5 Ways To Screw Up Your Kid’s Health
By · CommentsOn our FTNS Radio show, “Jumpstart with Chad and Kat”, we had the pleasure of interviewing 10 year old fitness sensation CJ Senter, AKA “Workout Kid”. This young man has developed a passion for fitness at such a young age, and is inspiring kids nationwide to get off the couch, and start exercising. In talking to his father, Carlos Sr., we were very happy that this wasn’t a parent who was pushing his child into anything he didn’t want to do, but was encouraging him to do what he really loves. Young CJ is an entertaining, confident little dude who is clearly loving the attention he is recieving. CJ’s parents are doing everything right, but there are many parents who are really doing some bonehead things that put the health of their children in danger. Here are 5 of the worse…
- Smoking around your kids : Nasty, nasty, nasty. And downright stupid. With the DECADES of news revealling the dangers of second hand smoke, I can’t believe I still see people doing this. Especially in a car, with the windows up. Rediculous! This is the fast track to lung caner at an early age. If you are over 18, and want to smoke cigarettes, that’s your business. But don’t force your children to inhale the nasty poisen you fill your lungs with.
- Feed them nothing but “convenience foods”. Lunchables, sugary Kids cereals, McDonalds, pre-packaged meals, etc. All this stuff is fake, manufactured food, and should be eaten SPARINGLY, if ever. Add sugary snacks on top of these, and you have a recipe for future weight issues as young adults.
- Not encouraging active play. Children should be engaged in active play AT LEAST an hour a day. When i was little, I think i was engaged in active play all day. Find or organize a playgroup in your neighborhood to get kids outside and get them to plsy like we used to. Dodgeball, kickball, just GO PLAY! That brings me to…
- Not exercising. Children tend to want to do what they see or hear their parents doing. Enjoy these years, because you only get about 12 of them! Exercise regularly, and make it a priority to let your little crumbsnatcher what you do. This will plant the seeds of lifelong fitness, and make you look like a rock star when they see you cranking out the pushups!
- Keep telling them what they CAN’T do. Don’t allow your unrealized dreams, and disappointments hold your kids back from what they have a fire for. The more they hear “You can’t”, the more the believe it. They believe it enough, they’ll never be confident enough to take on challenges, and be resigned to blissfull mediocrity.
I’m sure there are a TON more ways to screw up your kids health, what do you say some of them are? Leave your comments below!
Hagerstown Personal Trainer Says No Pesticides
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It kills the small stuff, but it's fine for us! Right?
Agricultural pesticide use has been on the rise, and in light of what the function is, I can’t help to think that if pesticides kill little organisms quickly, what do pesticides do do big organisms long term? It may be negligible in small amounts, but with the steady increases in use since the 90′s due to Genetically Engineered crops, we have to question what effect these chemicals are having on our physiologies.
Some reports suggest that regular exposure to pesticides may cause a long list of health concerns from endocrine system disorders all the way up to certain cancers. Some people in the pesticide business say these claims aren’t proven, I say I’d rather err on the side of caution and reduce, if not eliminate all exposure if possible.
Buying certified organic drastically reduces your exposure to potentially harmful chemical pesticides. Buying all of your produce organic however, is cost prohibitive to many American families. Some particular items of produce have more pesticide exposure than others, so to help you choose wisely, we put together 2 lists to take with you the next time you go shopping to reduce your exposure to pesticides, and shop healthier for your family.
The “Dirty Dozen (highest pesticide exposure, buy organic everytime):
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Grapes
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Potatoes
- Blueberries
- Lettuce
- Kale/Collard Greens
- Onions
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapples
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Sweet Peas
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Mushrooms
Hagerstown Personal Trainer Has Friends…
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The wise jogger...
Some woman have a purse, a nostalgic heirloom, jewelry, or a special pair of fancy shoes…but what I find to be special is my Baby Jogger!! Yes, I am one of those “people”who enjoys running. There is something about the simple essence of really only needing a pair of tennis shoes to lace up and enough land to trek on and just “run away” and simply be…no worries in how fast or slow you are, but to just be….aaaah. Wait a minute, I just realized that sometimes that aaaah moment has had to be with a baby, a toddler, or a preschooler. Over the years, this has brought a whole new meaning to me than just simply lacing up shoes and going for a run all by myself.
When I look up in my garage and see my 9 year old baby blue jogger dangling from the garage as if it is waiting for someone to come and grab it and take it for a spin, I think back to how this jogger was piece of me for so long.
The Downie clan
The most important joy and accomplishment in my life was creating 3 miracles in the past nine years with my husband who has been my constant cheerleader and motivator. Those miracles are now 9, 7 and 3; they logged quite a few miles in that jogger seat just enjoying the ride. When you become a mother you enter a whole other world of giving to others and learning to think outside your individual box of reality and consistency. This jogger gave me my freedom, my challenges, my flexibility, my physical strength and my running miles.
