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Family Exercise - Play Together

The family that plays together, stays FIT together.


This weekend, we’re discussing ways for families to incorporate together time and fitness.  Physical activity shouldn’t be a chore or a dreaded event.  Just like turning room clean-up into a game becomes more fun for the child (and the parent who’s spared of the disobedience or whining), physical activity where the entire family participates can be a fun experience where beautiful memories and healthy habits are created.


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 16 percent of children (over 9 million) 6-19 years old are overweight or obese — a number that has tripled since 1980.  Over the past three decades the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years.


Experts agree that inactivity and poor eating habits contribute to obesity. While national guidelines recommend 150 minutes of physical activity each week for elementary children and 225 minutes for older children, only Illinois has a statewide requirement for daily physical education.


Why rely on the government to give your child his daily dose of exercise?  As a parent, I kinda feel like it’s my responsibility to teach my child how to live a strong and healthy life–I don’t think anyone else can do a better job with that than my husband and me.


Here’s three suggestions for families to engage in physical fitness while enjoying time together:



  • Go on a weekly nature hike. If you live in an area with varying terrain, the hike alone with increase the breathing and heart rate while giving everyone’s legs a good climbing workout.  If you live in a relatively flat area, then incorporate speed drills.  Run or race to a specific tree or marker that’s 10 or 20 feet away, and then walk, and repeat at varying markers throughout your route.


  • Go on a family bike ride. If you have older children who have bikes, then pick a route with minimal or no traffic.  If you have a bike trailer for smaller children, you can tow them in a low-traffic area.  They’ll learn to appreciate the time together and desire to exercise just like YOU!  Wouldn’t it be fun to have a bike trailer like the one *pictured above?

Do yoga or stretches together. Yoga for pregnant women, and post-partum moms is often a great way to help your body relax, and find balance with your constantly shifting center of gravity.  If you’re unsure of how to incorporate this back into your life once baby arrives, we’ll talk about some great tips for this later this weekend.


    • Do family calisthenics a few times a week. These are good, old-fashioned exercises such as jumping jacks, skipping, galloping, jumping across one end of the backyard to another.  If you’re familiar with other calisthenics, use those, too: crunches, push-ups, pull-ups.  Make it a game and do it together as a family.  Laugh, have fun, and encourage one another.

    A basic calisthenic exercise that small children usually do perfectly and innately by the time they learn to walk is the squat.  As they get a little older, children tend to forget how to do a perfect squat since they don’t do it all the time…well, at least not in our culture.  Kids and adults in several countries in Asia perform perfect squats their entire lives.Why is it important to learn how to do a good squat?


    The squat is a basic movement that we perform our entire lives.


    • We often bend down to pick something up, and then stand up.

    • Small children naturally squat with their feet flat on the ground, and then stand up using their stronger thigh, buttocks, and leg muscles.

    • Over time, we incorporate less of our strong thigh and buttocks muscles, and rely more on bending over with our backs.

    • Improper execution of this simple task can lead to wear and tear on the joints and discs in the low back over the course of time, resulting in back muscle strain, sciatica (or sharp/numb radiating back pain), and low back disc problems.

    Want to learn how to teach your kids the proper form for a squat?  Actually, do YOU want to learn a simple method to do a perfect squat?  Watch this 5 minute video by Crossfit instructor Jeff Martin (complete with two cute kids).


    YOUR TURN:  In what ways do you incorporate fitness into your family routine?



    Subscribe // Twitter me: drdolly
    *Bicycle image above by Kamyar Adl via Flickr

    [Via http://travelingwithbaby.wordpress.com]


    Magical Moments

    When I arrive at school at 7am, I am not always awake enough to overflow with enthusiasm. That’s when I say–Thank goodness for the students! There is something magical about a child’s view on…well, basically everything. Once I open my gym door and they come in, their eyes are all lit up and they’re all smiles and full of energy–What are we doing today? They can barely contain themselves when I tell them where to go and what to do. Then when I turn the music on, forget about it! They are now bursting with excitement and the energy fills the room as their little voices fill my ears.


    It’s contagious. Next thing you know, I am singing Miley Cyrus at the top of my lungs as I am running and playing with them. I can hit a badminton birdie with a foam racquet 20 times in a row, do 10 push-ups, hold a plank for 30 seconds and then run laps with a 9-year-old and it’s my job!! I always tell the kids –Don’t tell anyone how much fun Ms. Isbell has in here. They won’t want to pay me anymore.


