No More Excuses for Childhood Obesity!

            As a Personal Trainer I get to hear excuse after excuse about why someone says they cannot lose weight.  Many times we are all confronted with junk food and high fat foods which are very enticing.  It is up to our own Free-Will whether or not we want to give in to these foods and gain weight or stand our ground and lose weight.  It is up to our own Free-Will whether or not we want to be active and play some sort of sport, exercise regularly, or find an outside and active hobby.  When we stop moving we gain weight.  If we are not getting enough rest and sleep, then we usually have lower immune systems and gain weight and feel irritable and stressed.  If we feel this way, then how do you think our kids feel when all they do is eat Junk, watch TV, play Video Games, and stay up too late and get-up real early for school.  We hurt our kids just like we hurt ourselves and there are no excuses for this. 

A lady asked me the other day what she should do with one of her sons who is gaining lots of weight.  She followed this up with all he eats is junk and he does not like to play too much or get a lot of exercise.  Contrast this kid to one of the one’s I am working with presently who is working out with me twice weekly, he’s also playing basketball in a youth league, and has cleaned-up most of his junky eating habits.  He is losing some body fat and toning-up.  I think you see where I am going with this?  If a family exercises regularly, eats healthy, and gets plenty of rest, then they will have less Obesity, less Illnesses, less Stresses, less Behavioral Problems, and more healthy and good times together. 

I had a lady talk to me a while back about her son.  She said she has him on Ritalin because he cannot focus in the morning during school.  After I spoke with the kid about his activity level, nutritional habits, and sleep amounts I found that he stays-up too late at night, wakes-up too tired in the mornings and usually has a Pop Tart and Soda right before going into school.  I would not be able to focus well either if I was covering-up my tiredness with a high-sugar and high-caffeine soda and high-sugar breakfast snacks.  When the kid would come off of the sugar and caffeine HIGH he was worn-out sitting in class.

A large Church group I am working with right now is the Fit-Club organized within True Holiness Church in Danville, VA.  I have been training their Pastor for a little while now and he has lost around 50 Pounds!  Charles Walker is still leading by example!  He is helping to get anyone interested in losing weight access to the right tools.  I go there twice weekly to train nearly 40 people.  The group also walks together at the River Walk Trail, plays Volleyball and Basketball together and many other healthy activities.  I am so proud of this group because they are not using the same old excuses that so many of us use like – “I am too tired after working all day, I cannot afford Personal Training, It’s too hard, It’s too much work, I don’t want to miss my favorite TV show, No matter what I do I can’t lose weight”, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!  This Church is taking care of its members and working together to provide the right solutions to Unhealthy Living.  This is about taking care of the BODY we were given and this Church is becoming the fitness leader in their community!  Everyone who attends is getting not only themselves healthier, but having a positive influence on everyone in their families (Their Kids) and social environment!   

Our kids respond to laziness, bad foods, and lack of sleep just like we do.  When we gain weight, have Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Obesity, High Blood Pressure, Weak Bones, High Stress, and Fatigue, then our kids will have the same if they follow in our footsteps. 

My Cheat Snack:

            Now remember every week I try to eat healthy and stick to my healthy eating plan so on the weekend I can cheat a little.  Well I went back to my old stomping grounds, Cold Stone Ice Cream, and they have a new flavor – Candy Cane ice cream.  Since it was one of my cheat meals this past weekend I did want to use it wisely and wow it hit the spot.  One of my clients had mentioned over the holidays that she made homemade peppermint ice cream and ever since I have been thinking about it.  I believe this Candy Cane ice cream was similar to a peppermint ice cream.  I had the smallest cup! 

            My Healthy Snack Option:

My son Dylan and I went to Sam’s on Sunday afternoon and bought a few groceries.  One that I was out of was Kashi “Go Lean Crunch” cereal.  I usually get a sweet tooth craving some afternoons so instead of something real bad I get a handful or two of this cereal for a snack.  The reason I chose this was by accident, Yenni had bought this for herself and Dylan as a breakfast cereal, and when I tried it one day, as I was searching everywhere in the house for something sweet, I really liked it.  It has a crunchy texture and lightly sweet taste and is full of good complex carbohydrates (whole grains), fiber, and some protein.  This Kashi cereal is both a great middle of the day snack and sweet tooth fighter for me. 

-Dave

Biking and Walking with Our Son Dylan!