Be a good healthy role model

(Nov. 13, 2008) — The leaves have begun to change colors, accenting the horizons in hues of red, gold and orange. The weather is becoming cooler, and the days filled with sunlight have quickly become summer memories. Has your family’s waistline become a summer memory, too?

As the days pass, we eagerly plan our holiday calendars, but we seem to postpone our physical fitness activities because they are not a matter of importance … or are they?

During this season, the hard work associated with physical fitness activity and conditioning will quickly become a thought of the past as endurance levels will decrease, and stress and fatigue will quickly engulf your lifestyle if you choose not to include physical activity as part of your weekly regiment.

As choices are made, we must consider the lives of those around us who are directly affected by the decisions we make. Children, for example, are the most affected.

As role models, parents and guardians must be mindful of a child’s eager mind to learn. Parents or guardians should begin to introduce the idea of a healthy lifestyle to their children. A plan that is well-organized is great, but without action, it is simply an idea that is replaced and buried in the mind.

This season, create a plan that not only benefits you, but benefits your entire family. If you think that you only have to worry about yourself, consider yourself a walking advertisement on how you perceive a healthy lifestyle.

Did you know that nearly 25 million children are overweight in the United States? Shockingly, the rates for childhood obesity have tripled in 30 years. Sadly, it is a disease that may take the life of a child before that child becomes an adult.

Childhood obesity may lead to diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, liver disorders, sleep disorders and eating disorders.

How do we create positive changes?

• Eat dinner with your children every day. Take the time and talk to each other and discuss the day’s events.

• Limit the purchase of soda and pre-packaged foods. Foods that have no nutritional value should be discarded and avoided. Instead, substitute 100 percent fruit juices for beverages and fresh fruit as a snack, and encourage milk or water as an alternate beverage.

• Alter the recipes to create a more nutritionally sound meal, by adding puréed vegetables to most recipes.

• Advocate the importance of eating well-balanced meals, by including the “greens,” often referred to as vegetables, with every meal, carefully ensuring that there are two parts of greens for every one part protein.

• Create fun outside. The glorious colors of fall will allow you to create fun and exciting outdoor activities for you and your entire family.

• Create fun inside. If it is too cold outside, create mini physical fitness activities indoors. Have a workout competition with your children; you don’t need to have a large athletic room, simply a place where everyone can do timed pushups, sit-ups and leg lifts.

• Don’t forget the chores; you may want to assign them and time everyone to see who finishes first and does the best job.

Lastly, it is the support and guidance from parents, guardians, family and friends that make the difference in a child’s life.

Take action, advocate and perform. Place your fitness goals as a family into action, one day at a time. Keep that summer waistline year-round, and watch your children grow into healthy cognitive adults.

Send your thoughts and questions to: fitness@leadernewspapers.net.
source:http://leadernewspapers.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8786