Do your kids get enough exercise?

Look who was up early to work out! Amazing boy I have. Yesterday, he got up at 5:45 a.m., got himself dressed, fixed his water bottle & was ready to work out. And he did it again today! (Voluntarily w/ enthusiasm!)

I'm realizing that my attitude toward exercise totally affects my kids' attitude. Last time I worked out when the baby (19 mos. old) was awake, he was trying to jump and swing his arms.

My kids only know me as someone who works out. I started my Turbo Jam routine before Daniel was even 1. And picked back up with the routine a month & 1/2 after Jacob was born.

Kids absorb everything, right?

They absorb healthy habits too!

Daniel is the soda patrol for sure. When Dave decided to give up the occasional soda, Daniel was quick to rat me out, hence I no longer drink them. (I didn't drink them all day, every day...just on those days I wanted something sweet, but no calories...especially when the central valley heat set in...they were refreshing. Great justification, right?) I can proudly say that my kids have NEVER had soda. I love that, they willingly drink water all the time!!!!

When driving around town, Daniel is quick to point out the smokers in their cars and says, "Look mom, they're smoking - yuck, that's not good for them, right?".

It's no secret that my son will blurt out that 'doughnuts are junk'...Why? Because when he's seen other kids with that sugary/fat laden stuff & asked for it, I told him, "No son, that's junk & it's not good for you".

I am devestated that people continually feed their kids the fast food fries,

and let them have sweets daily.



How many things in this picture
do you and/or your kids eat????

Last week, a sweet parent gave out 'goody' bags at school. It had a bag of CHIPS, a COOKIE, 2 Dum Dum SUCKERS, SMARTIES, fruit chewy snacks, & a granola bar. I grabbed the bag as soon as I could to inspect it, I took out the candy a.s.a.p., Daniel had grabbed the chip bag & managed to open it (130 calories & saturated fat galore). And of course this interfered with his appetite for dinner.

The fruit chewy snacks are really candy in disguise, you know this right? He managed to get to the cookie & ate half of it after dinner. But I tossed the other half when he wasn't looking. Crazy enough, he forgot about it too...because that's not a mainstay in his diet.

No wonder 33% of our children are obese in America!

It is NOT OKAY for kids to eat junk food like this regularly. Unfortunately, many eat it for multiple meals/snacks per day. When they are putting this junk in their bellies, there is no room for the good stuff like fruits & veggies. When they eat salty food regularly, veggies don't seem appealing unless smothered in cheese or butter.

For some kids, their butter and cheese intake needs to be watched because they're on the border of being overweight. Some kids, like Daniel, need some extra calories because they run off everything they eat.

So what does your diet look like? What does your activity level look like? Good? Healthy? Or sedentary?

Your kids' activity level and diet probably looks like yours...Are you setting them up for childhood obesity, diabetes, and heart disease risks? Or teaching them that healthy food & exercise leads to a healthy body?

Do your family a favor -

get healthy & active...and they will follow!!!

Shocking Statistics of Obesity (Childhood Obesity)

I love truth! Don't you? It's when we face the truth of ourselves that we can change. It's when we admit the truths about our family, that our family tree can change.

Folks, we have a serious problem. A serious one. The gravity of obesity needs to impact your hearts today Whether you are obese/overweight, your kids are, your loved ones are - we need to take action a.s.a.p.

With the statistics of 65% of American Adults Overweight/Obese & 33% of American Children Overweight/Obese - HOW CAN WE IGNORE OBESITY ANY LONGER?

I heard a councilwoman say it last month that "America is eating herself to death"...and that's a fact.

Here's some truth - some statistics I collected for you.

Locally here, in Kern Co. CA, in 2008, adults of age 20+:

• 29% were obese,
• 7% have diabetes
• 24% are inactive

Across the nation:

• 81% of the counties in Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia have high rates of Obesity & Diabetes.
• 75% of counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and S. Carolina have high rates of Obesity & Diabetes.

In 2009:

• California: 24.8% of population - obese
• Tennessee: 32.4% of pop. - obese
• Colorado: 18.6% - obese...wins the award for 'skinniest state'
• Mississippi: 34.4% - obese....wins award for 'fattest state'

So what's this talk about Diabetes (Type 2)? Google it...learn about it. Long story short, YOU DON'T WANT IT!!!! Type 2 Diabetes is the preventable one.

Here's some numbers on this miserable condition that is PREVENTABLE!

• 3.7% of 20-44 yr. olds have it.
• 13.7% of 25-64 yr. olds have it.
• 26.9% of 65+ have it.

Conclusion: How you eat and don't exercise from ages 20-65, will determine your fate at 65.
Solution: Eat healthy and exercise while you have your youth & vigor!

In 2010, the new cases of diagnosed diabetes, by age follows:

• 20-44: 465,000 NEW cases
• 45-64: 1,052,000 NEW cases --- what?????
• 65+: 390,000 NEW cases

What I conclude is that the 45-64 year old group is high risk! Are you in this catagory? I think it would be safe to say that people are getting this horrible disease at a younger age than in the past. So really, narrow it down from youth to 45 (when you have the energy and time) to take care of yourself with diet & exercise - it will SAVE YOUR LIFE & HEALTH!

_________________________LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR KIDS NOW______________________

How many of you who are overweight say, "look at my mom...it's in my genes to be big"? I think the only thing kids inherit from their parents that leads to being overweight/obes is the parents' BAD EATING HABITS & LAZINESS. Think about it.

Daniel's pediatrician just told me yesterday that 1 in 4 children are obese. I've heard the statistic of 33% of American children are overweight and obese. Why? Because it's the 65% of American parents feeding their kids the same thing they eat!

Childhood obesity put the youth, our children at risk for:

1. Cardiovascular disease
2. Bone & joint problems
3. Sleep Apnea
4. Social & Psych. Problems, like low self-esteem

Obese youth are more likely to become obese adults, tragically being diagnosed with:

1. Heart disease 
2. Type 2 Diabetes
3. Stroke
4. Several types of Cancers
5. Osteoarthritis

This is my plea for you as a parent, if you are overweight and/or your kids are overweight - PLEASE DO SOMETHING NOW!!!

As a parent, we are responsible for our kids. What they eat, how much activity they get - it's our job to lead by example and teach them to be healthy. It's our job to teach them great exercise habits, teach them that our bodies need water (not sodas, Kool-Aid, sweet teas, lemonades - daily). It's our job to prepare healthy meals for them, and NOT be lazy and do the drive-thru meals all the time.

I know kids who get McD's breakfast: soggy, greasy hashbrown w/ the sausage McMuffin for breakfast. Then have some fatty McD's happy McHighCalorie meal for lunch, followed by a 'take-out' greasy pizza...all followed by some sugary drink. THIS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. Needless to say, these are the same kids that are left in front of the t.v. all day, then go from t.v. to some handheld game, then to the computer for more games.

What happened to the good ol' days when kids were outside on their bikes, playing ball, climbing trees? Don't let the advancement of technology and the luxury of your kids being entertained lull your family/kids into OBESITY!

"Houston, we have a problem!" - But the solution is simple: healthy foods & activity 1 hr./day can prevent this state of emergency. Seriously, that's it to save their lives. Please help me create a coalition against obesity today! Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com if you want to play a role in saving our youth from early disease & death.