NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

There is growing concern that sedentary lifestyles are contributing to an epidemic of childhood obesity. Expert's estimate 30% of American schoolchildren are overweight or obese. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 6-8% of schools provide the daily physical education classes that advocates recommend. Why not make a few resolutions to help combat this growing problem in regard to your students?

• Make your physical education class a place where students try a variety of activities to help them find activities they wish to participate in the rest of their lives.
• Resolve to contribute to wiping out the obesity and diabetes epidemic and to making sedentary lifestyles a thing of the past.
• Teach children about nutrition and healthy food choices, safety and injury prevention, and to seek a balance in diet and exercise. Encourage them to decrease both television viewing and playing video games.
• To exercise at least 30 minutes a day at a minimum and a maximum of 60 minutes (plus).
• To serve as a public relations salesman that spreads the word about the importance of health and physical fitness.
• Resolve that physical education be staffed by specialists and not by classroom teachers or lay providers.

There are some resolutions that apply to students, parents, and the community. It is important to prepare for a lifetime of fitness and to encourage movement. It is best to start by walking and later add strength training. Aerobic exercise, such as biking, swimming, and jogging, are important. Ultimately, this combination will help you gain strength, flexibility, and endurance.

There is a right way and a wrong way to make a New Year resolution. Here are some tips to help your resolution makes a difference:

• CREATE A PLAN - setting a goal without formulating a plan is wishful thinking. It must translate into clear steps that can be put in action.
• CREATE THE PLAN IMMEDIATELY - Like most people, you'll have a limited window of opportunity during the first days of January to harness your motivation. After that, most people forget their resolutions completely.
• WRITE DOWN YOUR RESOLUTIONS and PLAN - commit your resolution and plan to writing someplace, such as a notebook or journal.
• THINK YEAR ROUND, NOT JUST NEW YEAR - Resolutions are set in one day, but accomplished with many steps that happen throughout the year. You must develop a ritual or habit for revisiting your plan. To help you "stick to it," set-up email reminders from
  such Internet sites as MY GOALS, or try a program that makes stickies on your computer desktop, such as STIXY or GLIDE SOCIETY.

Starting a program in January for a New Year resolution isn't as easy as expected, but here is some advice to help you keep moving all year long:

• Find the right exercise for you. Chose activities that you enjoy.
• Make the time to exercise. Pick a time and stick to it. Don't make excuses not to exercise.
• Find an exercise buddy. Join a group. Get a friend to be involved and be each other's motivation.
• Check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
• Strength train safely. Work with a trainer to learn safe techniques.
• Make exercise fun. Using home equipment in front of a TV helps reduce boredom.
• Start slowly. This will help you achieve the most benefits with the least risk
• Write down why you want to exercise. Keep it visible to reinforce your motivation.
• Keep an exercise log. Reviewing your goals and progress made helps improve consistency.
• Make stretching part of the workout. This will keep the body in alignment and prevent injury.
• Set weekly goals and rewards. Short term goals give you something to look forward to, and you will have a feeling of accomplishment when you reach them. Avoid food rewards; instead, go out to a movie or get a massage.

WINTER ACTIVITIES:
In the past, winter activities were snow blanketed on the ground and you probably went outside and played in it. The air was cool and crisp and you had a wonderful time getting some exercise. Even though global warming has affected the overall temperature and conditions, there are still many things to do instead of playing video games and living a sedentary lifestyle. Because the winter season will soon be upon us in December/January, there are still many places to enjoy the snow and wintry conditions. There is an initiative, called Snow Sports Industries America (SIA), that distributes a tool kit to be used in teaching elementary school students best practices for snow sports. The WINTER FEELS GOOD toolkit is a learning tool that features animated characters to introduce the Winter Wonderland of activities. Here are some of the things the children will learn:

• How to dress for snow sports
• Basic conditioning exercises that improve agility, coordination, muscle strength, and balance
• Moves to learn before getting on snow
• Basic equipment for alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing
• Lesson plans for teachers to use in classrooms or gyms
• Motivational and safety videos
• K-5 curriculum
• Interactive quizzes
• Presidents Challenge Award
• Recreational Passport programs
• Starting a school program guide

There is some valuable information included for middle and high school age levels in the form of mountain biking, kayaking, in-line skating, and hockey. Also, click on GEARING TO GO for information about how to ski, ride a ski lift, an orientation to boots and bindings, lessons, and how to use the equipment safely. Included is information about what to wear, how to rent equipment, and a DVD guide for skiers and snowboarders.

TECHNOLOGY AND INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES

EXPLORATORIUM - An interactive tour in sport science that includes hockey, baseball, skateboarding, and skiing. Check out the sport science Q & A for sports skills help and skill description.

FEAR OF PHYSICS - Videos using computer graphics and animations, including how to make a jump shot, and information on speed and acceleration, ball comparisons, friction, and how things move.

FLIP FITNESS - A 30 minute total body workout using a deck of cards. First select an appropriate workout level based on your fitness level. Then select a card and perform the exercise.

MY PYRAMID - Use an interactive game to keep track of fit choices. There are tips for families, a pyramid plan for vigorous activity, a food guide plan, and worksheets.

KIDS HEALTH - Discusses staying healthy and health problems. Included is a MY BODY link that examines the brain, digestive system, eyes/ears, heart, lungs, and muscles.

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