Exercising is not only important for yourself, but for your children as well. It also doesn’t have to be a solitary activity, so the next time you head out for a run, take the kids along with you for a fun family activity. Continue reading “Running with Your Kids: A Parental Guide”
Bringing fitness equipment into your home is a wonderful way to encourage the whole family to stay fit. However, safety concerns can come up. As a rule, children should not use home fitness equipment.
Teens, on the other hand, can use home fitness equipment when taught how to use it properly. You should discuss rules and demonstrate how to use it properly when the equipment arrives to reduce the risk of accidental injury. Continue reading “How to Keep Your Kids Safe When Using Fitness Equipment”
If you’re a parent with a kid in school, you’ve probably already heard of “Fuel Up to Play 60“Â even if you’re not sure what it actually means. So let’s discuss some of the real questions you have about the program, such as:
Unfortunately, many educational movements turn out to be just another means to an end for politicians and corporations. No Child Left Behind and other educational reform programs have ultimately succeeded only in getting politicians elected and giving corporations more money.
At first glance, Fuel Up to Play 60 has the ingredients to make another disappointing reform program: the faces of the program are predominantly Michelle Obama and the NFL. Government organizations like the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are involved as well as private non-profit organizations like the National Dairy Council (NDC).
However, many of the program’s policies are well-founded in issues that stretch beyond the basic educational system into fundamental American issues such as:
In addition, the program’s general goal is to encourage healthier lifestyles in today’s youth. Unlike other educational reform programs that depend on hard-and-fast results or profits, Fuel Up to Play 60 considers their program a success when students, teachers, families, and communities make health a higher priority in their day-to-day lives.
Fuel Up to Play 60 doesn’t support just one group of adults and expects them to succeed on their own. Instead, they give students, educators, families, and communities the tools they need to organize a health reform movement in their schools. As the program’s name suggests, these tools are broken into two main categories: fuel and play.
Good nutrition gives us the energy we need to be active and healthy every day. Fuel Up to Play 60 has guides and other resources for students, teachers, and parents on how to eat healthily. However, most of the parent food guides are driven by the NDC’s input and therefore are dairy-centric. Check out these healthy eating guides on the website’s educator platform, which are much more inclusive.
Play does not mean just any physical activity, but fun physical activities. Fuel Up to Play 60 strives for kids, teachers, and families to enjoy staying active for at least 60 minutes a day. They’re taking the work out of workouts to make a healthy lifestyle seem like a natural, fun part of everyday life. Their playbook may be a little heavy-handed towards the NFL, but many of their activities are easily accomplished by any child regardless of their love for football.
Family fitness is a great way to bond with your kids and bring your family closer together in a safe and healthy way. Parents can help their kid’s schools successfully complete Play 60 challenges by participating themselves.
We all tend to get involved in our own busy schedules, which often lead to something getting moved to the “back burner”. And, let’s be honest, it’s usually our physical fitness that gets pushed to the side. After a long, hard day at work, there is no reason you should have to choose between spending time with your family and friends, or squeezing in some time for a workout. Here are several activities in which you can achieve both! Continue reading “Fitness Activities to do With Your Family”
It’s not always easy to find time in our hectic schedules to hit the gym for an hour every night. When prioritizing our to-do lists, fitness often gets bumped down to the bottom, but that’s okay! You don’t need an at-home gym or gym membership in order to have a successful workout. There are many activities you can do around your own home that keep you physically active while being productive and knocking a few chores off of your to-do list. Check out these calorie-burning chores: Continue reading “5 Easy Ways to Exercise at Home”
Fall is a favorite time of year for many people. The weather becomes chillier, and you can bundle up under cozy sweaters. You can sip and nibble all things pumpkin and apple flavored, leaves begin to change colors and you can officially cheer for your favorite football team.
Throughout the year, it’s crucial to stay committed to your fitness goals. It’s important to fit in those regular runs on the home treadmill, like a True PS100 Home Treadmill, or bike rides on a stationary bike, like the True ES700 Home Recumbent Bike. Continue reading “Participating in fall activities helps burn extra calories”
100 calories may not seem like much at first glance, but according to Fitbie, that can add up quickly. If you drop 100 calories daily, seven days a week, you could lose 10 pounds per year! Here are some obvious and not-so-obvious ways you can get in a quick workout:
Cardio fitness equipment
Although this may be an apparent way to shed the pounds, it works. Hopping on an elliptical or treadmill can help you burn up to 200 calories in just 15 to 20 minutes, said Fit Watch. Whether you’re at home or visiting the gym, this option never gets stale. TRUE cardio fitness equipment works to deliver you the best possible workout. Their bikes have mesh seats for back support while the treadmills and ellipticals have preset workouts to get you on your way to a more trim figure.
Iron your clothes
Doing a simple chore like ironing your clothes for 38 minutes can help you burn 100 calories. Even though you may not realize it, you’re continually moving your arms and shoulders, helping to get a quick workout and tone those muscles.
Shop til you drop
Well, not quite til you drop. It only takes 38 minutes of walking around the mall to lose 100 calories. What better way to lose weight than by shopping? Try walking at a more brisk pace from store to store to burn even more calories.
Invite friends for dinner
Yes, you can entertain guests for a dinner party and be on your way to losing weight in no time. According to Amy Gallo of Today, by chopping ingredients and getting the house cleaned and the table set, you can burn 100 calories in only 38 minutes. Just be sure to cook up a healthy recipe!
Dance it out
There are several video games on the market that allow you to dance your way to better health. Dance Dance Revolution, DanceMasters and Just Dance provide step-by-step choreographed dances for you to easily follow. Just Dance even has a workout portion of the game, where it tracks your progress and counts calories!
Shovel snow
There is one upside to having to shovel the driveway – getting in shape! By shoveling the white stuff, you’ll be getting in a great workout. According to She Knows Health and Wellness shoveling snow for an hour can be comparable to a moderate cardio workout. If you’re lifting bigger piles of snow, almost your entire body will be benefiting from this workout. You’ll especially feel it in your back, biceps and shoulders.
Jump on the trampoline
This is an extremely fun way to burn calories and not even realize it! Gallo said jumping on a trampoline for just 27 minutes tones your legs, butt and abs, allowing you to hop your way to 100 less calories. If you want an even better workout, do tuck jumps to work your abs.
Canoe
Are you the outdoorsy type? Hop in a canoe to burn 100 calories in just 25 minutes. Not only can you enjoy the beauty of nature, but by paddling, your arms will be on their way to achieving a toned look. The more you paddle, the more you’ll be building up your endurance. The core is also worked because paddling forces your body to rotate and twist through the torso.
Walk your dog
Both you and your pooch will benefit from this one. Your pup will appreciate the time outside and your body will be on its way to getting slim and trim. In only 29 minutes, you will have cut 100 calories with your best companion by your side.
Use a punching bag
Slugging a punching bag for just 15 minutes will help you shed 100 calories. This will build up strength and release any frustrations that have been accumulating throughout the day, helping to reduce stress. This quick workout is also a great cardio workout and gets your blood pumping fast.