Jelly Belly Be Gone

Recently we’ve been told of research after research which reveal the fact that most of us are obese and out of shape, and this lifestyle is being passed on to our youths.  An increasing number of kids are overweight, and if no intervention is made, the majority of them will remain unhealthy into adulthood. If parents are involved in frequent physical activity and are good leaders, then their children are more likely to be active as well. The exact opposite can also be true. If grown-ups are inactive and have a poor diet and eating pattern, this gives the kids little inspiration to alter his or her ways.

It’s vital to start grooming youngsters when they are at that tender age to make physical activity a standard part of their day. Give them responsibility around the home, i.e. vacuuming, moping, raking leaves, or shoveling snow. Anything that gets the heart pumping can be beneficial and can be made into a fun activity.

When a project or chore becomes boring, which is likely to happen based on the attention span of young people, make slight changes in the routine to keep it exciting. Outdoor activities can be the easiest way to turn a project into something fun and less of an actual chore.

Parents should pace the level of activity so no one gets cranky and the fun of doing something as a family isn’t spoiled. It’s important to ensure that everyone will want to do the activity on a regular basis, so don’t rush it. And remember to keep everything you do fun and light.

Check these out:

• Make sure the activities are totally inclusive.

• Avoid a rigid schedule. Don’t make it a “do or die” session, and take into account that sometimes agendas change at the last minute.

• Remember to warm up and cool down, either by doing a few stretching exercises before the activity, or simply walking for a few minutes at the beginning and end.

• Stimulate each other. When someone in your circle achieve something new, for example, completing a lap around the pool without stopping, give them a high-five.

• Record your family’s fitness activities.

Don’t believe that all fats are bad, and in attempting to lower your cholesterol levels and reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease, it isn’t necessary to avoid all dietary fats—just the bad ones. Good fat essentially reduces high cholesterol and keeps your cardiovascular system safer.

Bad Fats

• Saturated fat:-  This category of fat is what leads to high cholesterol caused by diet. This is an unhealthy fat located in animal products like beef, lamb, pork, butter, cheese, cream and other whole-milk dairy products. Certain plant oils, like coconut oil, also consist of saturated fat.

• Trans fats:-  Trans fats and hydrogenated fats are dietary fats created when processed; fattening ingredients like margarine and shortening are made. Many treated foods, commercially prepared baked goods, and fried foods contain trans and hydrogenated fats, which when consumed lead to high cholesterol.

• Cholesterol:-  Cholesterol is actually a fat-like matter that we get in our diet by consuming chicken, beef, pork, eggs, and whole-milk dairy products—many of the same foods that contain saturated fats. Restricting the intake of foods with high cholesterol content raises heart health and lowers cholesterol.

Good Fats

• Polyunsaturated fat:-  This unsaturated fat is found in healthy, cholesterol-lowering foods like flaxseeds, sunflower seeds and walnuts. Omega-3 fats are a type of polyunsaturated fat. You can bulk up on this good fat by having fish two to three times a week; try great sources like salmon and mackerel. Plant oils are also a good source of polyunsaturated fats (sunflower, corn and soybean oils).

• Monounsaturated fat:-  This unsaturated fat is found in certain plant oils, such as olive and canola oils. You can also get this good fat in your diet by eating nuts (such as pecans, almonds and hazelnuts), seeds (including pumpkin and sesame) and avocados.

If you have high cholesterol, make these smart and tasteful adjustments to your meals to satisfy your heart and your appetite.

• Get butter out of the pan.

• Ditch the beef.

• Choose fish.

• Snack crunchy, not greasy.

• Add avocado.

• Slim down your dairy.

• Enjoy egg whites.

With so much fun stuff now available, there is no need to ignore your fitness routine while on your annual Easter vacation. Whatever your monetary constraints and whatever the ages of your youngsters, with a little organizing you can plan family travel that includes fun activities, exercise and new experiences for everyone.

If physical exercise is part of your daily routine, there’s no reason why it should be overlooked just because you’re on the road. To begin with, one of the best ways to de-stress is to exercise. So since relaxing is a big reason that you take a vacation, keeping active will most likely keep any stress away.

For your time away to be an active one, start by choosing a destination that offers a number of activities that will be fun for the whole family. This can be as simple as choosing something that no one in the family has done before. This way, everyone will be motivated to try it.

Exercise can involve anything from exploring the streets of a new city to snorkeling. There are many opportunities to get in some exercise while bonding with family.  Depending on your vacation spot, these activities can involve everyone:

• Tennis — Singles or doubles

• Hiking — In any season

• Frisbee — On the beach or in a park

• Swimming — Indoors or outdoors, pool, lake or ocean

• Beach volleyball — Rent a net and ball or bring your own

• Skiing — Cross-country or downhill

• Walking — Great for any age

• Biking— Great for almost any age

Traveling as a family can have its ups and downs, and expectations can make or break a vacation, especially if they’re too high, so set reasonable expectations. If your destination is a sports resort, check the activities schedule during the planning stage of your trip, to see what’s going to be available while you’re there and which activities your children will be eligible to participate in.

It’s also important that children know in advance that they might need to be flexible about the activities you’ve planned. Factors beyond anyone’s control, like weather, could ultimately affect what you are all able to do.

With proper planning, you can make your upcoming Easter vacation a great, active experience that everyone will remember fondly for years to come.