Health - n - Fitness

Obesity is a problem in this country-especially among children. Kids today are fatter than they’ve ever been, and unhealthy school lunches, shortened recess time allotments, and reduced PE classes in schools aren’t helping. If your child isn’t involved in team sports and doesn’t get much exercise at school, you should consider buying them some sports equipment they can use at home. I just bought my fifth grader a collapsible hoop, and it was the first thing that I found that could actually get him off of the couch.

Studies have shown that kids who are active at home with their parents have a decreased likelihood of becoming obese. Most parents understand that children who are obese are more likely to become obese adults, than children of healthy weight. Thirty minutes of exercise at least four times per week is recommended by experts to maintain a healthy weight. A good time for this may be right before, or after, dinner. This can also be an opportunity for one-on-one bonding with your child. Parents can’t always monitor the entire day for their children, but they can take a little time a few days a week to exercise with them.

Going down Memory Lane brings forth the image of children playing outside and exercising for hours on end.  They rode bikes, skated on roller skates, played on swings, jumped rope, and used hula hoops.  Those were the days when kids were not overweight and just sitting in front of TVs or computer screens.

Now is the perfect time to revisit the hula hoop idea, but in this day and age adult-sized weighted hoops are the ones that will give you the best workout.  Buy a hoop that weighs about 2 lbs. and is about 42″.  A hoop slightly smaller will be more of a challenge because it goes around faster; a hoop slightly larger travels slower.

Put on some music to help get you in the mood and just go with the flow and movement of the hoop.  In no time at all you will agree that youth revisited in the form of hooping is the greatest thing since ice cream.  Don’t waste any time on this new approach; do the right thing and be good to yourself.

It’s that time of year when we all reflect on where we’ve been and what the future holds.  We evaluate what we can hopefully change for the better in the coming year, which is just around the corner.  Financial matters, always important, need to be scrutinized so they work to our advantage.  Health and fitness issues most definitely need addressing for optimal well-being.

Make some promises to yourself, not necessarily resolutions, to be kinder to your body by what you put in your body and how you take care of the outside of your body.  Keep in mind the foods that promote good health, nourish your body, and are beneficial to excellent bodily functioning.  Foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and proteins should be incorporated into your diet.

Now that your body has the proper fuel to keep it running efficiently, also figure in some exercise to further the goodness you plan for yourself.  May I suggest 10 minutes a day of hoop dancing to get your metabolism going.  This is an old idea from your youth that has new meaning now that you’re an adult.  Get a weighted adult hoop, 42″ weighing 2 lbs., and give it a whirl.  You will be surprised and pleased at the new lease on life you achieve and the benefits you will derive from such a simple exercise.

2010 has promise for us all.  Now do the right thing and include some hoop dancing for fitness.

Just two days before Christmas and there is a lot of activity in preparation for the special day.  All the last-minute shopping and wrapping and gathering of recipes for the delicious holiday dinner can take a toll on the body.  Exhaustion takes over and everything is put on hold.

Back up for a moment and reflect on how you can accomplish all the necessary pre-Christmas duties and breeze through it all with plenty of energy.  A little exercise, just 10 minutes a day, can help you through these times and all the future holidays, vacations, and workdays.  I’m talking about using a dance hoop and getting some hoop exercise to boost your metabolism.

Shop for an adult-sized hoop that weighs 2 lbs, 42″ around.  You will agree that itis the best investment in your health that you have made recently.  Now give yourself and ones you care about a hoop so you can all get fit by hooping together.

Does the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and social activities have you exhausted by the end of the day?  Climbing into bed for the night and getting a good night’s sleep is one way to bring some calmness to your body, but there are some other stress relievers that are worth a try.

Meditation is a technique that helps you let go of thoughts about the past or future and focus on the present.  Your mind might be in overdrive, often on negative thoughts, and meditation lets you get a grip on your thoughts.  Another technique is the mind over body approach to help regulate heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and other bodily functions.  Usually one needs the assistance of someone trained in biofeedback to apply this therapy.  Massage therapists can work on tight muscles and bring about a sense of relaxation.

Physical activity is probably the best way to break free of the stress cycle.  Of course there are health benefits from regular exercise, but it also improves your mood.  Just 10 minutes a day with a dance hoop and a little music will put you in a new frame of mind, one that is ready for the next challenge.

Starting ahead of time is a good idea so that your body is prepared for what is coming this month — Christmas parties.  All those extra goodies that miraculously appear everywhere can be your downfall.  Spring into action and have your metabolism working overtime so that no weight gain figures in to this whole scenario.

Get yourself an early Christmas present, a weighted hoop, and do something good for yourself.  Hoop for fitness at least 10 minutes a day and you will be in tip-top shape, ready for the season’s challenges.  Get a hoop that’s about 42″ and weighs 2 lbs.  It’s that simple.

Christmas is for kids, so find the inner child in you and enjoy the ride.

With all the hype about the resurgence of hooping, you must be wondering just what is this all about and how can I get on board with it.  Well, lend an ear and take a few good notes so you’ll know exactly what you need.  Check online when you’re ready to make your purchase, because adult weighted hoops are not found at your local department store.

Now, a weighted hoop should weigh about 2 lbs.; that is plenty of weight to give you a great workout.  Next, consider what size will work for you.  42″ is the most common size.  Keep in mind that the smaller the hoop, the faster around it goes.  Some people master the skill with a larger hoop and then progress down to a smaller size for more of a challenge.

Enter 2010 with a plan and include a weighted hoop.  Be good to yourself.

You know that collapsible shade that you put in your car window to keep the sun out?  Well, the convenience extends to a very worthwhile item that would be great to have handy wherever you go.  I’m talking about a collapsible hoop that’s ready for travel, fits into a suitcase, and keeps your exercise routine on track.

Going out of town for Christmas means parties and family functions that involve a lot of socializing and eating more than normal.  Why not be prepared for the change and have an exercise folded up neatly and ready to spring into action.  Dedicate 10 minutes a day to some good hooping and you will be able to stave off the extra possible weight gain from holiday feasting.

No need for a New Year’s resolution to lose weight; take control before there is a need.  Now do the right thing.

When I was a child and when my children were young, the times were safer and we/they could be playing outside until the streetlights came on.  It was fun to be out riding bikes and skating in the neighborhood and at local parks.  We got a lot of exercise and didn’t want the day to end; but once it was dark, it was time to head home.

Well, those days are over.  Parents find it’s not safe for their children to do anything unsupervised by an adult; even walking to school has gone by the wayside.  There are reasons to be so sheltering, but the sad thing is kids just don’t play like they used to.  Today kids are in the house in front of a computer screen or a TV screen.  The result is no exercise.

As a parent you want the best for your child, and I have a big suggestion.  Get an exercise hoop that your child can use at home in the comfort of your own home.  This will inspire some productive activity that will get the blood flowing and prevent your child from becoming sedentary and expanding at the waistline.

Now do the right thing and get a hoop before dark.

A few months ago, I noticed that my metabolism had finally caught up to me. Now in my 30s, I can no longer eat whatever I want whenever I want. In order to battle the onset of weight gain, my wife and I made a pact to live a more active lifestyle this summer. We both signed up for tennis lessons at the local rec center, and we briefly tried to adhere to a jogging regimen.

When you get right down to it, though, running isn’t fun. I spent every session thinking about how unpleasant and tiring that particular form of exercise could be. In order to spice up the workout routine, I bought a pair of exercise hoops. Now my wife and I utilize a variety of entertaining workouts and have such a blast that we forget it’s even exercise. I’m happy to say that I’ve kept the pounds off.