I've spent the last few weeks contemplating the transition from teenager to adulthood and how this applies to fitness and personal workouts. I have a child in this age bracket right now. My oldest son graduated from high school last spring, and he has always been an active kid. Whether it is playing basketball or chasing his younger siblings around the neighborhood, he has always loved joining in for any sport or activity. But the question I have been asking myself is this, "What happens when organized sports are over and you are just too old to run around outside with your little brothers and sisters?". My son has been trying to answer this question himself. All of a sudden he is noticing that he is a bit out of shape compared to the last few years and he is trying to figure out what to do. He has started running a few days a week, and ran about 2 miles with me the other day. I feel lucky and proud that he is motivated enough to want to get up and head out the door. But, it really makes me think about all the youth out there that are not motivated to do this. So many kids get out of high school where they have been active members of teams for years. In an instant, they have no practice to attend, and no reason to get up and go to the gym or hit the courts for a workout. And what about the kids who haven't participated in fitness? What are the chances they will be motivated to go workout?

Thinking about these things has lead me to a few conclusions: The first is that we have to work very hard as parents to find activities that our kids really love to do. Just like adults, if they don't love their workouts, are they going to keep doing them? Chances are they won't. They may be able to take those big lessons they've learned about teamwork or overall health and apply them, but they may just decide that now they can finally take a break from doing that sport they hated anyway. This is the last thing we want to see happen.

The second thought I've had is the necessity to keep encouraging kids to participate in team sports that they do love. For instance, I suggested to my son that he join a basketball team at the local recreation center or at his community college. There is no reason that we can't continue with team sports just because we turn 18, is there? Not only will they be happy with their fitness regime, but the social interactions will be great.

My final thought about this transition goes back to the same old idea that those who know me have heard me say forever. We have to set the fitness example to our kids and demonstrate consistency that fitness time is a part of every day. Kids who watch parents that workout daily will follow that example because they understand it to be the norm in life. They won't think it is unusal at all to go to the gym when they have been watching their parents do it every day since birth.

Encouraging our post-high school, early adult children to keep up the habit of health and fitness is one of the best gifts we can give them. Just a few positive words on the topic may help them stay motivated, help avoid the weight gain that often coincides with the early college years, and set them up for a lifetime of great health. But, in order to reach this phase, we have to make sure we haven't skipped any of the steps along the way....in other words, we start health and fitness early and often to ensure that we continue the habits well into our late aduthood.

In Good Health,

Jenn

The Gift of Health and Fitness

It is difficult to sit back and watch a loved one continue with unhealthy habits, knowing what some of the terrible consequences might be. I think we have all been there at some point in our life. It could be bad eating habits, lack of exercise, smoking, or drinking. It might even be poor emotional health, high stress, or depression. It hurts to see the people we care about not living the best life they can, and sometimes we see what is hurting them before they do. I know I am not the only one who notices when my friends and family aren't taking care of themselves. It can put us in an uncomfortable place because we don't want to hurt the feelings of those we love, but isn't it our job as the person who cares the most to step forward and offer assistance to the person who needs it? We have to find a way to offer support in whatever way is needed to help that person become healthier and live a more fulfilling life.


I work in fitness, so I get to spend an enormous amount of time helping people identify their unhealthy habits. I consider myself lucky for that reason. I also get to say things to people that are difficult for others to say. People rely on me to tell them what they need to do to change their bad habits and come back to a place of health. From spending years as a trainer and fitness expert I have learned something very important when it comes to client goals: Everyone gets healthier when they have support from family and friends. Did you know that one of first questions most trainers ask is, do you have support from your family to begin this fitness program? This is a question we need answered because it can guide us in helping this client be successful. I say all this so the message is clear. Family support is invaluable when it comes to health and fitness goals.


With that being said, it is easy to see why giving the gift of health and fitness to someone you love is so important. By gift, I mean many things. Your gift can be offering to go for a walk every day at 5:00 p.m. with your aging parents. It can be setting up appointments with physicians, and taking your family members to them. It can be calling your sister on the phone every day to find out how her eating plan is going. There are so many options of how to give this gift, and it will be one of the most precious gifts you ever give. The holidays are a fantastic time to give this gift. We all know that January is resolution time, so why not give a gift of health and fitness that can roll right into the first of the year resolution season? It's the perfect time. Here are some great options: a gym membership, sessions with a personal trainer, some new home fitness equipment, some visits with a nutritionist, massages, acupuncture visits, or even smoking cessation programs, or counseling sessions. If this is something you have been thinking of doing, look into some of your local options. Many of these types of services offer specials during the holidays for just this reason!


You will never regret helping those you love become healthier and live more active lifestyles. It is the gift that will fulfill not just their life, but also yours when you get to spend more time together doing fun activities that aren't limited by health. If we can all affect just one person's health in a positive way, think how much we could impact our country, our healthcare system, and our happiness!


In good health,


Jennifer


PS. In honor of this blog and spreading the gift of health, Sporty Sprouts is offering $150 off of our upcoming session!