| Getting Kids Moving - Help for Overweight TeensA | | | | mile high, and he was just honored by winning the |
| residential school program for overweight teens | | | | "Program Award" which the coach explained is |
| comes with a hefty price tag (some in excess of | | | | granted to the one player he'd choose, "If I had to |
| $5,000 per month). These programs rely on the | | | | pick just one as the most outstanding overall." I have |
| same formula for weight loss as is commonly | | | | no worries that he'll continue with a healthier lifestyle |
| recommended; strict eating guidelines and increased | | | | from this point forward.Before he took up football |
| activities. In other words, better nutrition and | | | | we bought him an expensive bike which was rarely |
| exercise. Hopefully some counseling is offered, and | | | | used. He also has a skate board, a mini-scooter, and |
| college prep courses are usually on the curriculum, but | | | | a pogo stick. We tried karate (he broke his wrist so |
| what about those kids? Are they getting a realistic | | | | had to quit, and then didn't want to resume), he likes |
| head-start on a lifetime of healthier habits or are | | | | Paintball. Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right |
| they simply doing what they are told, only to be fed | | | | thing but nearly everyone will feel better when they |
| to the wolves when they leave the safe | | | | find a physical activity they like. Exercise isn't just sit |
| environment of the school?I tried to find stories of | | | | ups and push ups. It's anything you do that includes |
| teens who had successfully completed these | | | | movement.No matter where you live get out the |
| programs and gone on to healthy lives, and came up | | | | phone book and search for indoor and outdoor |
| empty. If you are one or know of someone who's | | | | activities in your town, or use the Internet and |
| been through one of these live-in school/weight loss | | | | search for "indoor sports" along with your city's |
| programs, please drop me a line. I'd love to hear a | | | | name. I found listings for Vancouver Parks & |
| success story. If you want to be everything you can | | | | Recreation, Vancouver Indoor Sports and a site on |
| for your kids, here are ideas for getting them (and | | | | Sports Walking with a search for "indoor sports |
| you) up and moving again.Exercise Should be FunGet | | | | Vancouver Washington" (without the quotes).Can |
| your child interested in some type of exercise | | | | Video Games Help with Weight Loss?Video games |
| activity, whether indoor or outdoor by helping them | | | | can help with losing weight. Just ask Tanya Jessen |
| discover what they prefer to do. What about bike | | | | who lost 95 pounds, Matt Keene who lost 150 |
| riding or hiking with a GPS (hand-held Global | | | | pounds, or Tim Mitchell who lost 50 pounds over a |
| Positioning Satellite unit). If you like the outdoors, | | | | few months time about DDR (Dance Dance |
| Geocaching sounds like enormous fun and anyone | | | | Revolution), a video dancing game. Learning the steps |
| can do it. Adults are reporting losing 20, 30 or more | | | | is the challenge and since you're moving while you |
| pounds while they are out exploring the woods and | | | | play (dancing really), so you or your kids gain skill at |
| hills in their surrounding area. Learning to use a GPS is | | | | the game while also gaining excellent physical shape |
| also educational and helps kids learn math, science | | | | and hand-eye coordination at the same time. There |
| and physics while they're losing some pounds at the | | | | are DDR clubs all around the world and many web |
| same time. You may find some Geocaching sites in | | | | sites devoted to the play and practice including |
| your area. I searched on the Internet and discovered | | | | exciting new game is called Yourself!Fitness. It's an |
| there was a Geocache not 200 yards from my | | | | XBox game with a PC version due early December |
| house!What's a Geocache? It's a "treasure" of sorts. | | | | 2004 and a PlayStation version in January 2005. Visit |
| One person puts a small package or box somewhere, | | | | Yourself!Fitness includes a virtual trainer called Maya |
| out of sight, then lists the location via GPS. Using a | | | | who takes you through your paces with hundreds of |
| GPS device you look for and attempt to locate the | | | | exercises from weight lifting to yoga.Finding |
| caches. Once you find one you may leave a note or | | | | something your kids will enjoy that keeps them |
| mark that you were there, and then you return the | | | | active is all it takes, and if they are reluctant, once |
| cache to its hiding place for the next person to find. | | | | their blood starts pumping they'll get much more |
| It's not about taking the cache, it's about locating | | | | enthusiastic. Games that incorporate a skill that's built |
| it.Get your kids to a martial arts class, if they are at | | | | up over time are excellent for increasing your child's |
| all interested. Martial arts teaches kids discipline, | | | | self esteem, and with you along side, looking clumsy |
| respect for authority and builds their self esteem and | | | | too, helps them see we all have to start at the |
| confidence, plus it teaches self defense. Frankly, I'm | | | | beginning. You may just find something you love |
| starting to think about taking some type of martial | | | | too.Don't be afraid to try a few different activities |
| arts myself. Perhaps Tai Chi or some other gentle | | | | before you find the right fit. The money you spend |
| movement practice. Any activity you find for your | | | | on equipment, games or lessons will be saved in less |
| kids may also turn into your favorite activity as well, | | | | spent on junk food, soft drinks and medical bills down |
| and what if you could do it with your kids? That can | | | | the road. Get up and get moving and your kids will |
| be the best of all.Talk to your kids to discover what | | | | naturally follow your lead.Not everyone can afford to |
| activities they may be interested in, and explore the | | | | send their kids to a residential program, so design a |
| options togetherMy son is a good example. He was | | | | program yourself, right in your own home. Switch |
| never over weight but at around 13-years old his skin | | | | from chips and cookies to fruits and vegetables for |
| tone was flabby. He didn't go outside much, | | | | snacks, and above all get up and get moving!~~ |
| preferring to play Nintendo or watch TV, and since | | | | Kathryn Martyn, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT |
| he was an excellent student, I didn't push him to go | | | | counselor, author of the free e-book: Changing |
| outside more often. Luckily neighborhood kids invited | | | | Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, |
| him to play football one day, and today five years | | | | and owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss. |
| later he's in excellent physical shape, has confidence a | | | | |