Getting in Shape

Health care costs related to obesity are estimated at over $110 billion per year. Studies sponsored by the U.S. government have linked obesity to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Is it possible that someday our health insurance may be priced according to one's weight? If you're wondering "What health insurance" - you're not alone. "Who can afford it?"

Take a good look around the next time you go to the local Supermarket - or out to eat. Check out how many people who are obese, or even a little overweight. How could this happen to so many of our neighbors and fellow Americans?

Is this strictly an American problem? I don't see too many obese Asians or Arabs or Africans.

I had the opportunity once to work with a wonderful boss once who often reminded us that behind every problem lies an opportunity! An incredibly positive man, he found a way to interject some humor in most of our workdays. So, behind ( excuse the pun please ) this national weight crisis lies the opportunity to lead a healthy and happy life!

Aren't we, after all, the product of the choices we make? Where we are right now is a direct result of the decisions we've made ( or not made ) in the past. So why not choose to get started on a toned and more muscular body? Why not choose to eliminate or even greatly reduce the amount of junk we put into our bodies? Why not choose better fitness and a healthy lifestyle?

You can easily make the choice to get a little more exercise each day. Or at least four or five times per week. Start today! Take positive steps every day toward a better life. Make this your best year ever. The year you chose a better life and started getting in shape.

Keep Your Children Fit, Trim and Healthy

Every classroom had one - that one child who was bigger than his or her peers. Not necessarily taller - but bigger. In generations past that large child's weight and body shape was often the result of some hormonal or chemical imbalance. Many of these children grew up to enjoy body shapes closer to the average. They simply outgrew their baby-fat or childhood flab.

Sadly, this is not as often the case in 2010. The trend toward childhood obesity is downright shocking. What is going on to bring about these alarming statistics we've all seen or heard?

Blame it on too much TV time - or too many hours wasted playing video games. Blame it on the junk we feed them. Look at the list of ingredients the next time you pick up a child's favorite snack or soft-drink. Even allegedly healthy fruit juices can contain alarming amounts of sugar or the dreaded high fructose corn syrup.

A growing body of scientific research is resulting in clear evidence on the positive relationship between active outdoor play and children's health.

Playing and regular vigorous physical activity (activities that produce a noticeable increase in heart rate - like brisk walking, biking, and active outdoor playing) is important for healthy growth and development among children and adolescents.

There is strong evidence showing beneficial effects of physical activity on muscle strength and endurance, bone health and cardiovascular health. A positive association has also been found between physical activity and improvements in concentration, memory, and classroom behavior.

Girls with a more natural view (trees, grass, shrubs) performed better on standardized performance measures of concentration compared to girls who looked at a more barren setting (buildings, dirt, or paved surfaces).

Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) had milder ADD symptoms after engaging in play outside versus playing inside. The “greener” the play setting (parks, farms, places with tall trees, grass, or natural water sources), the milder the symptoms.

If you want your children to do better in school - encourage them to play outdoors more. Lead by example and play with them. Take them along the next you go for a nice energizing bike ride. Encourage them to join you in a brisk walk around the park. Let them rid their bikes and just try to keep up with them!

Start each day with a healthy breakfast. Our children need a well balanced, nutrient rich start to their day - just as we do. Study after study has confirmed the many benefits of eating a healthy breakfast. Children who get a good night's sleep and have breakfast seem to do better in school.

All work and no fun leads to almost certain boredom. Children need to play. Encourage them to get outside and get some fresh air and burn off some of their seemingly boundless energy. Children who go outside and play at recess also enjoy better results in the classroom!

If you want your most beloved little ones to grow up healthy and avoid the fat-trap, just say no to the fat-food drive-thru windows. Tell the big fast-food chains you don't want their fat and maybe they will start offering healthier choices.

Encourage them to drink more water and milk and way less soda or juice. Keep a bowl of fruit within easy reach so they can reach for something healthy after school.

And - encourage them to get outside and play! If your child has gained too much weight or if you have concerns about their body shape - don't fret. Talk to your school nurse or doctor. Help your children exercise and lose weight - the fun way!

Autumn - The Perfect Time to Exercise

As the annual display of nature's warm beauty emerges we have the opportunity to enjoy another season. Hopefully the Autumn colors in your part of this wonderful earth will be as vibrant and beautiful as ever this Fall. As the trees start changing and the fields full of milo and corn are harvested we fast approach the final quarter of this year.

