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Be a Fitness Model
for your Kids!
New trends in fitness allow parents to be a
trend setter for their children.
A recent
survey by two leading San Diego educational
institutions has found that the lack of physical
activity among young people age 11 -15 is the
most significant factor contributing to obesity.
This comes at a time when nearly half of
adolescents are not physically active on a
regular basis and as the rate of childhood
obesity has nearly doubled over the last 20 years.
"This
is troubling because if children are our future,
we're in big trouble. Obese and physically unfit
kids will become sick adults," says Dr. Sal
Arria, CEO of International Sports Sciences
Association, the southern California-based
fitness education provider that certifies
personal fitness trainers.
Dr. Arria went on to report, "youth obesity
dramatically increases the risk factors for
diabetes, high blood pressure, and a host of
other potentially deadly conditions that develop
later in one's life."
So what
can we do? For many parents, exercise routines
seem to disappear due to the demand of raising a
child. Bicycle rides are replaced with car rides,
while running for your health transforms into
running for the wet wipes. New parents are
usually struck with an immediate weight gain,
often dismissing it as part of parenthood. But
does it have to be? Can you prevent the parental
weight gain without sacrificing time with your
kids? The answer is yes, you can.
Many of us can remember our Dad coming home from
work to fall asleep in his favorite recliner
while Mom did crossword puzzles on the sofa. It’s
hard to believe that in their youth, they could
have been track stars, or athletes, or have had
anything to do with exercise, for that matter.
This promoted an ideal within us that that was
okay, and for some of us, following suit may have
led to childhood obesity. "Chunky Mom plus
chunky Dad often equals chunky kids," says
Dr. Lynette Martin, a pediatrician. "The
kids are usually modeling what they see in their
parents. Parents have a huge influence on their
child's activity level by modeling good exercise
and eating habits."
New
trends in exercise have developed some great
solutions for family fitness. One activity
involves jogging or walking with the use of a
jogging stroller. Jogging strollers can hold 1-3
children, and are designed to handle bumps and
rough terrain for your children’s comfort.
Most jogging strollers have the ability to track
straight with a lockable front wheel so you can
push one handed. Kids who have regularly ridden
in a jogging stroller love it, and may even help
push your limits with frequent requests to "Go
faster!" or "Don't go home yet!"
These strollers are also great for walks through
the park, and when the wheels are set to swivel
they become quite manuverable.
If
running or walking isn't your thing, take heart:
many activities that traditionally have been done
"someplace else," including working
out, are being done more and more from the
comfort of "home sweet home."
A good
example of this trend is in-home fitness
equipment such as treadmills, home gyms and
elliptical trainers. "Many Internet shoppers
are discovering the benefits of online purchases
of these items," says Joe Alter, president
of Internet Fitness, a leading seller of fitness
equipment online. "Benefits can include
lower prices due to decreased overhead, shipment
directly to the customer's door, and in some
cases, factory-direct, customized equipment,"
he points out.
Home
fitness equipment is easy to obtain. When fitness
equipment is part of your furniture your home
sends a definate message: fitness is an important
aspect of daily living. Of course it's important
to develop a regular schedule of exercise. Do it
for yourself. Believe me, actions speak louder
than words and your kids will take notice.
James
E. Bohne, Jr., REALTOR®
Mobile: (801) 791-9579
Office: (801) 476-9500
Fax: (801) 476-9581
E-mail: j.e.bohne@att.net |
Crest
Realty Inc.
Equal Housing Opportunity.
Equal Opportunity Employer. |
Copyright
© 2003-2005, James E. Bohne, Jr., All Rights
Reserved
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