Archive for December, 2010

My dad wore out about 5 copies of Crosby,Stills, Nash, and Young’s Four Way Street.  Even though I hated the stuff when I was young, I grew to appreciate it, and it’s message later in life. I think still today, teach your children has a particularly valuable message for all parents.

Childhood obesity is at an all time high. This year 46% of kids in N America are predicted to be overweight, and 15% will be considered obese.

We are fighting a war on all fronts! Lack of quality Phys. Ed. programs, Happy Meals, PS3, TV, processed foods: these are our enemies. How about instead of waiting for someone to mandate healthy school lunches, we as parents get our asses up 10 minutes earlier and make a healthy lunch for our kids! Educate yourself on health and fitness for you kids, and get out and do it  with them! Ultimately the responsibility falls on us as parents. If we are lazy, what kind of message are we teaching our kids?

I don’t claim to be perfect in raising my daughter. She has an occasional treat or a coke here or there. However, most of the time she requests water. She will choose broccoli or salad over french fries,and… her extracurricular activities include martial arts, dance, soccer, gymnastics, and tennis.

We camp allot during the summer, and she probably averages a couple miles a day on her bike.

Oh, have I mentioned she’s 7.

I also take her to the gym with me, and I’m proud to say she works out harder and designs a better program than most adults! Last weekend we went to the gym. This was her workout

Chin Ups x 1,1,1,3×2 (I helped!)

Rope Climbs x 6 (at various times while we were there)

Modified Push Ups 3×10ish

Box Jumps 2x 10ish (onto an aerobics step with 4 risers)

Strap Rows a couple sets

She rode a spin bike for a about 5 min, then got on the treadmill and did about 5-8 min of intervals while watching Spongebob Squarepants!

She did all of this on her own! These are all things she has seen growing up in the gym. All of them are body weight and all are totally safe for her to perform. She even kept a journal!