Learning about fitness from our kids

We all lead hectic lives.  We rush off to work, pick the kids up from school, run by the grocery store, then do it all again the next day.  Somewhere in all of this mess we try to sneak in a few sessions at the gym.  With all this activity, we sometimes overlook things. 

Next time you are at the gym look around and what you won’t see are kids.  We tend to forget that while we are trying to tone tighten and minimize, so many of are kids are at home leading predominately sedentary lives.  One Sacramento school has found a way to change this by re-incorporate exercise into the curriculum and is being rewarded for their efforts. Hazel Strauch Elementary was named the campus Elementary School of the Year in the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and given the Sports Spotlight Awards.  By getting kids to move during recess, run laps in exchange for prizes, start walking clubs and more the school received $100,000 for a fitness center for the students.  By encouraging children to exercise and making it a positive experience, kids will develop a lifelong relationship with physical fitness. 

This school gives us all a great lesson in reminding us that physical fitness is important for overall health at any age.  So much of the time we workout to lower the number on the scale or to fit into the trendiest skinny jean, but we loose sight of the real reason to exercise: our health!  Even if the scale refuses to budge or you feel like you are getting nowhere in your fitness routine, it helps to remember that every step you take decreases many health risks and makes you healthier overall.