April 26th, 2012 Zoe...Obviously
Most of you who play sports want to be able to kick butt this season! Here are some good words of wisdom and awesome advice from professional female athletes who conquered the World Cup AND The Olympics!
“Before a meet, I usually just try to surround myself with people who make me laugh, and I just listen to music or hang out with teammates. I swim the best when I’m relaxed and having fun and not really thinking too much about the race. I’ve already done all that in practice!”
—Katie Hoff: U.S. Olympic swimmer.
“Before I go out on the court, I like to think about this quote that my mom once texted me before a game, because it makes me mentally tough: ‘Pressure can make diamonds, or pressure can burst pipes.’ It reminds me to focus on the positive outcomes, and it motivates me to go out and play my best.”
— Skylar Diggins, junior guard for the Notre Dame women’s basketball team. Star of the 2010 NCAA tournament!
“Whenever I hit a wall in practice, or a game isn’t going our way, I do two things. First, I make myself smile because forcing that positive energy into your body really works after a while. Next, I start the positive chatter — just dishing out compliments and motivation to myself and to my teammates. I swear, confidence is contagious!”
— Alex Morgan, the youngest member of the U.S. Women’s World Cup soccer team.
Take this advice from the Pros, and go out and rock your season!
Talk to you guys later! Zoe…Obviously…signing off!
Posted in Fitness, Health, Sports | No Comments »
April 5th, 2012 Zoe...Obviously
I really love seeing all the “Above The Influence” commercials on TV. It’s cool how the commercials incorporate the hard facts about living a life with drugs and alcohol. The campaign really wants us to realize that if you live life under the influence, you will be headed for a downward spiral for the rest of your future. Many of our peers push negative pressures on us, and the “Above The Influence” campaign wants us to recognize that it’s okay to say “NO”, no matter how tempting your fellow students may be.
One example, is a commercial of a girl attending a party. She had been drinking a lot, and as a result, becomes extremely ill. She runs to the bathroom and gets sick in the toilet. However, when the camera moves to the toilet, you can see that she had thrown up pictures of her family and friends, trophies that she’s won throughout her life, and other things that brought back memories. At the end of the commercial, it says “Your not the only thing getting wasted.” This is one of my favorite commercials, because it shows you that if you start abusing alcohol and drugs, your basically throwing your whole life away.
I hope that for some teens, watching many of the “Above The Influence” commercials you see on TV today make them realize that they can either choose to waste their life away, or live a happy, risk free life, saying no to peer pressure, and rising above the influence.
Talk to you guys later! This is Zoe…Obviously…signing off!
Posted in Bullying, Health, Kids and TV, Peer Pressure | No Comments »
March 11th, 2012 Zoe...Obviously
To most kids, when we talk about our weight, we think of our appearance instead of how healthy we actually are. So what would we think if we had the responsibility to actually run a gym class?
Most teens would probably say that they would do five to ten minutes of light exercise, such as pushups, sit ups, etc. Then, for the remainder of the period, you would play a certain sport of your choice, such as football, basketball, and etc. It would probably be held like a regular gym class; however, we would find ways to make it fun so that it wouldn’t seem like just another class. Even though many of us act like exercise is not just about improving our appearance, many of us do realize it is important to be healthy both inwardly and outwardly!
Contributor:
Student Ambassador: Zoe…Obviously
Posted in Education, Fitness, Health, Schools, Teachers, Uncategorized | No Comments »
March 5th, 2012 admin
Weight loss will be more successful if people are willing to change their unhealthy habits, and replace them with healthy behaviors. Dieting is not the answer to weight loss because it creates temporary eating patterns, so you only get temporary results. So here’s the question most people with weight issues ask themselves: What is the best way to drop excess weight??
In order to maintain a healthy weight, there are a few of things you must do:
1. Exercise!
Reaching a healthy weight requires regular physical activity. Exercising helps burn calories and builds muscle, which makes you feel good and helps keep the weight off. Try to increase your daily level activity by walking your dog or riding your bike.
2. Watch your portions!
Being aware of portion distortion will help you keep the weight off. Most portion sizes are a lot bigger than they used to be, which means you are consuming a lot of extra calories that you don’t really need.
3.Stop drinking those sugary drinks!
A key factor in weight gain is drinking sugary beverages like sodas and juice. It’s best to choose smaller portions when drinking these beverages. Or skip having a Coke with lunch and dinner. Treat sugary drinks like they are a treat and have them occasionally.
