What Can you do in your community to get kids active?

I don't know if you get Newsweek or not, but it highlights Michelle Obama's initiative to tackle childhood obesity, and there were some very jaw dropping statistics...

• In 1955 a "medium" soft drink at McDonald's was 7 oz. Today it is 21 oz
• 8-18 year olds spend an average of seven and a half hours a day multi-tasking in front of TV's videogames, or computers.
• obesity contributes to a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and orthopedic problems
• obesity also contributes to social and emotional problems
• If current trends continue, nearly one in three kids born in 2000 will develop diabetes

Enough of the doom and gloom. After reading the article, I felt compelled to act on an idea that I have been sitting on for quite a while that would allow each of us as parents to do one small FREE thing that would not only help our kids get more activity, but would not make our lives any busier than they already are; a walking school bus!

The concept is basic and one that we all probably did when we were younger without any organization of fancy names... Walk to School! Many parents have safety concerns about children walking to and from school. By organizing a walking school bus our kids will be with a grown up and have a chance to wind down after school. I would love to hear your take on this simple concept.

A Picture is worth 1,000 words!

We know the facts, but this brings it into perspective quickly, doesn’t it? Each cube is a teaspoonful.

Pretty big wake up call!

Are you listening with your eyes?

"Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention." ~Jim Rohn


This weekend I read a very sweet book by Mitch Albom (author of Tuesdays with Morrie) called have a little faith. It chronicles his relationship with two very different men of faith; one a rabbi in suburban New Jersey and one a minister in the inner city of Detroit. As Mitch gets to know these two men, he also begins to understand what his faith means to him. As a mom there was one passage that popped right out at me. Though I like to believe that I am giving my children the time and attention that they need, the reality is that I am frequently distracted and find myself saying "just a minute". I realized that what my kids really want is for me to "listen with my eyes"

"A little girl came home from school with a drawing she'd made in class. She danced into the kitchen, where her mother was preparing dinner.
"Mom, guess what?' she squealed waving the drawing.
Her mother never looked up.
"What? she said, tending to the pots.
"Guess what?" the child repeated, waving the drawing.
"What? the mother said tending to the plates.
"Mom, you're not listening."
"Sweetie, yes I am"
"Mom," the child said, "you're not listening with your eyes."

PROTECT YOUR MIND!

"A well-known author was quoted as saying that 'The average person has 60,000 thoughts per day and of these more than 80% are negative'."

If that is true, then we are truly our own worst enemies. Could you imagine speaking with a friend or relative and 80% of what they said to you was negative? You would want to run the other way- fast! Yet, many of us walk around with a stream of negativity in our own heads. I will not bore you with the many random thoughts that circulate in my head; let's just say sometimes it can get very noisy in there.
So, how do you quiet your mind enough to understand that your thoughts are just that- thoughts. You created them, and you can change them. I have a very good friend, and when I complain that something is difficult, he quickly agrees with me. If I ask him why, he explains that I just told him it was difficult. You decide if something is difficult or if it is within your reach. You decide if you want to get angry at the slow driver in front of you or if you take a deep breath and relax. It all sounds very nice and is easy for me to write about, but how does one begin controlling their thoughts?

I am sharing/ stealing what I have learned from people who have helped me.
1. Slow down and take deep breaths- really do it- Immediately you will find your thoughts slowing down.
2. Give gratitude for what you have. It may sound corny, but your brain can only truly focus on one thing at a time. If you are giving thanks for the fact that there was hot water for your shower, that will be your focus.
3. Think of something that makes you smile- sunshine, sound of happy kids, you choose. Now, SMILE :-)
4. Pay it forward. Give a compliment, help someone, open the door for someone, thank someone, notice someone-

Here's the truth- I sat down to write this, and I was feeling a little overwhelmed by my "to do" list, and as I wrote, I took deep breaths, thought of things that made me smile, and smiled. It worked! Try it the next time your thoughts are swirling.

Caffeine: Friend or Foe??

Is that cup a joe a friend or foe? You hear people say, "Oh I have got to give up caffeine." Somewhere along the line caffeine has become negatively associated with health and wellness. So, how much is too much and are there any health benefits to caffeine?

The answer might surprise you... caffeine is NOT your enemy. In fact, there are documented health benefits to caffeine and in some cases, more is better (that does not include more whipped cream and sugar- that has not been documented as health benefit).

"There have been more than 19,000 studies on caffeine and coffee in the past 30 years in an attempt to determine its exact effects on the human body. One of the most thorough and exhaustive studies was done by Harvard University, in which they examined 126,000 people over an 18-year period. The findings indicate that people who drink one to three cups of coffee a day are up to 9 percent less likely to contract diabetes. What's interesting is what happened to those who drank six or more cups of coffee per day - men slashed their chances of contracting diabetes by 54 percent, and women by 30 percent [source: Kirchheimer].

Other studies have shown similar results in many facets of human health:

• Regular coffee drinkers are 80 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's disease.
• Two cups a day gives you 20 percent less risk of colon cancer.
• Two cups a day causes an 80 percent drop in cirrhosis.
• Two cups a day prevents gallstone development by 50 percent.
• It has also shown to be beneficial in asthma, stopping headaches, boosting mood and even preventing cavities [source: Kirchheimer]."

