Lead a Fit and Healthy Life
Posts tagged kids
Does having children make you happy?
012 months ago
Does having children make you happy?
Such an interesting discussion. I know lots of people with no kids who are happy, and those will kids who are happy. I guess it all depends on how you define Happy.
Nearly one in five American women now ends her childbearing years without having a child, compared with one in ten in the 1970s, according to recently released U.S. Census data.
The most educated women, those with bachelor’s degrees or higher, are among the most likely never to have given birth, according to the Pew Research Center.
Women like Copeland are challenging the idea that happy and fulfilled lives require children. In fact, other studies suggest that having children can have a negative impact on happiness.
“As a group, parents of all types and all socioeconomic levels in the United States report more symptoms of depression and emotional distress than their childless adult counterparts,” said Robin Simon, a Wake Forest University sociology professor who researches the association between parenthood and emotional well-being.
Her information is based on a nationally representative study sampling 11,473 Americans. They were picked from all races, socioeconomic backgrounds and educational levels
Trying CrossFit Kids for the First Time
01 year ago
Today I took my daughter and a friend to one of the CrossFit Kids classes that CrossFit Impavidus held to start prepping for the summer session. They had opened it up to all members’ kids, so why not tire my kids out on a Sunday morning. I had read about what CF Kids was all about, but I was curious to see it put into action.
Coach Lori and Coach Jerry started off with gathering the kids in a circle and talking to them a bit about what was on tap for the session. What I liked about that was they talked to them in kids speak so they could understand what’s going to happen. They went over some of the other skills the kids would have to use when doing the exercises and then into the warmup they went. This session was more geared towards the 5-8 year olds than the older kids.
They did some general stretching and then began to get ready for the Lego Game.
In teams of 2, each partner has to do broad jumps to one wall to earn 3 lego pieces – then with lego pieces in hand, they run back alternating for 6minutes. They can earn 3 more lego pieces if individually they decide to do 3 burpees right after their broad jump. The team that can construct the highest lego structure within 5 mins of time being called wins. What I loved about this was i combined exercise with learning to work as a team and then use your brain to figure out how to get the tallest structure.
After they did a quick clean up of their lego pieces, the gang headed outside to play a game of tag with a twist. One person is it – once they tag someone, everyone freezes –
and those 2 (tagger and taggee) have to do 3 reps of the exercise that the coach calls out. For this game it was squats, push ups, and tuck jumps. So the 1st tagger/taggee had to do 3 squats. Everyone unfreezes and the taggee becomes the tagger and goes after someone else — doing the 3 push ups and so on. … The kids were well run after this was over –
Then they regathered in the circle for a wrap up and afterwards were able to look around and try out a few exercises on their own if they wanted — like push ups, pull ups, box jumps and ropes.
I love that these games are designed to be fun and active and also engages their mind. They learn strategy, teamwork, and patience! My daughter loved it!
CrossFit KIDS is coming to Ashburn, VA
01 year ago
One of the great things of CrossFit is that they realize that kids need to have a program too — to help them on their journey of lifelong health and fitness. The program is called CrossFit KIDS and it’s specialized just for them.
Their description:
CrossFit Kids is not simply a scaled down version of CrossFit, it is entirely absolutely CrossFit geared and designed for a special population and the specific developmental needs of that population.
(neurological, cognitive, motor)
CrossFit Kids is the principal strength and conditioning program for many young athletes and the primary P.E. program for many home schools, charter schools. It is used by athletic teams, martial arts schools and many parents that want their kids to grow up healthy, strong and have a life long love of working out thus avoiding the common problems associated with childhood inactivity and obesity.
Our program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Our specialty is not specializing. Healthy living requires that our kids push, pull, run, throw, climb, lift, jump, effectively and safely regardless of whether or not they play athletics. Athletics is a specialized pursuit. Our goal is to support the specialist, but reward the generalist.
My description: Fun times for your kids. The younger kids get to play and do kids games for exercise – so its fun for them. The older set of kids get to learn fundamentals and have fun in a group setting that is made up of kids their own age. They learn about nutrition and start to incorporate exercise in their daily lives. For those kids that are already active and do team sports – CrossFit KIDS is a great strength and conditioning program to enhance their sport. Here’s the link to some of their demos~
So why am I mentioning all of this? Well — CrossFit Impavidus is going to be starting a CrossFit KIDS program in Ashburn, VA. If you want to get your kids moving this summer – they are going to be having special classes during the summer to introduce and get your kids moving! For more info – email them at lori@crossfitimpavidus.com!
**Even though I am a paid consultant for CrossFit Impavidus – this post is my own and was not requested or influenced by CFI.
Cancer — sucks.
01 year ago
Kim Hill dies at 44; woman’s childhood cancer battle inspired creation of Ronald McDonald House
It’s always interesting to learn about the origins of things that seem like they have been around forever. Hannah, along with some of her friends, raised money for the Ronald Mcdonald House a few years ago – but I never knew how it was founded. Very tragic, sad story — pediatric cancer is more heartbreaking than any other cancer to me. Those precious kids – having to deal with the pain and sacrifice, quickly being asked to grasp concepts that they shouldn’t have to know about –
Kim Hill, the daughter of former Philadelphia Eagles player Fred Hill, was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 3. Ronald McDonald Houses, now in 30 countries and regions, offer families of young patients a place to stay near hospitals.