Luckily, it is never too late to make changes that can control your weight and the health problems it may cause. Build your way up to big changes by making small ones. And never be afraid to ask for help!
Written by MECKids Student Ambassador Zoe
Posted in Education, Fitness, Health, meckids, Obesity, Schools | No Comments »
December 13th, 2011 admin
It’s hard to believe that 2011 is coming to an end already. Where has this year gone? As it comes to an end it’s time for us to reflect on everything that has transpired throughout the year!
Let’s take a look at trends that have come and gone regarding Childhood obesity in 2011.
What’s IN!!!
Educating Kids on healthy eating |
What’s OUT???
Letting Kids Eat Junk Food |
| Exciting PE classes that use social media and a
Variety of programs from Zumba to YOGA |
Boring Health & PE Classes
that don’t engage students |
| Video games that make you move like the
Wii & EA Sports |
Video games played on the couch |
| Community Involvement with kids focused on
campaigns such as Let’s Move & MECKids
You Gotta MOVE Events |
Schools go it alone to fight
childhood obesity |
| The Food Plate |
My Pyramid |
What do you think? Drop us a line and share your ideas on getting kids fit in the New Year!
Posted in Education, Events, Fitness, Health, meckids, Obesity, Schools, Sports, Teachers, Training, Uncategorized, Yoga | No Comments »
November 22nd, 2011 admin
Only 5 1/2 weeks left in 2011! Can you believe how fast this year is going?
The holiday season is already upon us and with that usually comes an extra few pounds. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are a few small changes that you can make that will help you not gain weight during the holidays!
1. AMP up your workouts during this time of year. If you are short on time, try a tabata workout! It’s an intense 4 min workout. Everybody has 4 minutes!
2. Keep track of what you are eating. Knowing that you have to write down everything that you eat will probably make you think twice before eating it.
3. Drink TONS of water! Staying hydrated will not only help you feel fuller it will boost your energy throughout the day.
4. Fill your plate with vegetables FIRST! This will leave you only a little room for all the high carb deliciousness and desserts!
5. Last but not least, ALLOW yourself to indulge a little! If you don’t you’ll probably overindulge.
This time of the year is supposed to be about family not food. So enjoy this beautiful holiday season with your family!
Posted in Fitness, Food, Health, meckids, Obesity, Strength Conditioning, Training | No Comments »
September 25th, 2011 admin
Breakfast is one of the most important meals you can eat, so it makes sense that the same is true for kids. Breakfast is what helps jump start their metabolism for the rest of the day. Whether you are a parent or a teacher, it’s imperative that we are helping kids get a healthy start to their day.
Research has shown that students who eat breakfast have a general increase in their math grades and reading scores. That’s because a good breakfast jump starts their brain and body making them alert and ready for their school day. Studies have also found that students who eat breakfast generally have better health and a better attendance record.
Now that kids are back in school it can be hard to fit in a decent breakfast with the mornings being so busy. The truth is kids really don’t need that much to get them going in the morning. Here are a few simple breakfast ideas:
- Scrambled eggs and toast.
- Apple and Peanut Butter
- Smoothie with Whey protein
- Fruit medley
- Oatmeal
Make it a point to encourage your students to get a healthy breakfast before their busy day of school begins. You’ll help them get off to a healthy start in school and in life. Your students will thank you for it in the end.
Posted in Food, Health, meckids, Obesity, Schools, Teachers | No Comments »
August 23rd, 2011 admin
How many of you grew up playing some type of organized sports? Some of the best memories that I have from my childhood are from playing on some type of team. Whether it was playing kickball during recess or playing volleyball during the summer, I always loved the feeling of being on a team. Team sports are some of the best ways to encourage your kids to get out there and get healthy. There are so many benefits that can come from your kids being part of the team both physically and emotionally.
If you encourage your kids to play some type of sports, they are going to be far more likely to stay active as they get older. They will be exercising and most likely won’t even realize it because of all the fun they will be having. Sign them up for a team and help them get on the right track to being a healthy adult!
By being part of a team your kids will also build a camaraderie with kids their own age. It is important that your kids get the opportunity to build friendships with kids so they know how to interact with others. Being on a team shows your kids how to rely on each other so that they can accomplish anything if they just work together.
Kids that are on a team also learn how to build confidence. Teamwork gives kids the chance to try things that they would not otherwise try on their own. They feel that they can accomplish so much when they know that they have others doing it with them.
