Exercising Values: A Road to Health for Children and Adults

I recently completed writing the book Exercising Values so you can imagine how discouraging it was to learn that only ten percent of people who buy a book actually read it. I hope that I might beat those odds because Exercising Values is designed with your busy life in mind. It is a quick read with plenty of short-cuts so you can put it into action right away. The program includes children in workouts they will find fun while adults are both sharing a fun time with their children and they are getting an effective, fat-burning workout for themselves.   The program includes some character education and exposure to great childrenʼs literature for the children and a path to more energy and a smaller waistline for parents.

Right now I want to focus on how to prepare yourself to be successful at any  fat-loss program including this one.  What does it really take to be successful in fat loss or in transforming your appearance through exercise? When I reflect over my most successful clients a few common characteristics stand out. These success stories helped me identify  five keys to success.  Saturday I am participating in the Death Ride in northern California so that might be a day you won't hear from me but over the next few days I will be discussing each of these ways to succeed at fat loss.

I would like Exercising Values to be a place where you can find solutions to the physical fitness needs of your entire family. I have a keen interest in using physical activitiy and family togetherness to promote a lifetime of good health and excellent behavior in children. As a mom I also want to help other moms regain their own ideal weight and fitness.

I am the mother of six children and now the grandmother of one. I share your deep concern for children and I have a good idea of both your good intentions and the obstacles you face in accomplishing them. I have the practical experience to know what will really work in a busy family’s life. I am also a certified personal trainer who loves what I do. Because I love it I am always trying to do it better so I am constantly reading the latest research to give my clients optimal results in as little time as possible.

I have a master’s degree in social work and have a proven record of helping people make important changes in their lives including overcoming substance abuse, overeating and other harmful habits. I have studied how children and adults learn best. I have researched how nutrition effects behavior. I incorporate the insights I’ve learned to help you to actually implement behavior changes and not just learn about them.

My family of origin struggled with weight issues. So I know how painful these struggles can be. Now in my fifties I have followed the recommendations I am giving you and am still competing in athletics at the international level. I know it is possible to overcome genetics, environment and social temptation and I know it isn’t easy. However, Exercising Values is designed to make it as easy as possible. I sympathize with your unique obstacles but I won’t let them defeat you.

You have so many responsibilities and you are trying to do the best you can. You love your children and want the best for them but there are so many forces working against you whether that’s your busy lifestyle, the media or the kid next door. Would you like some help? Relax. Exercising Values was created to help busy families make the most of their time together. It will help you focus and actually accomplish the essential tasks to passing on health and happiness to the next generation.

Our children's physical well-being is only part of our deep concern for them.  We also want to see them prepared to make good choices in life and to exhibit great character. Excellent character results in exemplary behavior. Exercising values addresses all aspects of your child’s well-being. In turn, you will also see pounds melt off, stress levels go down, and your general satisfaction with life will go up.

If your goals include include the following then I think you'll enjoy this blog:

- Building strong family relationships

- Improving health and fitness

- Making weight management easier for you and your children

- Instilling important values in your children

- Opening the lines of communication between generations and among siblings

- De-stressing

- Laughing

- Having fun!

Combining physical fitness and character training is in fact the secret to greater success at each individual goal. Companies spend millions of advertising dollars to get customers to associate their product with something deemed desirable by most people. Thus this gum results in minty fresh breath and a busy social life and this soft drink means that things are going to go better. Companies do this because it works. We can borrow this technique to promote our own worthy goal of helping our children achieve a sound mind in a sound body. Let me explain.

Children need our attention and our guidance and they need to be able to count on getting both on a regular, consistent basis. Studies show children benefit from routine. Similarly, consistency derived from a well-designed routine in both diet and exercise is key to weight loss, athletic development and health. Busy moms and dads would love to have more energy, lose weight and feel better but sometimes just don’t know how to get started. And all of us obviously want our children to be healthy and physically fit.In a balanced life, a properly constructed 15 minute exercise program can achieve these goals if it’s done consistently as part of a daily routine.

Do you worry about your children’s health and fitness? How about your own?

Would you like to lose some weight and help your children reach and keep a healthy weight for their entire lives?

Do you ever wonder if you are spending enough time with the most important people in your life?

What will your children tell their own children about their childhood with you? Are you building great memories?

Will your children have the character to make the best decisions for their lives?

As you begin prioritizing your children’s well-being on a daily basis your own experience will confirm that habits matter. You’ll be giving your children a firm foundation for establishing good habits. This program is unique in that it goes beyond exercise but also helps you instill good character by helping you focus on qualities that you’d like to see developed in your children.

Next time we'll look at the five mindsets that will help you lose body fat. They will also help you assist your children in developing a lifetime habit of fitness and proper food choices. Stay tuned as we begin this important journey together.