Healthy Tip # 78

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Welcome to the category of my blog simply called ‘Healthy Tips.’ Many times, when I write articles for various publications, I need to find sources for the story as seen in Yahoo Shine (click here) or PBS (click here) about staying healthy. I was looking for experts and non-experts to chime in and give their favorite ‘tips’ to help kids and adults lead a healthy lifestyle.

The feedback for various stories was amazing. The sources had some fantastic points of view that could not be ignored, and I thought their opinions should be viewed on the Your Health Journal web site.

So, enjoy my new series, with some ‘great’ insight from some ‘great’ people giving exceptional and educational points of view.

healthytip
Healthy Tip From Debbie Mandel

Families need to exercise together to create a family ritual, a bond like dinner together or Sunday morning breakfast. Too often exercise sounds like a punishment or label of shame implying, “You are getting fat.” When a family exercises together, no one is singled out and the emphasis is on fitness and health as opposed to appearance. Also, values are transmitted during exercise like: Stronger longer, Go the Distance, Find It.

groupkidswbgChildren who exercise do better academically and learn how to reduce stress. In essence, adults in the household are showing children a healthy way to relieve stress and improve their thinking while they (the adults) practice what they preach. Children are always observing their parents and picking up on their body language, not just their words.

It is always easier to tell others what to do, especially children, but there is nothing better than serving as a role model to forge lifelong healthy habits for all concerned.

Family exercises:

.. Hiking, biking, swimming, basketball, jump rope.

.. Relay races

.. Interval training using household objects like an old tire, card
board box, a ball, etc.

.. Dance contests

.. Yoga or aerobic videos

Debbie Mandel, M.A., author of Addicted to Stress, Author/Radio Host/Websites Host/Speaker/Fitness and Stress Management Expert