If your kids are not already on a team, I would highly recommend that you get them involved in one somehow. Help your kids become healthy adults by encouraging them to start healthy habits while they are young. Being a part of a team makes everything better!
Posted in Fitness, Health, meckids, Obesity, Schools, Sports, Teachers, Training | No Comments »
August 20th, 2011 admin
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body. 75% Americans are dehydrated while only 50% of the world is. The worst part of that stat is that dehydration is 100% preventable.
Your body loses about 2.5 quarts a day and that doesn’t include when you work out or do anything strenuous. Studies have shown that for every 1% of water weight that we lose our ability to work or exercise goes down by 10%. You may not think that dehydration effects your body very much but it does whether you realize it or not.
When a person is dehydrated there are many things it does to their body. Dehydration causes your organs to use more blood due to the lack of water in your system. Lack of hydration causes cells to shrink and the water surrounding cells diminishes, causing cells to not function properly. If your cells and organs are not working the way that they should be your body can’t work at it’s full potential.
Now that you know the problems that can arise from it, let’s look at how we can tell if we are dehydrated. A few signs are nausea, muscle cramps and dry mouth. If you feel extremely thirsty most likely you are already slightly dehydrated. If you are well hydrated your urine should be a light almost clear color.
A key part to preventing dehydration is knowing what your proper water intake should be. Everyone’s intake will differ depending on gender, age, weight and environmental conditions. Try to drink about 1/2 of your body weight to start. Eating more fruits and vegetables will help you stay hydrated due to their high water content. If you are doing a strenuous activity make sure you drink plenty of water. Also if you happen to be flying anywhere staying hydrated is important.
Being aware of your body and it’s needs will help you live a healthier life. So drink up!
Posted in Fitness, Food, Health, meckids, Obesity, Schools, Teachers | No Comments »
August 11th, 2011 admin
Can you believe it? Summer is almost over. Your kids will be heading back to school within the next couple of weeks. I know there are some kids who eagerly await the chance to get back to school but most tend to dread the end of summer. Before the summer is over why not plan a few fun activities that you and your family can do together before the bustle of school begins.
1. Go Camping. You don’t even need to leave the house for this. If you have a tent pop it up in the backyard and make your own personal campsite. If you don’t have a tent or if you prefer to stay away from the bugs build a tent inside all you need is a few blankets and some cushions. Make it a no tv or computer night and enjoy the night with your family!
2. Go to your local zoo. I know I always loved going to the zoo as a kid. It was always so exciting to see such incredible animals that you don’t get to see on a typical day. You can even make it a learning experience. Have each kid pick out an animal and then at the end of the day have everyone share some facts about their animal of choice. Your kids will love hearing all about the other animals and you can add a fun element to the day.
3. Go for a bike ride or a hike. Take advantage of the weather and hit the trails while you still can. Explore a new park in your area or ride your bikes in a new neighborhood. Show your kids that exercising and being outside can be fun!
4. Have a movie night. The twist is instead of picking a typical movie pull out old family videos or make a fun slideshow with some family pictures. Pop some popcorn and get ready for an evening of laughter. You and your family will have so much fun remembering all the fun you’ve had together as a family.
5. Set up a family soda shop. You’ll first have to explain what a soda shop is to your kids. =) Tell your kids they can make a sundae with whatever toppings they want on it. You can also make some classic root beer floats. There’s nothing wrong with a little indulgence once in awhile. Enjoy!
By trying to get in these 5 things before summer ends, you and your family are bound to make more memories. You’ll have had the chance to enjoy some time as a family before the craziness of school begins. You and your kids will be ready to take the school year head on. Make these last few weeks count!
Posted in Education, Fitness, Health, meckids, Obesity, Schools, Sports, Teachers | No Comments »
“Before a meet, I usually just try to surround myself with people who make me laugh, and I just listen to music or hang out with teammates. I swim the best when I’m relaxed and having fun and not really thinking too much about the race. I’ve already done all that in practice!”
“Before I go out on the court, I like to think about this quote that my mom once texted me before a game, because it makes me mentally tough: ‘Pressure can make diamonds, or pressure can burst pipes.’ It reminds me to focus on the positive outcomes, and it motivates me to go out and play my best.”
“Whenever I hit a wall in practice, or a game isn’t going our way, I do two things. First, I make myself smile because forcing that positive energy into your body really works after a while. Next, I start the positive chatter — just dishing out compliments and motivation to myself and to my teammates. I swear, confidence is contagious!”
