Teaching Our Children

Have you heard about - or perhaps seen for yourself the alarming trend of childhood obesity? Those two words just don't sound right together. Doesn't the word Children conjure up images of carefree, happy little ones running around the playground? Do you remember when your parents had to practically drag you inside to eat Supper? "But Mom, can't we please play just a little longer?"

Do you remember when after school meant playing football in the empty lot down the street or a neighbor's yard? Riding bikes until dark or shooting baskets at the nearest basketball goal? Maybe you enjoyed coming home from school on your skateboard? And riding it until your parents made you come inside!

What have we done to our children? If you're like me you may totally regret the day you brought home your child's first video game. And do they really need a TV and Computer in their own room? Well, we can't totally undo the video game craze or take away the Disney Channel can we?

Maybe its time to set some ground rules or negotiate some changes in how after-school time is spent. I heard about a family nearby who turns their TV off on School days. Absolutely NO time in front of their tv until the weekend rolls around. I bet their children earned better grades than our boys did last year!

If we want healthy, well balanced children, we have to lead them to make healthy choices. If they see us come home after a long day and plop down on the couch for a couple hours of tv time - what are they going to learn? What if we spend that same couple of hours playing with our children instead? Or getting actively involved in their homework?

Go for a walk and practice basic math skills while you enjoy time together in the fresh autumn air! Shoot hoops before supper - or after. Invite the neighbor kids over for some fun. Volunteer to help coach your childs favorite sport!

The best way to increase physical activity in your family life is for you to be a part of it. Activities should be fun and something that the whole family can do together. Share healthy habits with your children.

Kids ( and parents ) need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, but it doesn’t have to be all at one time. Short walks, active chores, walking the dog—it all adds up! Make physical activity a project that the whole family can enjoy together. Encourage everyone to think of fun things to do to get off the couch, away from TV and computer screens and get moving!

Winning the Weight Loss Game

Lasting, healthy weight loss is really a numbers game. Take in fewer calories and burn more. If you want a better looking, slimmer body shape - toss in some daily exercise!

Losing weight, gaining weight or maintaining your weight depends on the amount of calories you take in and use up during the day, otherwise referred to as energy balance. Learning how to balance energy intake (calories in food) with energy output (calories expended through physical activity) will help you achieve your desired weight.

Although the underlying causes and the treatments of obesity are complex, the concept of energy balance is relatively simple. If you eat more calories than your body needs to perform your day's activities, the extra calories are stored as fat. If you do not take in enough calories to meet your body's energy needs, your body will go to the stored fat to make up the difference. (Exercise helps ensure that stored fat, rather than muscle tissue, is used to meet your energy needs.) If you eat just about the same amount of calories to meet your body's energy needs, your weight will stay the same.

All too often, those of us who want to lose weight concentrate on counting calories. Its too easy to overlook the calories we use up - or burn. Health experts agree - the quickest way to lose weight is the combination of eating healthy and daily exercise. By increasing your daily physical activity and decreasing your caloric input you can lose excess weight in the most efficient and healthy way!

Adding just 15 minutes of moderate exercise, say walking one mile, to your daily routine will burn or use up 100 extra calories per day. (Your body uses up or burns approximately 100 calories of energy to walk one mile, depending on your body weight.) A daily 15 minute walk could result in an extra 700 calories per week used up, or a loss of about 10 pounds in one year, assuming your food intake stays the same.

To look at energy balance another way, just one extra slice of bread or one extra soft drink a day – or any other food that contains approximately 100 calories – can add up to ten extra pounds in a year if the amount of physical activity you do does not increase. If you want better results - start today. Enjoy eating healthy foods, exercise and lose weight fast!

Better Health and Fitness

The clear blue November sky tops off a smattering of earth tones and colorful fall foliage. The mild temperatures outside offer you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this season and plenty of fresh air to invigorate your lungs!

Who needs fancy pants health clubs or expensive gym memberships? Get outside and get some solid aerobic workouts in the clear, fresh autumn air!

Some times simple is best. Have you seen the new Karate Kid movie? No fancy gym. No hot bodies sweating away pounds on fancy health club machines. Just simple and effective exercise.

Can't get outside? Maybe the weather isn't too favorable? No worries - find a space in the comfort of your home and get some exercise without even leaving the house. Watch this for some simple routines you can do right at home -



Want better health and fitness? Try some simple exercise - at home - or in the great outdoors and you'll soon feel better and look way better!

Add soome variety to you fitness program - pick up some inexpensive home fitness gear.

3 Simple Rules for Sexy Abs

Do you wish you could have sexier abs? Maybe a tighter tummy and slimmer waistline?

3 Simple rules for a tighter, toned core:

1. stop eating simple carbs - especially Anything with high fructose corn sweetener. Stay away from white bread and white rice. Avoid sugary, sweetened drinks and stick with 8 glasses of ice water every day! Pass on fried Everything!

2. Run, skate, swim, or row 5 days out of every seven. Want faster results? Do it twice a day! Shoot for at least 20 minutes of heart-pounding cardio 2 times a day.

3. do some abs-specific toning.

Try this:

Simple Steps to a Tighter Core

Do you ever look look at your mid-section and wish you could tighten up your abs? Well, take heart - you're not alone. Millions of busy, hard-working people just like you would love to shed a few inches around their waistline and have a slimmer, more attractive tummy!

Simple habits often bring about awesome results. These habits take work. Work you soon won't mind doing. Take action today - start strengthening your core area and you can sculpt a leaner, sexier stomach!

Watch this for some simple exercise tips anyone can do:



Depending on where you are today and whether you want to lose 2 inches or 10 - join the growing legions of fitness lovers who look good and feel great!

If you want results you can see - in a matter of weeks - watch your diet. Get some protein early in your day. And drink plenty of water. Pass on the fried foods and avoid Anything with the dreaded high-fructose sweetener.

Simple carbs are not good for a tight tummy. Avoid sugar, white bread and rice. Try to enjoy more fruits and veggies every day. Get some salmon or cod a couple times a week. Toss some chopped walnuts in your salad or yogurt! Enjoy heating healthy foods! Try some of nature's superfoods!

If you want a toned, slim body - you can reach your goal much quicker with daily cardio exercise and some strength training. Target your core with simple exercises. Remember - the best way to lose belly fat ( and keep it off ) is with plenty of heart-pumping exercise most days of the week.

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!