It’s important to do warm-up exercises before you begin any sport or physical activity:

• Warming up prepares the body for physical exertion, and reduces the chances of getting cramps or serious injuries.
• Walking, slow running, riding an exercise bike, gentle aerobic movements or dancing are good ways of warming up.

Cooling down properly after exercising will reduce the risk of muscle soreness or stiffness the next day. You can use the same kinds of physical activities that you used to warm-up. Read more…

Many children eat and overeat in effort to win their parents approval, or in some cases, to avoid punishment.   Some well-meaning parents still believe that an overweight child is healthy.   Also, some parents give cookies or candy as a reward for good behavior or to distract them from crying after a fall.

Theory

A child’s first exposure to overeating often occurs very early in life. Baby’s tears are often misinterpreted for hunger. Unfortunately, many adults thrust a bottle in the mouth of a crying infant instead of considering whether the need may be for cuddling, comfort, or a diaper change. Therefore, it’s only natural that the child learns to link emotional and physical needs with eating. If food is used to placate needs other than hunger, a child may be conditioned to want food even when not hungry. Read more…

Did you know that walking is one of the best activities to help you get in shape — it’s exercise without thinking twice. You can walk with friends, your dog, family or on the school grounds with classmates.   The key is, leave time in your busy schedule to follow a walking program that will work for you.

Getting Started

Choose a safe place to walk. Find a friend or group of friends to walk with you. This could be a big sister, brother or grandparent. Your walking partners should be able to walk with you on the same schedule and at the same speed.

Once you have a walking partner, discuss fun places to walk in your community. Mall walking is a great way to get exercise while hanging out with your friends in a safe, indoor environment. Check with your school to see if you can start a “walking club” before or after school. Walking at a local community college or at the local high school track is always a nice option since these areas are designed with outdoor lighting and pliable walking surfaces. Read more…

Do you know that you are exercising all the time without even thinking of it. Just being active, like when you run around outside or play kickball at school, is a kind of exercise. What else counts as exercise? Walking, playing sports, dancing, doing push-ups, and even reaching down to touch your toes.

When you exercise, you’re helping build a strong body that will be able to move around and do all the stuff you need it to do. Try to be active every day and your body will thank you later! Read more…

If you don’t drink enough clear, fresh water, you can get dehydrated.  Dehydration is a condition that occurs when someone loses more fluids than he or she takes in.

Our bodies are about two thirds water. When someone gets dehydrated, it means the amount of water in his or her body has dropped below the level needed for normal body function. Small decreases don’t cause problems, and in most cases, they go completely unnoticed. But losing larger amounts of water can sometimes make a person feel quite sick. Read more…