Warning...SLOW Children

It's no secret that our country as a whole is overweight, out of shape, and unhealthy. The ratio of the energy we burn compared to the amount of food we shovel in our mouths is in extreme disproportion. But perhaps the most disturbing thing to me are the stats on childhood obesity. In the past few weeks I've seen several stories from various media outlets on this subject.  Obesity now affects 17% of all children and adolescents in our country, triple the number from a generation ago (CDC), and 1 out of 3 children are overweight. Obese children are more likely to have a myriad of health issues ranging from asthma & high blood pressure, to diabetes & coronary heart disease. They are also much more likely to be obese adults. 

Why is this epidemic occurring?  I hear various reasons all the time.  Yes, sugary cereals are marketed towards kids. Yes, happy meals and similar products make our little ones squeal with delight. Yes, it's easier to stop for donuts on the way to school instead of cooking breakfast. But we are raising a generation of fat kids that will create a workforce of fat adults, continuously driving up healthcare costs and adversely affecting productivity in all aspects of life. Our children could be the first generation to have life expectancy DECREASE from the previous generation. Worst of all its almost completely preventable.

It's my opinion that if you have an obese child (not slightly overweight, I'm talking unhealthy & obese) then it's YOUR fault, and your duty to do something about it. If you found out your 10 year old was smoking, wouldn't you do everything in your power to stop that behavior?? Allowing your child to pump themselves full of high sugar, high saturated fat, nutrient void food is no different. Unless your child has a job, and does the grocery shopping and cooking in your household, it's your responsibility to feed your children appropriately. Stop worrying about your kid liking you, stop using your busy schedule as an excuse, and give your child what they NEED, not always what they want. 

So where you do you start?  You start by taking action.  Here are a few simple steps that can apply to anyone with children, obese or not, in helping our little ones lead a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.

• Set the example.  Eat healthy, and DO NOT complain about it or say how incredibly difficult it is.  It’s seriously not that hard.
• Trade sedentary minutes for active minutes.  If they want to watch tv or play video games, let them.  But for every minute they spend doing sedentary activities like that, make them spend an equal amount of time being active.  Shooting hoops, bike riding, playing catch etc.  And while they’re doing that, JOIN THEM!
• Clean out your pantry.  If it’s in the house, someone is going to eat it.  I love brownies.  Correction, I’m IN LOVE with brownies.  But I save them for my cheat day and don’t keep them around otherwise.  If I do, I’ll eat them...I’ve seen me do it.  Get the crap OUT!!  
• Plan ahead.  Most of us know our children’s schedule, as well as our own, for the entire week.  If you know time will be tight on certain days, plan accordingly.  Have food ready to go, pack healthy snacks, but don’t use “oh we were pressed for time” as an excuse.  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  
• Finally (well, not really finally but it’s the last point I’ll make here), EDUCATE your children.  It’s not the responsibility of the school system, the government, McDonald’s, or anyone else besides YOU to teach your children about the true importance of taking care of their physical being.  

Not sure if it comes across well in print sometimes, but I’m just a little passionate about this subject;-)  I would love to hear your feedback on this topic.  Feel free to leave a comment below.  

THE Fitness Ninja...Changing the world one pushup at a time.

Don't Grow Weary of Well Doing

When in doubt, ask yourself "What would Chuck do?"

You ever have one of those days where you feel like throwing in the towel?  All your efforts to eat right, exercise consistently, and make better choices all just seem to be getting you nowhere.  “Why am I doing this?” you question yourself.  “Screw it, I’m going for a cheeseburger and ice cream and no one can stop me!”  And then 2 hours later after your food bender you’re sitting there with a mustard stain dead center on your shirt chugging Pepto wondering why the hell you just did THAT! Even worse, you realize the only person you really affected with any of that is yourself.  Now you feel worse than when you started your precious pity party, and can’t even remember what began the whole process.

So I implore you, DO NOT get tired of doing the right thing.  A healthy lifestyle doesn’t have an end, it’s a commitment to a better quality of life that you make with yourself.  I can’t force feed nutrient rich food down your throat, nor can I slap the soda out of your hand before it reaches your lips (although that’d be a LOT of fun!!).  Like anything in life, consistency has it’s rewards.  I don’t always feel like eating a salad or passing on the bread, but I do it anyway when necessary.  I don’t always feel like working out (SHOCKER) but I do it because it’s the right thing for me to do.  I’m sure you don’t always feel like getting up and going to work, but you’ve made a commitment to your spouse/kids/boss/employees that you will consistently do the right thing.  And this isn’t saying we have to be perfect; we’re all allowed to slip up every now and then.  But in the fleeting moments when you feel like it’s not worth it, don’t lose sight of the big picture.  What are the reasons you made your commitment in the first place?  With fitness, are you working out to feel better, be able to do more things, have more energy, set a good example for your children?  Whatever the REAL reason is, remember that in those moments of despair.  And realize that more often than not, someone is paying attention.  It could be anyone from your kids who, even though you don’t impress yourself, are in awe of the fact that mommy has muscles...to the guy who quietly walks on the treadmill, looking over at you laying in a heap on the floor after sprinting at 10mph and thinking to himself, “If he can do that, one day I can too.” 

Even when no one is looking, even if no one knows how many reps you’ve done, even if that last cookie wouldn’t be missed, don’t forget your WHY, and don’t get tired of doing the right thing.  I’ve never in my life heard anyone regret making the right decision.

THE Fitness Ninja- Changing the world one pushup at a time.