Monday, January 16, 2012

Are You a Fitness Role Model For Your Family?

Are You a Fitness Role Model For Your Family?
In this busy world it is so easy to lose sight of our own health and fitness.  Without making fitness and wellness a priority, what does that tell our children? With so many young children overweight and in several cases obese, perhaps we should look at ourselves a little more closely. Do we make fitness a family affair? Or, are we sitting overeating and over-drinking as a crutch, while ignoring the lack of activity in our children?
 
The fact that so many diseases can be prevented by proper diet and exercise is the best reason to get ourselves moving. If our kids see us working out and eating right they will eventually follow our lead. So, if you plan on sending your children off for swim lessons or dance classes,  think what you can do for yourself during that time. If your child is participating in an activity, what is really keeping you from working out while you wait?
 
Woman in your Forties or Fifties especially need to realize the importance of working out! Keep in mind that every decade we lose a percentage of muscle mass which means our body fat creeps up. Weight lifting has proven to increase bone density which offsets and delays osteoperosis.  

Stay healthy for you, stay healthy for your family!

Here is an easy workout for core strength for you to do in the comfort of your home.

AB Crunches- see picture:
This can be done either on a stability ball or on the floor. Pull your abs in through the belly button area, hands placed behind the head, raise your shoulder blades off the ball or floor. Hold for 1 second and then slowly bring back to set. Make sure the small of your back is flat against the floor, do not let your spin curve. This is the best way to hit your inner stabilizers in your stomach area for better balance and less back pain as we age. Try to hit 100 ab crunches every day!