| Getting Kids Moving - Help for Overweight | | | | physical shape, has confidence a mile high, |
| TeensA residential school program for | | | | and he was just honored by winning the |
| overweight teens comes with a hefty price tag | | | | "Program Award" which the coach explained is |
| (some in excess of $5,000 per month). These | | | | granted to the one player he'd choose, "If I |
| programs rely on the same formula for weight | | | | had to pick just one as the most outstanding |
| loss as is commonly recommended; strict | | | | overall." I have no worries that he'll |
| eating guidelines and increased activities. | | | | continue with a healthier lifestyle from this |
| In other words, better nutrition and | | | | point forward.Before he took up football we |
| exercise. Hopefully some counseling is | | | | bought him an expensive bike which was rarely |
| offered, and college prep courses are usually | | | | used. He also has a skate board, a |
| on the curriculum, but what about those kids? | | | | mini-scooter, and a pogo stick. We tried |
| Are they getting a realistic head-start on a | | | | karate (he broke his wrist so had to quit, |
| lifetime of healthier habits or are they | | | | and then didn't want to resume), he likes |
| simply doing what they are told, only to be | | | | Paintball. Sometimes it takes awhile to find |
| fed to the wolves when they leave the safe | | | | the right thing but nearly everyone will feel |
| environment of the school?I tried to find | | | | better when they find a physical activity |
| stories of teens who had successfully | | | | they like. Exercise isn't just sit ups and |
| completed these programs and gone on to | | | | push ups. It's anything you do that includes |
| healthy lives, and came up empty. If you are | | | | movement.No matter where you live get out the |
| one or know of someone who's been through one | | | | phone book and search for indoor and outdoor |
| of these live-in school/weight loss programs, | | | | activities in your town, or use the Internet |
| please drop me a line. I'd love to hear a | | | | and search for "indoor sports" along with |
| success story. If you want to be everything | | | | your city's name. I found listings for |
| you can for your kids, here are ideas for | | | | Vancouver Parks & Recreation, Vancouver |
| getting them (and you) up and moving | | | | Indoor Sports and a site on Sports Walking |
| again.Exercise Should be FunGet your child | | | | with a search for "indoor sports Vancouver |
| interested in some type of exercise activity, | | | | Washington" (without the quotes).Can Video |
| whether indoor or outdoor by helping them | | | | Games Help with Weight Loss?Video games can |
| discover what they prefer to do. What about | | | | help with losing weight. Just ask Tanya |
| bike riding or hiking with a GPS (hand-held | | | | Jessen who lost 95 pounds, Matt Keene who |
| Global Positioning Satellite unit). If you | | | | lost 150 pounds, or Tim Mitchell who lost 50 |
| like the outdoors, Geocaching sounds like | | | | pounds over a few months time about DDR |
| enormous fun and anyone can do it. Adults are | | | | (Dance Dance Revolution), a video dancing |
| reporting losing 20, 30 or more pounds while | | | | game. Learning the steps is the challenge and |
| they are out exploring the woods and hills in | | | | since you're moving while you play (dancing |
| their surrounding area. Learning to use a GPS | | | | really), so you or your kids gain skill at |
| is also educational and helps kids learn | | | | the game while also gaining excellent |
| math, science and physics while they're | | | | physical shape and hand-eye coordination at |
| losing some pounds at the same time. You may | | | | the same time. There are DDR clubs all around |
| find some Geocaching sites in your area. I | | | | the world and many web sites devoted to the |
| searched on the Internet and discovered there | | | | play and practice including exciting new |
| was a Geocache not 200 yards from my | | | | game is called Yourself!Fitness. It's an XBox |
| house!What's a Geocache? It's a "treasure" of | | | | game with a PC version due early December |
| sorts. One person puts a small package or box | | | | 2004 and a PlayStation version in January |
| somewhere, out of sight, then lists the | | | | 2005. Visit Yourself!Fitness includes a |
| location via GPS. Using a GPS device you look | | | | virtual trainer called Maya who takes you |
| for and attempt to locate the caches. Once | | | | through your paces with hundreds of exercises |
| you find one you may leave a note or mark | | | | from weight lifting to yoga.Finding something |
| that you were there, and then you return the | | | | your kids will enjoy that keeps them active |
| cache to its hiding place for the next person | | | | is all it takes, and if they are reluctant, |
| to find. It's not about taking the cache, | | | | once their blood starts pumping they'll get |
| it's about locating it.Get your kids to a | | | | much more enthusiastic. Games that |
| martial arts class, if they are at all | | | | incorporate a skill that's built up over time |
| interested. Martial arts teaches kids | | | | are excellent for increasing your child's |
| discipline, respect for authority and builds | | | | self esteem, and with you along side, looking |
| their self esteem and confidence, plus it | | | | clumsy too, helps them see we all have to |
| teaches self defense. Frankly, I'm starting | | | | start at the beginning. You may just find |
| to think about taking some type of martial | | | | something you love too.Don't be afraid to try |
| arts myself. Perhaps Tai Chi or some other | | | | a few different activities before you find |
| gentle movement practice. Any activity you | | | | the right fit. The money you spend on |
| find for your kids may also turn into your | | | | equipment, games or lessons will be saved in |
| favorite activity as well, and what if you | | | | less spent on junk food, soft drinks and |
| could do it with your kids? That can be the | | | | medical bills down the road. Get up and get |
| best of all.Talk to your kids to discover | | | | moving and your kids will naturally follow |
| what activities they may be interested in, | | | | your lead.Not everyone can afford to send |
| and explore the options togetherMy son is a | | | | their kids to a residential program, so |
| good example. He was never over weight but at | | | | design a program yourself, right in your own |
| around 13-years old his skin tone was flabby. | | | | home. Switch from chips and cookies to fruits |
| He didn't go outside much, preferring to play | | | | and vegetables for snacks, and above all get |
| Nintendo or watch TV, and since he was an | | | | up and get moving!~~ Kathryn Martyn, Master |
| excellent student, I didn't push him to go | | | | NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of |
| outside more often. Luckily neighborhood kids | | | | the free e-book: Changing Beliefs, Your First |
| invited him to play football one day, and | | | | Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of |
| today five years later he's in excellent | | | | OneMoreBite-Weightloss. |