Well-fitted shoes will reduce your chance of injury, reduce the pain of pre-existing conditions and ensure that you continue walking until the fat lady sings!
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Body odour doesn't come from sweat itself, because sweat is odourless.
Your body produces two types of sweat: the eccrine sweat and apocrine sweat. The eccrine sweat represents a clear sweat, consisting mostly of water that does not smell and
plays an important role in regulating our body temperature. The apocrine sweat that is produced by the glands is thicker and is produced near hair follicles around the armpits
and groin. When bacteria on the surface of the skin contacts with apocrine sweat, the release of chemicals produces a body odour.
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A wow moment by Elaine
Lost in Pace - The University of Western Australia
I was inspired by your 1st July Challenge Month email and decided to walk to watch my husband Keith play in his local Sunday soccer game (I always drive there!). It took me about
35 mins and the most astonishing thing happened on the way when I took a shortcut ... I found the most beautiful park I had never noticed before! I've lived in the area 20 years and
unbelievably had never walked through this park. It was one of those 'Wow!' moments in life. I enjoyed every one of those 35 mins and clocked up several thousand steps to boot! So,
thank you for the inspiration GCC. Best wishes...Elaine @ UWA
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| Do you regularly eat breakfast? |
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It seems a majority of us are having breakfast and that's great (assuming it's a healthy one - not a side of beef that's battered and then deep-fried then rolled in pastry
and baked before one more quick pan-frying for luck). However, there are a few who say they skip this meal and that's not great! Breakfast is the alarm clock of the
metabolism. When you eat for the first time after rest your body realises it has to get to work and ignites the metabolic processes of the body. Until then it is still in a
slowed state and burning very little energy. This is the reason that weight loss is more successful with those who eat breakfast compared with those who skip it. So even if
it's just a piece of fruit, eat something to start the day.
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GCC Chairman Herb Elliott is widely regarded as one of the greatest middle distance runners the world has ever produced.
He won 1500m Gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics, broke the 4-minute mile 17 times, and from 1957 to 1961, he was never beaten over 1500 metres or a mile.
A former CEO of Puma North America and Director of Athlete and Corporate Relations with the Australian Olympic Committee, Herb's post-athletic career has been similarly impressive. Herb is considered a living national Australian treasure.
The International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP) based in Hungary has awarded Herb its top honour, the Jean Borotra World Fair Play Trophy.
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In being nominating for the Fair Play award, Australian Olympic Commitee Secretary-General, Craig Phillips wrote "Herb's mentorship of young athletes has been exemplary. He has steadfastly promoted a commitment to excellence- both in sport and in life".
In 2002, Herb was awarded the Companion of the order of Australia (AC) for service to community leadership through the development of sport in Australia.
He has also been honoured by the IOC as a recipient of the Olympic Order. Herb also features in the '50 Of Our Finest' recognition by the AOC.
For this week's Walk Talk, Herb talks about his passion and drive to help orphaned children in Uganda battling for their very survival, and how all GCC participants can help through The Footprint Initiative®.
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My support of the Iganga Babies Home in Uganda stemmed from a personal visit where I was fortunate enough to meet the children and the incredible people who care for them. The kids are aged from birth to
five years and the majority are abandoned - most often because their parents have died from AIDS. One of the criteria for their acceptance into the home is 'if they are not taken into the home they will
literally not survive'. The children are absolutely beautiful with big, trusting eyes full of activity and friendliness.
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Sister Elizabeth is the 'angel' behind the survival of these children, and as I discovered first hand, is in a constant struggle to win the battle. There are nappies, clothes, bedding, hospital and
medical bills and of course food, transport and medications to be paid for. That is why the support of GCC participants via The Footprint Initiative® has been so welcome, and so vital.
There are many worthy causes in countries like Uganda but we chose to support The Iganga Babies Home because it receives no government funding or relief and we are able to send funds directly to
Sister Elizabeth without 1 cent being needed for administration fees GCC bears all banking and administration costs. And we have seen the results. With the help of GCC participants in 2008, we have purchased a four-wheel drive van to get
sick children to medical care quickly, and restored the home's roof so children are not exposed to the elements.
But there is so much more to do.
I know many of us give to your charities of choice, and that is a wonderful and noble thing to do, but I also know that these children have no one else to turn to, and even the smallest donation means the world to them.
I often imagine the impact if every GCC participant donated just the cost of a coffee, 60,000 participants x the costs of a cup of coffee each would change the future for these children.
I hope you can help. Click here to go to The Footprint Initiative® page
Herb Elliott AC. MBE
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If your organisation would like to become a sponsor of the GCC and gain exposure to over 60,000 people a day (all by just providing some giveaway prizes) please contact jamese@gettheworldmoving.com
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Prizes are drawn randomly so the only thing participants need to do is ensure steps are up to date every Monday.
Click here to see if you've won.
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The Athlete's Foot
The Athlete's Foot $50 Gift Card.
What better way to get motivated than with a new pair of shoes? A walking shoe has a broader strike zone through the heel, it's more flexible through the forefoot to help push you forward and it's lighter which means walking further with less effort, so you can increase your fitness. Let the Fitting Experts at The Athlete's Foot recommend the correct shoe for you.
Visit www.theathletesfoot.com.au to locate your nearest store.
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Exclusive GCC T-shirt
Wear your participation with pride in one of these great GCC T-shirts. With a hole for your head and also two for your arms,
this t-shirt will make you the envy of your organisation. Great for those times for when you want to wear something more than a singlet, but less than a shirt. It can even be worn under jumpers,
jackets and coats, what versatility!
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