Additional benefits of weight training often overlooked. A study published in "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise" found that resistance training remarkably improved mood even hours after working out. Participants in the study, 51 men and 33 women categorized as either experienced or non-experienced weightlifters, were distributed into either a 50-percent intensity, an 80-percent intensity, a control group, or resistance training. They were asked to abstain from consuming mood-altering substances, and refrain from physical activity other than the study. The researchers reported significant reduction in anxiety, depression, anger, confusion and fatigue, regardless of the level of experience with weight training. Other potential benefits of weight training besides improved strength include: - reduced CAD risk factors - improved endurance - improved self-esteem - improved flexibility - possible prevention of injuries - better posture De-Stress Your Desktop What could be more therapeutic than witnessing a Hawaiian sunset every day? Who could be stressed out at work if they were treated to scenes of wildlife all day long. Check out the free wallpapers and screen savers at Webshots

Adult Fitness

Fitness Connection Fitness Connection is an excellent online source for Health and Fitness. Fitness Connection is the Internet's premier portal for information on weight loss, diets, bodybuilding, clothing, equipment, fitness models, personal trainers, nutrition, and supplements for both beginners and advanced athletes.

Child Health Issues

School Health As health teachers and school nurses, we sometimes are asked about the embarrassing problem of bedwetting behavior in school aged children. For an explanation and some helpful information visit CBS Healthwatch. School Health of America How does your program compare to other school health programs across the country? Order a copy of School Health in America, 6th edition, published by the American School Health Association.

Exercise Training considerations for Children - Part 1 This is the first in a series of editorials that I will be writing on dealing with the trainability of children. Trainability of Children Trainability is the degree to which a tissue or a body system responds to a training stimulus with morphological and/or functional changes. The degree to which children and adolescents can improve physiologic measures depends upon growth and maturation rates and the exercise stimulus during the training program. In many ways, children respond to exercise much the same as adults do. Children may even have certain advantages over adults. For example, children seem to recover faster from exercise and appear ready to exercise again sooner than adults. There are major differences between children and adults, with respect to physiological responses and adaptations following exercise. Most physiological capacities are dependent upon body and system dimensions. For example, both stroke volume and cardiac output are lower in children than in adults because of their immature heart. In addition, children have lower blood volume, and hemoglobin concentration than adults. A lower maximal stroke volume and cardiac output, combined with lower total hemoglobin concentration, reduce the oxygen carrying capacity compared to adults. Children have a large surface-to-mass ration, higher metabolic rate, an immature sweating capacity compared to adults. With normal growth and development, most of these dissimilarities disappear. On the other hand, such parameters as VO2max (ml/kg/min) are very similar. An appreciation of the differences between how children respond and adapt to exercise compared to adults will help P.E. teachers plan safer and more effective exercise programs. My next editorial will deal with how children respond and adapt to aerobic exercise, and some tips on planning aerobic activities in P.E. settings. Scott Roberts Health and Fitness Section Editor

Employment Opportunities

Jobs for Fitness Professionals! Looking for a new job? Keeping your eyes open for a new opportunity? Considering a move to another state or region? Search the job listings at FitnessWorld They have job listings by state and by posting date.

PE Archives

Please let your colleagues know about PELINKS4U, and remember you can catch up on a year's worth of news in our PE Archives.

Nutrition Wouldn’t it be great to eat whatever you wanted without worry about increasing the old waistline? What if you could just take a pill and cancel out the calories in all those snacks and goodies? So what’s the truth about prescriptions and over-the-counter fat blockers? Nutrition Resources for the Classroom The American Dietetic Association has a wonderful web-page full of information that can be used for classroom instruction. Check it out.

Featured Web Sites

Spiritualityhealth.com Spirituality is usually presented as an important aspect of total person wellness but can a sense of spiritualism actually affect one’s physical health? Explore Pathfinders website for some insights into the various ways in which our lives may be enhanced by spiritual health. Fitness Advisor Also check out the Fitness Advisor. Another great fitness resource with lots of links.

Contribute YOUR Ideas

If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of the following Section Editors:

	Scott Roberts
	Andy Jenkins
	Darren Dale
	Ron Hager