‘Fitness challenge’ for the man’amko

  The Aging Office is putting together a “fitness challenge” for the island’s elderly as part of Mes Man’Amko, the Older Americans Month celebration in May.

Patterned after the reality show in the U.S. called Biggest Loser, the fitness challenge seeks to encourage the man’amko to engage in physical activities such as sports and exercise in keeping with the theme of this year’s celebration, “Never Too Old to Play.”

The challenge will have man’amko vying for the healthiest blood sugar and blood pressure levels as well as a healthy and normal body weight throughout the monthlong event.

Program coordinator Walter Manglona said yesterday that they plan to add more programs to the regular physical activities at the center.

Just last week, Manglona said the Saipan Seniors Advisory Council bought a new treadmill that will be among the equipment that will be used for the fitness challenge.

The new treadmill replaced two old ones previously donated by the Joeten company that have been out of order for a number of years.

Manglona said the man’amko who will win the challenge will receive prizes that will be solicited by the council from various business establishments and organizations on island.

“We will encourage the man’amko to participate in the activities we will provide because it’s beneficial to their health,” Manglona told Saipan Tribune. “But before we do so, we’ll have a physician come in and check if they are fit to do so to ensure their safety.”

Manglona said doctors who check on the man’amko have constantly advised them that “staying active is the way to go” to regulate their blood pressure and blood sugar levels and even fight Alzheimer’s disease.

“That’s why for the Mes Man’amko, we’re trying to devise different friendly competitions that help the seniors get exercise, have them get up and do what they used to do because they’re still strong and they’re still part of the community,” he said.

Among these competitions are the man’amko relay and ground golf tournament. “We want this year’s celebration to be huge and incorporate as much activities as we can,” added Manglona.

Manglona said the council will be focusing for the whole month of April on the preparations for the monthlong celebration, which will kick off with a proclamation signing tentatively set on April 30.