Family Health & Fitness
The Importance of Family Fitness
Obesity has reached near-epidemic proportions in today's children, teens, and adults. Look at the most recent statistics in America:58 Million people living in America are overweight; and 40 Million are Obese; and 3 Million are morbidly obese. Eight out of ten people living in America over the age of 25 years old are overweight. Over 78% of Americans are not meeting basic activity level recommendations by the American Heart Association. 76% of an increase in Type 2 diabetes in adults 30 to 40 yr's old in only ten years.
Healthy eating habits and an active lifetsyle are values learned at home, and are vital in helping our children make healthy choices wherever they are, for the rest of their lives. Studies have proven that overweight children are more likely to be overweight adults. Reaching and maintaining an appropriate weight and BMI is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! We have proven testimonials with children and families: when our recommendations focus on small but permanent changes in eating, rather than a series of rigid short term changes that can not be sustained for long periods of time and lead to binging, overall health improves.
Tanya can help you and your family learn the secrets to good health and nutrition in a fun and practical way. Learning healthy family shopping habits and meal planning, fun family activities that promote wellness and fitness, and a positive attitude will help the whole family stay fit and increase the quality of their lives.
A healthy family is a happy family and family
fitness should be a top consideration for
parents who want their children to adopt a
healthy lifestyle early in their lives. The
problem is starting out when the children would
rather watch TV or play computer games for
hours. (Limit Computer and TV time)
Don't Ignore the Fitness Angle
Parents are busy with their jobs, and finding the time to work on their family's fitness seems impossible. If you frequently stay at home watching TV instead of exercising, your young children will pick up the habit. Starting them young on a healthy lifestyle will reap big rewards in the future and importantly enhance family bonding.
Monkey SEE Monkey DO!
Your kids will do as you do. Be a Role Model and eat healthy yourself. When you are trying to teach your children good healthy eating habits try to set the best example possible.The money angle for a family fitness regimen should not worry you. You do not have to sign up for elite club memberships or purchase top-of-the-line exercise machines. A family trampoline is not expensive or a walk in the park is free. Swimming at the local public pool once a week won't cost an arm and a leg and playing rough-and-tumble with the kids is absolutely free.
Regular exercise increases energy, increases metabolism, improves muscle tone, reduces stress and improves one's self-esteem. Minds will be sharper as the body gets in shape. Best of all, everyone strengthens their immune systems and get less sick and that's less money going to hospital bills and medicines. Health is wealth; so don't keep on analyzing or procrastinating. Your family's fitness is much more important than Starbucks, Fast Foods, or numerous games for your children's handheld games that cost $50 each. Studies have proven that children who cut down on watching TV & playing computer games also decreased their body fat percentages. When computer and TV times are limited, kids will find more active things to do. When your whole family limits "Screen time," you'll have more time to engage in increased movement activities such as: bike rides, walks, hikes, rollerblading, scootering, a game at the park or in the back yard, horseback riding, or a visit to the beach and play chase.
Incorporate parent-children fitness classes into
your family fitness program. There are several
classes held at the local park and at the gym.
The classes also have core workouts and
calisthenics. To spark the children's interests
ask for kickboxing lessons or other exercises to
build up their stamina and muscle flexibility.
Start the Family Fun!
Take the family for walks in areas with no traffic such as the park or pack them off to the local pool for a swim. During the walks, the older members of the family should walk ahead and after the little ones. If walking becomes a bore, play catch or fly kites. For the swimming outings, let the children take to shallow pools and join them for water games. These activities help hone the children's reflexes and sharpen their minds.
It won't work to marshal young children to the exercise room when they go down for their breakfasts. It will definitely not work. Instead, discuss your family fitness plan and let everyone contribute ideas. When the dust has settled, asign a child or teen to come up with exercises for the day and give him or her the responsibility of following up with each family member including Dad.
If the family has to watch TV, don't let them slide. Give them something to do while watching their favorite TV shows by letting them exercise during commercial breaks. This may be greeted with whines and violent outbursts but lead on and give a good example always stressing the importance of exercise for a healthy and well-toned body. It is best to get a professional personal trainer for your Tampa family fitness & kids fitness program if you can't lead because you are too tired or will not admit it: You're LAZY. "The dream begins with a teather who believes in you, who tugs and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth'"- by Dan Rather.
email or call her at (813) 495-8138