    Today, I paused for a moment, and I really watched them. I watched the expressions on their faces. The happiness they showed when playing with a friend, the exhilaration when they were successful,  the frustration when they were not. I studied how they figured out skills through trial and error. I noticed how they interacted with each other and how sometimes they didn’t even notice each other. And I witnessed countless close calls that most parents could not bear to see, as boys and girls seemingly flew through the room and sometimes through the air, yet somehow they landed on their feet and no one went to clinic!…today.


    And the best part hadn’t come yet. When class was over and they were lining up, THEY thanked ME. With their sweaty little heads and their red toothy faces. They were thanking me. Funny, isn’t it? They made my day and then they thanked me. Life is good!



    [Via http://judithisbell.wordpress.com]


    King Cake

    It's Mardi Gras time again and the king cake is flowing! If you don't
    know, there is a plastic baby inside and whover gets the baby has to
    buy the next king cake! Fun times had by all!

    EDDIE ROBINSON (NOIR ET BLANC) 01/04



















    Major Tourist Attractions in Haiti

    Haiti as we already know by now needs the whole world’s support due to the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the island earlier this week. With this tragic event that killed an estimated 50,000 people, I can only hope and pray that Haitians can still find a way to continue living.

    Haiti is Creole and French speaking Caribbean country. Being a Caribbean country it is blessed with one of a kind beaches. The island attracts thousands of tourists every year from around the globe. Natural wonders, parks, lakes, monument and historic sites are among the best tourist attractions of the island.

    Beautiful islands are common in Haiti but Labadie Island is probably the most popular tourist spot in the country. The island is famous for its breathtaking view any time of the day. A cruise can help you check out the totality of the Labadie Island. You can check out the nearby Bay of Acul and Amiga Island. These two tourist spots are equally attractive and offer travelers luxuriant green landscapes.

    If you’re a traveler who likes to know more of the country’s history then Citadelle is the right place to visit. Musee de Guahaba is a specialty museum that houses the country’s abundant arts and artifacts.

    Barbancourt Rum Distillery is also a major tourist attraction in Haiti. One of the best tasting rums is being made here.

    Petionville is the perfect place for vacationers who like to shop. The place is located in the country’s capital which is the Port au Prince. Various restaurants and shops are found in Petionville. You can also get a closer look of the country’s rich cultural heritage in this place.

    Aside from the major tourist attractions that I have mentioned, there are also a number of places in Haiti that are worth your time and they are Lake Saumatre and Chaine de la Selle Peak. Lake Saumatre is famous for flamingos, water buffaloes, and crocodiles while the Chaine de la Selle Peak is the highest point of Haiti.

    Despite being the poorest country in the western hemisphere there’s no doubt that Haiti has a lot to offer to its growing number of tourists across the globe.

    Let us all hope and pray for Haiti’s fast recovery and restore those natural wonders that makes them one of the best tourist destinations in the world.

    ED VAN AMSTERDAM 06/06



























    Fitness = Happy Bride


    “Exercising gives you endorphins, Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t kill” –Elle Woods, Legally Blonde


     One of my most favorite lines from a movie, mainly because it’s true.   I started right after Christmas trying to do some kind of exercise everyday.  It’s mainly been a work out on the Wii (we’ve accumulated Wii fit, EA Active and some others) and its been working.  It consists of using your own body’s resistance and mixes a lot of yoga.  Exercise should be a part of every person’s life, but so it seems especially brides!  Every magazine, online article, or book I read, says “Get fit for your wedding!”


    There are a number of duh reasons:


    1. look good in the dress

    2. look good on the honeymoon

    3. look good for your future husband

    Other more fantastic reasons:


    1. Endorphins-they make you happy. (Most exciting time in your life, you should be happy!)

    2. takes away stress (see reason 1)

    3. gets your mind off of wedding planning

    4.  its much-needed “me” time

     Even if I’m only able to get in 15 min, it’s definitely helping me.  I think more my psyche than anything else, but it makes me glad.  Also with the fitness, comes eating right.  Last night , we raided walmart for healthy food and drinks.  I don’t drink coffee, so my morning pick-me up is Diet Dr. Pepper.  Instead, I’m gonna try Cran-Energy.  So far this morning I think its working.  I’m pretty chipper.  A harder fitness routine should be coming soon.  My maid of honor happens to also be a fitness trainer (boot camp queen!) which is pleasantly convenient!  She’s gonna plan  some kind of a workout for me. YAY!