There were moments when I just needed to be me, not mommy, not a wife, not a co-worker, not someone who felt weak and sleep deprived with a beautiful new baby. As silly as it sounds, this jogger taught me that it was ok to still be me sometimes and to connect with running in a whole new way, while still connecting with my new little one and showing them the world with a front row seat! Sure, there were times when one of my babies cried, or my toddler whined or they were wanted a snack but I always kept myself flexible and tried to push on through it and I learned to pre-plan for those moments (hint: have a jogger with snack zippers and a storage bin for toys and sippy cups.)
The best part was always at the end when each child as they got older connected that jog time as a way to cheer mommy to finish (I so needed that cheer on days when I just didn’t know if I had the energy in me) because they knew there was playground time at the end!! As a mom, I felt better emotionally and physically. I am hoping my children will look back someday and see me as a healthy role model. One of the best gifts I can give my children is to nurture them to lead a healthy and active life!
Finishing strong, sans baby jogger...
I don’t have to use that jogger as much anymore and the freedom to pick up and run is getting a little bit easier now as my children are getting older. It feels great to just push myself at times, instead of a jogger. However, when I see those parents who are baby-jogging, I can’t help but remember all those memories I had with my own children and how hard it was at times to push them and wonder if I can make it up a hill or go any faster with them.
You carry your children in so many ways up tough hills in life and then when you enter that down hill with them and you have the freedom to let them go faster but yet you just can’t quite let go. And then there is smooth sailing on the flats. What a metaphor in this life as a parent, I say….I guess it is all that deep thinking I accomplish sometimes when I run. It is bittersweet seeing that jogger dangle in the garage. I don’t think any yard sale can take this away from me anytime soon.
What have you grown out of on the path to your fitness goals? Leave your comments below!
Lisa Downey is a Hagerstown personal trainer, avid runner, and generally awesome person. Say hello on FB: http://facebook.com/lgdownie
Cute, but can she get results?
FLIPPIN’ BRILLIANT!
So many people will watch this season with Ana for soooo many reasons, it may be their highest rated season yet. There will be an upswing in male viewers, especially if they make Ana train her team wearing nothing but a swimsuit. Many fitness professionals, like yours truly, will watch to see if she really has the chops to do what we do. And Even more people will tune in just because it’s such a different direction for the show.
Let’s face it, “Biggest Loser” is getting pretty long in the tooth as far as television shows go. how many years are we going to be willing to watch tv’s version of fat camp, without something to keep it fresh, and edgy? I believe it was doomed to cancellation sooner rather than later, especially after Jillian Michaels announced her departure, not that I personally minded her leaving so much. Michaels seemed to overly relish her role as “mean trainer” a little too much for my liking. She’s rockin’ the million dollar salary, and I’m not, so maybe I’m the fool.
I’ve not watched it in several seasons, as I’ve felt like it does my industry a disservice in promoting charicatures of personal trainers, and exploiting the obese population much like a New york pimp expoits a young naive girl looking for the dad she never had. This season, though….might just have to tune in to see just how Mrs. Iglesias impacts not only the show, but the new batch of contestants lives.
What do you think about Ana Kournikova joining NBC’s “Biggest Loser? Who do you think would have made a better choice? Leave your comments below, and don’t forget to click “like” for Facebook!
Hagerstown Personal Trainer Wants Your Opinion
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C'mon people, Full House!
One of the biggest things that prevents people from becoming a member if a gym, and starting a fitness program is what I call gym-timidation. Perception is everything, and too many people still have the image of the “meat head” club full of spandex and bandannas. Although many of the traditional “lifter’s gyms” have rebranded themselves as “family fitness centers”, an epidemic of poor behavior still exists.
I can’t believe the inconsiderate things some people do in the gym. Things like not letting people work in during sets, leaving a ton of weight on equipment, improperly racking plates passing gas around someone doing a set, and one of my personal pet peeves: curling in the squat rack when I’m waiting to lift things up and put them down (seriously!). Maybe I’m old school, but I remember when i first started training, we held each other accountable to adhering to proper gym etiquette. And if that didn’t work, they club owner was ready to revoke memberships if someone wasn’t treating his or her gym with respect.
Honestly, it’s not even getting better as the years pass. I’m beginning to think that maybe we need a “personal code of conduct” contract for fitness clubs. Maybe we need to have everyone sign this document before they are allowed to start training at the gym. Hmmm…maybe we can avoid situations like this:
Anyhow, what’s your take? Do you feel like a personal code of conduct is needed in the gym? Do you feel it would help make the gym more civilized? Tell me below what you would write in the new rules of the gym, and I’ll tell ya mine later!
-c
BTW, you can still take 50% off the enrollment in my “Metabolic Mayhem” accelerated fitness training program through the month of July! Get more information by giving us a call at 240.217.5713. Call today, stop procrastinating and make it happen…
Chad Smith is a Hagerstown personal trainer, fitness expert, columnist, and radio personality. He works with people who want to let go of excuses, and transform their lives by getting leaner, stronger, and better through fitness. Visit http://www.hometeamfitness.net for more information.