Of course, if you have underlying health concerns, consult your physician about products that contain caffeine, but the rest of you need not feel guilty about caffeine!

To Cleanse or not to Cleanse?

Colon/ liver cleanses have become very trendy as of late. You can find a wide variety of cleanses out there. Sometimes you read about unbelievable results of a cleanse. In fact, your body has a cleansing system in place which includes your liver and your kidneys. However, consider some of the "food" that we put into our bodies... I don't think mother nature is prepared for diet soda, artificial flavoring, highly processed foods, etc... So, should you or shouldn't you???
In my humble opinion, based on experience and what I have read, I believe in the benefits of cleanses...
Benefits include

• removal of excess toxins
• strengthening of specific organ systems
• better absorption of nutrients from food
• clearer skin
• less bloating and possible weight loss

Over three years ago I tried an herbal cleanse with no expectation of feeling any different. What I found is that as I went through the cleansing process, food began to taste different and my cravings changed, and I in turn ended up losing two pant sizes. I tried a cleanse because I had just finished a round of antibiotics, and I just wanted to get my body back to normal. I didn't expect that my appetite would change and that I would drop weight.

If you are considering doing a cleanse- ask around. What has worked for others that you know? Can you stick to the guidelines to get maximum benefit? I encourage you to look for a cleanse that includes probiotics, and is gentle on your system. A cleanse is a great way to kick off a fitness program. As always, if you suspect that a cleanse is not right for you, check with your physician.

Check out this cleansing experience and how it changed one woman's life.

"Just Do It" AND Stick to It!

10 Tips to Start a New Habit

by Scott Young.

Changing a habit doesn’t require willpower. It requires strategy. Here’s ten tips to improve your tactics to make that resolution last:

1. Commit for Thirty Days – Stick to a change for thirty days. They require 95% of the effort, so place your focus where it counts – the first month.
2. Write it Down – Winston Churchill once said, “Plans are useless. Planning is invaluable.” The same is true if you want to make a change. Planning out what you want to do on paper can improve your odds of success.
3. Keep it Consistent - If you want to start exercising, running one day, biking another and dancing the next may be interesting, but it will be harder to make automatic. For the first month, make your new habit consistent to prevent slippage.
4. Make it Daily – What’s easier writing three blog entries a week or seven? Surprisingly, it is easier to adjust to doing it daily, then just a few times per week. I suggest keeping any habit daily for the first thirty days so it will stick better.
5. Know the Benefits - If you want a change to be permanent, a little motivation won’t cut it. Engross yourself in the benefits of your new habit. On a diet? Read the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and feel the difference eating well makes in your life. Budgeting? Research the impact it will have on your financial future, until you can feel the freedom it will buy you later in life.
6. Plan Ahead – Look for times that might upset your conditioning phase. This can be vacations, changes in your schedule or work events. The best way to keep a party from ruining your diet or a vacation from stopping your budget is to prepare in advance.
7. Make a Ritual - Before you start your habit, it can be helpful to have a ritual. If you want to wake up earlier each day, practice the same motion of turning off your alarm clock and stretching so it becomes your automatic response to the alarm.
8. Conserve Needs – Some habits aren’t stable. Notice when a new habit change leaves you with unmet needs. This could be eliminating web surfing and losing a form of rest or cutting television and losing entertainment. Replace the lost needs to keep you afloat.
9. Reward Yourself - Give yourself a reward after you finish your habit. This will reinforce the positive behavior and make the habit stronger.
10. Use “But” – A technique I learned from a prominent habit changing therapist is the “but” technique to condition new alternatives for thought habits. As soon as you start thinking negative thoughts, insert the word “but” and affirm something positive. i.e. “I’m don’t understand this, but, I’m a quick learner so I just need to find my own method.”

3 Ways to look 10 Pounds Thinner Now

You might think my first post might be about nutrition and exercise. But, no! What can you do NOW to walk out the door looking slimmer, taller, and prouder?

Make sure you have a bra that fits.

Call them what you may, but the girls need your attention. Consider this, the average woman changes bra sizes 6 times in her lifetime. "Many women wear the wrong bra size. Nothing can make a person appear larger than a bra so tight it creates rolls or lines in the back or cleavage areas. To make sure your bra fits well, get a bra sizing. Go to any Victoria's Secret store (or almost any department store) to get a bra sizing. Wearing the correct bra size will make your shirts and dresses fit better."

Improve Your Posture

"Dancers know that good posture is key to looking long, lean and graceful. Lengthening and straightening the spine can help you look slimmer. To improve posture, focus on straightening the spine, relaxing the shoulders and tightening the stomach muscles. Think about making yourself taller without changing the position of your feet. Improving posture will help to instantly change your overall look."

Choose Slimming Clothes

"Clothing can help to either add or subtract pounds from your overall look. Many women make the mistake of trying to fit into smaller sizes to look thinner. The truth is, squeezing into smaller sizes could make you look like a stuffed sausage. Instead of trying to fit in a smaller size, try on a size larger than your normal size. Often times wearing a larger size will help to make you look slimmer. Don't, however, wear anything too baggy. You just want to wear a size that fits well and gives you enough room to feel comfortable."

So, go do it. Get fitted for that new bra and stand up tall in your well fitting clothes. Don't you feel better already?