Five Reasons Why Kids NEED to be Healthy
August 31, 2006
According to an article in Parents magazine, “Ready, Set, Get Healthy,” your kids need to get active today and here’s the five reasons why:
- To Fight Obesity: The percentage of obese children has tripled since 1980.
- To Prevent Diabetes: More and more children are developing type 2 diabetes due to inactivity and fatty diets.
- To Live Longer: The Institute of Medicine predicts that today’s kids will be the first generation in history to die younger than their parents! Wow! A fit child, who gets regular excersie increases his changes for a long life.
- To Build a Stronger Body: Physical activity reduces weight, lowers blood pressure and helps build strong muscles and bones.
- To be a Happier Kid: Growing up is hard enough without being an overweight child!
For more information, see the full article on page 122 of the September 2006 issue of Parents or check out the free podcast on childhood obesity on the Parents web site.
A great way to keep your kids moving is to sign them up for a team sport. Kids can usually play soccer and t-ball through local sports organizations, YMCA or church programs starting at 4-years-old. This will help your kids learn a new skill, learn about cooperation, raise their self confidence and most importantly get them moving a couple hours per week between weekly games and practices.
So You Wanna be a Hot Mamma?
August 8, 2006
My husband passed this article onto me (hmm?), it’s called How to Be Hot?
According to Gabrielle Reece (via Gabby’s Guide to Health and Fitness), there are just 7 things we need to do to be hot. That easy. Really?
Okay, here it is in a nutshell SharpMoms:
- Eat Real Food: Avoid fast food and frozen stuff; watch portion sizes and eat 3 meals plus healthy snacks.
- Drink Water: Sweat 30-45 minutes per day, 4 days a week (this means real exercise) and then fill up with plenty of water. Your skin will glow.
- Keep Stress to a Minimum: Stress contributes to the body holding onto fat.
- Do Resistance Training: Twice a week.
- Stretch or Do Yoga: This helps avoid injury.
- Find Some Happiness, Laugh and Smile Regularly: See #3 above.
- Go to the Restroom Regularly: A good diet and water will keep you regular, get your tummy flat and lower the number on the scale.
Can we just do a couple of these? Numbers 2 and 7 seem easy enough?
Of course, you’ll want to read every word of Gabby’s article for yourself. Check it out here.
Is Your Child Too Busy?
August 2, 2006
I saw this article, Is Your Child Too Busy, on KidsHealth.org and I thought it was a great one for all the SharpMoms to take a look at as we get ready for the kids to go back to school.
It can be really easy (and tempting) to over schedule our children with activities. We want them to try everything out when they are young, so we can see what they like best. And, we all think that in order to be good at something you have to start when you are young. I mean how many figure skaters at the Olympics tell you they started skating when they were 10-years-old? And, of course, there’s that pressure to capture your spot on the school team when your child is in Kindergarten because by the third grade all the spots are taken.
But, by keeping our kids so busy how are we affecting other aspects of their lives and how are we affecting our lives as parents? Are we giving our kids time to just be kids?
Take a look at the article in full. It give lots of great advices, pros and cons and things to watch out for. Okay, gotta run, it’s time for soccer practice!
