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As a certified personal trainer I must say the physical fitness of today's youth is nothing more than shameful! I'm not going to try to be politically correct here or try not to offend. The truth is parents and the school system should be ashamed. I am getting clients in here ages 11-21 that are so grossly out of shape they cannot even do a single jumping jack because they lack the muscle mechanics or coordination to do so.
We have reduced the size of Physical Education departments, and for some schools we have eliminated it all together. Parents are using food to reward their kids, shut their kids up, express love, etc. Fast food is the family time dinner. The generation coming up I will be surprised if they even own a kitchen. What need would they have for it, they just drive up to a window order food that comes in paper containers that they can just throw away, they don't even need a sink.
Tips on getting your kids in shape, and it is sad that I have to even say these, but parents are not doing it.
- Put them on a simple morning or evening workout program like most of us us to do in P.E. class. Here is an example: Jumping Jacks 4 sets of 25, Crunches 4 sets of 50, Push-ups 4 sets of 25, Jump Rope 5 minutes, Mountain Climbers 2 minutes. After that stretch for ten minutes.This is a good starter program, try to do a little more each time. Should take no longer than a half hour. Treat this program as if it was as important as brushing their teeth.
- Get them involved in sports or outdoor activities. If they do not want to participate in a school sanctioned sport, though I recommend it, then get them involved in hiking with the family, or biking. There needs to be something that they are actively involved in something.
- Pack their lunch! Don't let them make choices at school. Schools have healthy choices because most states require that now, however, the do not require them to make healthy choices their only choice. Send them to school with no money and just a brown bag of a healthy lunch. Put you in control of a situation that you could not control if you just gave them lunch money.
- Be an example! You have to live a healthy lifestyle too. Rather you get along with each other or not, they are learning from you.
Get started not tomorrow, right now!!! This is so important. This is a major problem, you will out live your kids if you do not make changes in them right now today.
