Local programs show kids that eating healthier and becoming more active is not only good for them, but also fun.
By Julie Engelhardt
Getting kids to maintain a healthy lifestyle can be challenging for parents today. Instead of going outside to ride their bikes or run and play when there’s down time, children tend to plop down on the couch to play videogames or watch TV. Or when hunger pangs hit, they’ll likely choose a can of soda and a bag of chips for a snack, instead of water or an apple.
With so many not-so-healthy options easily available to kids, parents often labor over how they can turn these behaviors around before it’s too late. The last thing they want to see is their kids facing high blood pressure, heart disease, Type II diabetes or other health problems that usually do not occur until much later in life.
Dr. Jamie Wallach, a pediatrician who founded Bay Area Committed to Kids in San Jose, deals with children’s weight problems on a daily basis. She tackles the weight gain issue by not only focusing on the child, but also working with the parents.
“We are dedicated to educating the whole family and teaching them how to have healthier lifestyles,” she explains. “The most successful treatment is a family-based approach by incorporating a moderate lifestyle change.”
Wallach says this method is in sharp contrast to societal attitudes over the past 20 or 30 years with respect to weight loss. “People have heard they need to diet and restrict what they eat, but they often have a difficult time keeping it up, so they go back to their old habits. If we can help [the family] identify small changes that [can be worked] into their current lifestyle, they’ll become successful.” Some of these changes, she adds, are as simple as turning off the TV, or going out for a walk or bike ride once a week, with the intent of making it a regular part of your family’s routine.
To some parents, teaching their kids about proper nutrition may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. At Willow Glen kids cooking school Cucina Bambini, which opened in April 2008, teaching children about making healthy choices is a big priority. “It is really getting out of hand,” says manager Heather Hicks of the rise of diet-related illnesses such as Type II diabetes. The center’s cooking classes aim to make students aware of the hidden fats and sugars in many foods. “We do show them a lot of substituting,” says Hicks. Not only do they use more nutritious alternatives, such as applesauce instead of sugar and or flavorful herbs in place of salt, they feel that children who learn to cook at a young age are bound for a healthier life. “I think what you grow up doing is what you tend to do and teach when you are an adult. These are life lessons and life skills,” says Hicks. “I really, really believe that giving them experiences with fresh fruits and vegetables is going to last them their whole life.”
Jill Litwin is also helping kids to eat better. Owner of Peas of Mind in San Francisco, she created “puffets,” frozen single-serve meals that are great for children ages one to seven. Litwin likens puffets to mini casseroles that contain the four food groups. Their carrot risotto puffet, for example, has organic whole milk for calcium, eggs for protein and Omega 3, organic carrots and sweet potatoes for the vitamins and veggies, and boiled rice for the grains.
“Our goal is to feed our kids better today and to do whatever it takes to make it easier for the parents,” Litwin says. “People are working longer hours and the commute is longer. We have foods for us that are convenient and healthy, but there’s been nothing out there for the kids. Now there is.”
Another key element to staying healthy is to incorporate plenty of exercise. Enter Dave and Naomi James, co-founders of FUZE Fit for a Kid!, a new health club in Los Gatos that was designed specifically for youngsters and tweens. Dave holds a masters degree in health services administration while Naomi is a certified fitness trainer, so they both know what it takes to keep the body in shape. “The idea for our company is to give kids the place and means to keep fit – or for many, to learn how to get fit,” Dave says, adding that FUZE isn’t just a place for athletes, nor is it strictly for kids who might be overweight. The facility is currently for children ages five to 14, though there are plans to open up classes for preschool-aged children soon.
At FUZE Fit, members can participate in interactive fitness and what the Jameses call “exergaming” – video-based games that are all people-powered, so that kids have to use their arms, legs and entire body to play them (unlike a traditional videogame, which involves only their fingers and thumbs). There is also strength training for older kids, circuit training, plyometrics (high-energy activities like jumping, running and bounding from place to place), plus classes in martial arts, cardio-kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, Zumba and hip-hop dance.
“It’s like walking into a health fitness restaurant,” says Dave. “You have a whole menu to choose from.” Dave James adds that before kids come in and exercise at FUZE, they have a consultation with the center’s pediatrician to get a baseline fitness assessment. “We talk about what it means to be healthy, and they identify what areas they’d like to focus on,” he explains. “Some of it might have to do with having fun, some has to do with getting exercise, and some has to do with eating right. But it’s all about being healthy.
