There are new studies showing how children are in danger of having significant health problems due to their diet and lack of exercise and physical activity.
With the growth of internet, cell phones and game systems, the child is focused on exercising fingers and thumbs to send a message rather than perfecting a layup.
Getting the kids out of the chair and outside to sled and make snow forts is becoming quite the challenge for parents today. In the past, mom had to limit the use of the TV to get junior to go outside and play.
How to Get your Kid off the Couch
To combat this, parents are looking at game systems to help get their kids to move off the couch and move around, even a small amount to help them stay active. New game controllers are being developed to get the operator to move their hands, arms and feet to control the game icons around the screen.
This new use of technology has spawned games that can use foot pad stations or interactive bikes to move their feet and legs in running or riding motions. The use of interactive game controllers have helped get the child out of the chair and into the video game with more motion and activity than ever before.Kids can now “exercise” while playing their favorite video games, which is the ultimate goal.
With that being said, this does not substitute the baseball or football game in the park, but at least gets the child off the couch and moving in some way.
As technology continues to help make our lives easier, the side effects can make us less active which can create downstream, impacts on our health. The challenge for us to stay active and physically fit will be more difficult as we take advantage of new toys that keep us in front of the TV or video screen.
As our parents did when the first video games reached our home, tomorrow’s parents will need to limit access to video games and get their kids to run and play outside in real games. Using game controllers that keep kids moving and interacting with more than just their thumbs is a step in the right direction. Mom will still need to limit their use and get them to “go outside and play”, but at least the games they are playing will keep them more active.
3 Steps to long term Health and Wellness
Health and wellness is not a quick walk around the track after a stop at your local burger joint. It is a long term plan and strategy that you define and execute consistently. Sensible eating and moderate exercise are the true combination to assist in losing weight and becoming more fit and healthy.
So, if now is the time to pick up a new lease in life, increase your stamina and decrease your level of fat and sugar intake, then by all means look to develop a plan around your goals and objectives. Here are 3 steps to get started:
1. Before starting any new program, get a physical and discuss your desire with your doctor. They will give you guidance and point you in the right direction based on the results of your physical and long term goals. Ask about recommendations around nutrition, and your current physical state to determine if the activities you might enjoy are feasible.
2. Before you decide to change your eating habits, document all the foods you eat over a week or two. This will help you set a baseline of your current dietary habits and choices. Once you see what you have been consuming, determine the areas you might want to address first, like sugar or fat intake.
3. Develop a plan around the type of food and exercise choices you are willing to make initially. Keep it simple and reasonable in the type of change you are willing to make in the beginning.
If you start to make small changes with gradual adjustments, you are more likely to stick with your program. If you try to make drastic changes all at once, your willingness to continue will be less successful because you will feel that it is too difficult and abandon your plan.