Weightlifting helpful for obese kids
01 year ago
In-Your-Face Fitness: Weightlifting helpful for obese kids
And this is exactly why CrossFit has a CrossFit kids program —
It goes without saying that children who are obese would benefit from aerobic exercise. However, they’re likely to find the idea of going for a jog or spending half an hour on a treadmill about as appealing as watching Congress debate the fine points of tax policy on C-SPAN.
Fortunately, there’s an alternative form of exercise that plays to the strengths of plus-sized kids: weightlifting.
It may sound like an unconventional suggestion, but I’m not the only one making it. There’s even some evidence that for this demographic, weightlifting is a more effective gateway to a healthy lifestyle than traditional aerobic exercise.
Zapping Sugar Cravings
01 year ago
Hair-Raising Stats on this “White Plague” and How to Reduce Your Need for Sweets
Sugar is caustic, plain and simple, especially the white, refined versions, which demolish health with staggering ease. Most foods consumed today, processed and homemade alike, contain added sugar. While the more natural sweeteners such as raw honey, maple syrup, and dehydrated cane sugar juice are gentler on our body chemistry, they still contain a high concentration of these simple carbohydrates. When over-consumed, sugar provokes a whirlwind of regulatory functions in the body that race to rebalance the system after sugar’s body-blow, especially for pint-sized kiddos. Replacing unhealthful sweeteners with more wholesome choices is a good first step to a more nourished body. The second and often more challenging step is reducing cravings and breaking the habit of daily sugary desserts. Although it may take a bit of work, I assure you, it can be done!
First Lady Sets Sights on Global Waistlines
01 year ago
First Lady Sets Sights on Global Waistlines | TakePart – Inspiration to Action.
One year into her ambitious “Let’s Move” campaign to fight obesity in America and encourage the country to make better choices in the kitchen, First Lady Michelle Obama is taking her crusade to the world stage.
In an interview to mark the one-year anniversary of the campaign, Obama said that she’ll now take the “Let’s Move” message with her everywhere she travels, inspired by world leaders’ interest in her famous White House garden.
“What I find internationally, and Barack says the same thing, is whenever he meets with a world leader, one of the first things they ask him about is the garden,” Mrs. Obama said. “Obesity is becoming an international issue. Many first ladies have begun to think about how they’re going to deal with this issue.”
The First Lady also announced that she has been working—quietly, so far—with the National Restaurant Association to give the nation’s eateries a “Let’s Move” makeover: smaller portions and kids’ meals that feature carrots and apples instead of French fries and chips.
The new targets follow a year in which the First Lady used the East Wing bully pulpit to usher in significant changes to the nation’s grocery stores, fast-food outlets and school cafeterias.
Champion of Health and Fitness
01 year ago
My kids and I showing our muscles
Superintendent ‘fits in’ at Norris.
We have to inspire and educate kids in being fit and healthy. The more schools that place value and encourage it — the better off we all are! I have given a online speaker session about ‘Creating Fit Families’ on behalf of K12 this past Fall: http://bit.ly/gKdYm7
Jumpin’, dancin’ and groovin’. From teachers to students and even administrators, Norris Public Schools is trying to incorporate fitness into its daily schedule.
Norris superintendent Dr. John Skretta was recently named a “Champion of Health and Fitness” by Fitness magazine.
Skretta said he was honored to be selected as an individual – and keeps some lofty company with actress Jessica Biel, fitness trainer Jillian Michaels and First Lady Michelle Obama – but felt the award was for the entire Norris district.
“It’s been really flattering to be included in that and to be a person who can serve as a spokesperson for an active lifestyle and getting people up and moving,” Skretta said. “I’ve been fortunate to be in a leadership position where I can promote that agenda.”
Schools implement fitness boot camp for kids
01 year ago
Schools implement fitness boot camp for kids.
Canadians are on the right track here! Fitness should be fun for kids and a lifelong endeavor!
Many students in Edmonton are now taking part in a new fitness boot camp program designed specifically for kids.It’s called No More Excuses Boot Camp for Kids and it’s a circuit-training styled program that’s being implemented in schools across the city.”It’s about exposing them to as many exercises as possible in a non-competitive environment so that they can actually do it, feel the successes, the adrenaline, the endorphines and then continue,” said Cheryl Schneider, creator of the No More Excuses Boot Camp for Kids.”We know the reality is computers and video games are winning. We need to inspire these children to have a love for exercise.”Within a 20-minute period, kids can participate in up to 16 different exercises at various stations.
Since it launched two months ago, both teachers and students have been wanting more.”A couple of schools emailed me this week asking if they can increase the bootcamps from one day a week to twice a week cause the kids love it so much,” Schneider said.”It’s a big plus,” said Ty Wilcox, a Grade 6 student from Bisset Elementary School. “It’s fun.”
Boot camp organizers hope the program will help turn around the latest Canadian exercise statistics.Statistics Canada released a report on Wednesday showing most Canadians aren’t reaching the recommended levels of exercise.According to the report only 7% of children between the ages of five and 17 are getting their minimum exercise requirements.
Earlier this month it was also announced that the federal government is issuing new fitness guideline requirements — guidelines that actually lower the amount of time Canadians should be physically active each week.”We are trying to make a difference in fitness today,” Schneider said.
Parenting Taboos – Great TED talk!
11 year ago
Babble.com publishers Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman, in a lively tag-team, expose 4 facts that parents never, ever admit — and why they should. Funny and honest, for parents and nonparents alike.