Come see the Skywall available at Fuze Fit. The Skywall is provided by Exergame Fitness and is the worlds onlt fully motorized safe climning wall for kids. More information is available at their official website at http://www.exergamefitnes.com/
A video of Skywall below::
This FREE Exergaming Education Workshop is specifically targeted towards YMCA’s, JCC’s, Schools, Hospitals, Park Districts and Health Clubs around the Central and Eastern United States designed to provide “Fun, Realistic & Proven Solutions that battle Childhood Obesity”
This August the workshop will be held at Xtreme Fun and Fitness in Fishers, Indiana (XFF). XFF is owned and operated by CEO Judi Cooper and is currently Indiana’s premier Exergame facility which captures a true Exergaming experience complete with programming, design and a great marketing program designed to increase business and memberships.
Judi approached Motion Fitness with a lifelong goal of opening up a kids health, wellness & Exergaming center and brought in products that she believed would help her reach her vision and budget. With much success she has been successfully up and running, been on local news outlets and is turning Indiana’s kids into “Exer-gamers”!
We asked Judi about the success of her club & she adds:
“I can’t tell you enough how rewarding it feels to see inactive/overweight kids come into the facility, and watch them have a blast working out with continuous sweat pouring off their bodies. When it comes time to leaving, the parents have such a difficult time getting the kids to leave. Then to see them return the next day with a grin from ear to ear saying “we’re back” is very rewarding personally & professionally. Finally there is a concept that works and gets results concerning kid’s health.
When I first decided to open up this type of a facility I researched the different products and pricing for several weeks. I chose to partner with Motion Fitness for several reasons. They were very accessible and I was able to drive up for a day and try everything out first hand at their Exergaming facility in Palatine, Illinois. Since they are inside of a YMCA I really got too see the kids using the products which was fun. We also went over my business plan in detail. That really gave me a focused plan on how to make a successful decision based on my ideas and programming.
As hard as I tried to find an overall lower price on the pieces I wasn’t able to. They truly offer the best prices in the market and great post-sale services and programming. In the end, they gave me more than just a price; it was a personalized service that really focused on the success of my Exergaming club. That was a big reason why I decided to go with Motion Fitness.
After a meeting with them they provided me with a quote and layout for my facility. Then I was all set to open my new location. Our working relationship quickly became more of a partnership. I was new to the Exergaming industry and they shared a lot of marketing ideas with me, knowledge, training…really offered their support and help in any way I needed it in order to see me succeed. They have been absolutely wonderful to work with.
Exergaming is a fairly new concept that I know will really take off as we spread the word and get more people involved with Exergaming. My club has been picking up in business each month as the word gets out. Some have a fairly good idea of what it’s all about, but it really hits home with them once they come in and try out the gaming pieces. I hear “WOW, this place is awesome…what a great concept. You will do very well here and you should consider turning this into a franchise.”
I believe we have an opportunity to make a positive difference in those that will be our future leaders, so we need to step up to the plate and make a commitment to work with kids/youth in lowering the obesity rate, which will in turn lower our healthcare cost.”
Motion Fitness is the world’s largest distributor & supplier of Exergaming fitness products including having over 6 International Distributors who are gaining momentum. Motion Fitness regularly holds Exergaming Education Workshops at their Palatine, Illinois headquarters located inside the Buehler YMCA which houses over 18,000+ members. Motion Fitness displays the industries top Exergaming products inside of the YMCA that can be used by any workshop attendees. Using the YMCA as their testing and research facility Motion can test new products, hold Exergaming workshops and give live demonstrations of the industry’s up and coming Exergaming products.
Ed Kasanders, CEO of Motion Fitness added:
“Our Exergaming Education Workshops offer an ideal showcase for participants because they offer hands on experience by using the industry leading products that battle obesity.
Computer based games have proven to be successful in many applications. Simply put, kids want to be entertained;
Our workshops have been well attended in the past and we look forward to bringing more people from the central and eastern region to this workshop to learn about this great tool to battle obesity.”
Exergaming Education Workshop Includes:
Grant & Funding Assistance
Hands-On Product Training & Testing
Health and Benefits Training
Program Curriculums for Kids, Teens, Adults. Special Needs and Seniors
Exergame Marketing Ideas and Support
Finance & Leasing Information
Return on Investment
Guest Speakers Attending:
Ed Kasanders – Motion Fitness
Gus Condezo – New Vision Leasing
Marian Shaw – Makoto USA
Gary Florindo – Lightspace
Carlos Aviles – Skywall
Phil Lawler – PE4Life
Products You Can Test!:
Lightspace Play
Exerbike
Hoggan Sprint Circuit
Dance Dance Revolution
Dancetown DDR
Cybex Trazer
Makoto Sports Arena
Xavix
Sportwall
Guest Hotel Information:
Residence Inn
9765 Crosspoint Blvd
Fishers, IN. 46038
Phone: 317-842-1111
Discounted Rate of $119 plus tax
To register for this FREE workshop, please visit the Exergaming Education Registration Page here or call 847.963.8969 x1103