Perhaps now is a good time to take a look at where you are today and where you'd like to be - in terms of your fitness and health. We have but 13 quick weeks before this calendar year goes into the record books. Just 3 short months - filled with opportunities for fun and family time. And food! Lots of great foods seem to emerge from our kitchens during Autumn.

Maybe now is a good time to start enjoying healthier options. A few less sugar cookies and lot more fruit! Maybe just one slice of pumpkin pie - and no thanks to the whipped cream. Maybe now is a good time to drink more water every day and far less soda.

If we keep putting unhealthy ingredients in our bodies - what will we end up with? Yep - unhealthy bodies are almost a certainty if we skip the daily exercise.
Enjoy these colorful Autumn days. I hope you will be able to spend a little time each day outdoors in the fresh, cooler Autumn air!

And don't forget to exercise. Try this -

Feel Great and Look Great!

How would you like to look better And feel much better by Christmas! Enjoy all those Holiday gatherings looking hotter than you have in years! Why not start today?

First imagine how you'd like to look. Close your eyes for a minute and picture yourself looking leaner and sexier. See yourself wearing a smaller size ( or 2 or 3 ) than you do today! And while you're at it - imagine how much more energy you'll have to enjoy the usual onslaught of Christmas parties and New Year celebrations!

Now put on something comfortable and go outside and start your heart a pumping. Breathe deeply and enjoy the milder Autumn air! If you're not able to get outside - try this excellent workout at home or wherever you happen to be:



Health and fitness experts agree - the quickest way to lose weight ( and keep it off ) is with a daily dose of heart-pumping exercise. Enjoy eating healthy foods and get at least half an hour of cardio exercise most days of the week! You can look better and feel great before the Holidays are upon us!

Your Best Year Ever

Do you want a better life? Maybe you'd like to enjoy more happiness and less stress? Daily exercise is the time honored, proven path to a better, more fulfilling life! Not only will you Feel Better - You Will Look Better too!



Make time for exercise every day. Be selfish with your time. Delegate whatever you can or shuffle your workload in order to free up at least half an hour for your daily exercise time. Try something new! Do you enjoy or have a secret desire to try any sports? Pick up a cheap tennis racquet or grab a basketball and head off to the gym or nearest playground. If the weather outside isn't to your liking - get some exercise at home!

No need to spend a small fortune in the quest to reach your ideal weight. Enjoy eating healthy foods that you prepare and cook yourself. Skip the fancy (and expensive) health club - Work out in the comfort of home! Grab yourself a few inexpensive pieces of home fitness equipment.

Walking 30 minutes or more a day at a brisk pace is an excellent way to kick-start your journey towards a better life of good health and fitness! You can look younger and feel younger. You can have more energy and a much brighter outlook on life. Enjoy the natural high daily exercise gives you!

Hold on to your vision. Constantly remind yourself of your goal for better health and fitness. Take positive steps every day towards fulfilling your dream of a better life. Make this your best year ever. The year you started getting in shape!

Start Simple - Lose Those Extra Inches

TV ads urge you to sculpt 6-pack abs in no time. Magic pills offer near instant relief from years of inactivity and the jelly roll appearing around so many mid-sections. ( Spoken from real-life, first hand experience! ) Years of eating sugary sweet tasting junk food have enabled many to add an inch or two around the waist.

If you're like many of us you've seen for yourself how easy it is to skip the workout and get just another hour in at work or watch another hour of TV. Well, don't fret - you can have that slim and sexy look you once had. You really can enjoy eating a wide variety of healthy foods, exercise daily and lose fat - for good!

Try something simple to get you started. watch this video -



If you want to shed a few extra inches and lose weight for good - daily exercise is one key to your lasting success! You can have more energy and a slimmer, sexier shape. You can look and feel younger! Try it - soon you won't want to stop. Get in just 30 minutes of heart pounding exercise every day! Add in some strength training every other day and you really can drop a waist-size in a matter of weeks!

Be Happy - Get in Beach Body Shape

Are you happy when you look at yourself in the mirror? Would you like to feel better about yourself - and maybe just feel better most of the time?

Want more energy in the bedroom? Or the boardroom? Whatever you are focused on - you can enjoy your endeavors more when you start enjoying the benefits of better health and fitness!

Start with some simple exercise routines you can do almost anywhere:



No money for a fancy gym membership? No worries. Start simple - use your own body weight for strength building exercise with the classic push-up and squats. Jump ropes are easy to find - or make - and jumping rope is an excellent cardio workout!

Save your money - you don't have to spend a small fortune every year at that fancy-pants fitness center. You can look great and feel better about yourself while you save your hard earned money!