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