Only one out of every four children gets enough exercise. We need to get kids ACTIVE and MOVING! Moms, it’s time to get your family in SHAPE! American children are dangerously inactive. Parents once relied on school to give children time to run during recess and to teach basic physical skills. Only 44 percent of students have gym class daily, according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Recess is also under attack with 40 percent of school districts considering eliminating it to allow more time in the day for learning. More than ever, American kids need to exercise. Children are getting less exercise then ever before, due at least in part to television, computers and video games. According to a recent report, kids between the ages of 2 and 11 watch an average of 20 hours of TV per week, an activity that doesn’t burn many calories. It also tends to encourage snacking by exposing kids to food and beverage advertising. We know we are in trouble when our kids tell us they have already had exercise, playing basketball for an hour… and they are still in their pajamas.. Playing basketball on the Nintendo ….doesn’t count!!! Simply turning off the tube can help kids keep off the excess weight. Moms this isn’t rocket science. When we decrease our activity and increase our calorie intake, we gain weight. Children are developing patterns of behavior that last a life time! The earlier we install good behaviors in them, the better off they will be. Families should take a group walk after supper, throw a football, toss a Frisbee, play chase in the park… ANYTHING ….to break our society’s sedentary cycle. Regular exercise builds cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and muscle strength, prevents obesity, builds bone mass and eases depression. Active adults are less likely to develop heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and colon cancer. The benefits for children are even greater. Kids who exercise enjoy all of these health advantages and tend to have higher self –esteem, which can help prevent risky behaviors, such as drug and alcohol use. Research shows if teens stay active during these influential years, they’ll have a more positive, healthy view of their bodies. According to the Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, even outside of school nearly half of kids twelve to twenty-one are not regularly active, and 14 percent get no exercise at all. What’s alarming is the fact that inactive children tend to become inactive adults. Learning early in life just how to stay healthy ….. may save their lives! Each member of the family needs to make a small investment in his/her health, right now----starting a little bit at a time. Think of it as a health savings plan. Don’t wait until you or your family members are ill before you start thinking about your health.  The positive moves you make now will make a difference. Even if you think your kids’ eyes glaze over when you talk about fitness, everything you do to teach your children good exercise habits get internalized. And…later on, they’ll love you more for it. Don’t underestimate your influence on your kids or spouse. Tips for Healthy Family Living Understand that changes take time. People often ask, “What’s the ideal exercise? The answer: the one you’ll do on a regular basis! Developing a plan that you and your family will stick to over the long term is essential. First and foremost, work on consistency and length of time, and don’t worry about pushing the intensity. Slow and steady usually wins the race. After a general fitness program is developed, the next focus is strength training. Again, start slowly. Take it easy. No one ever got out of shape overnight and no one will ever get fit overnight, either. Everyone needs support! Start with showing a true interest in each other. Show your family that you care. Moms …start by looking in the mirror. Do you watch your diet? Are you active? Telling others to eat healthfully and exercise when you don’t is empty advice. Let others help you stay on track. Get the entire family involved. Challenge each other. Find an exercise partner. It helps to reward good behavior. Make yourself a deal.  If you stay on a program for six months, treat yourself to a present… a shopping excursion, a trip, a new outfit or whatever it takes.  Make incentives for your kids….a trip they have been asking for…a new skate board or bike. Dangle something out there to add an incentive to take real action. A wellness program is designed to help you set goals, make commitments and join together to reach new heights. Set goals. Make a wellness statement:  write down what you would like to accomplish and why. Set wellness goals:  write down your overall goals and desires – what you would like to accomplish by when. Exercise Activities:  write down what activities you will do and when you will do them. Nutritional Activities:  write down your goals for eating healthy and supplementing. Keep a Log Enter your results daily.   GET MORE INFO