     In case you need some motivation like I did, here are some great tips from


    The Knot.com:


    Wedding Get-In Shape Checklist:


    http://www.theknot.com/pdf/gettinginshape.pdf


     Wedding Dress Workout: 


    http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-beauty-tips/wedding-workout-exercise/articles/the-knot-wedding-dress-workout.aspx


     The Ultimate Pre-Wedding Abs Workout:


    http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-beauty-tips/wedding-workout-exercise/articles/the-ultimate-abs-workout.aspx


     Wedding Workout Playlists: 


    http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-beauty-tips/wedding-workout-exercise/articles/workout-music-playlists.aspx



    [Via http://thefuturemrst.wordpress.com]


    Speed Work

    A cold winter night where most people are in the comfort of their homes, and here we are, 50 people under the bright lights of the stadium, lining up on the rubber track to run 400 repeats. Under the coach’s direction, we take off in several heats, grouped by our speed. I am waiting for my group to be called. The voices around me are discussing what time we should complete one lap in. Don’t go out too fast. We have to do 8 of these. Take it easy on the first lap…


    Team Runyon, Go! And off we go and I am looking straight ahead and my legs underneath me finding a rhythm, my arms pumping, I can hear my breathing. I feel like a race horse, looking for my stride, my comfort. This incredible surge of adrenaline and power rushing through me. I round the second turn and I feel a burst, as I control my speed all the way to the finish.


    What a rush! 7 more times, I think. Between runs, everyone talking, comparing times. I just try to keep my focus. I have set the bar high for myself and I am going to rise to the challenge. Just an hour ago, I was Mom, cooking dinner, barking out orders, making arrangements for my absence. But, now, I am a runner. In my tights, my hat and gloves, racing against myself to tap into my inner speed demon.


    And, behold, I do not disappoint myself. The last lap was happening before I knew what hit me. I was racing, legs turning, arms pumping, breath heavy, giving 100% to the moment.


    And tomorrow my legs will be sore. I will savor the memory of those fleeting moments when I felt so strong, so fast and so in control.



    [Via http://judithisbell.wordpress.com]


    Bad History – Malmedy Massacre

    To fully appreciate this entry you first will need to travel to You Tube and watch a preserved clip of a broadcast by Keith Olbermann in which he dresses down Bill O’Reilly for his attributing the events of the Malmedy Massacre to the United States Army, rather then to the German SS.  Overall the commentary of both men has aspects that are correct, Keith Olbermann is correct in asserting that Bill O’Reilly is wrong in attributing the events of the Malmedy Massacre to the armed forces of the United States, captured American soldiers were executed in a field near where they were taken prisoners by members of the German SS.  The SS, speaking broadly, was a military organization that was semi-separated from the regular German Army, the Wehrmacht, the SS had its own chain of command, supply systems, rules of engagement, military culture and organization, and was treated effectively as an “army within an army.”  The reason though they can only be considered as a semi-separate part of the Wehrmacht is that the SS did work in military operations in cooperation with the Wehrmacht and the two military commands were expected to operate together towards overall tactical and strategic goals.

    This is important to understand because the policies of the SS reflect an extreme dimension of policies followed and often supported by the leadership of the Wehrmacht, especially on the Eastern Front.  That fact is important because Bill O’Reilly is also correct, there is solid evidence that the armed forces of the United States did execute some German prisoners taken in battle, some after the events of Malmedy in retaliation and also some German prisoners of war taken in earlier battles.  In the airborne landings prior to the Normandy amphibious landings (popularly referred to as D-Day) in the early hours of 6 June 1944 the deployed airborne units were widely scattered, disorganized, and lacked the capacity or facilities to handle German’s taken prisoner.  Some soldiers did execute German prisoners of war, a sad fact but one well documented by testimony on both sides of the battle lines.  Furthermore during the Normandy landings some German’s who attempted to surrender were executed by American forces, either immediately following the conclusion of the battle or shortly after the battle.  So Bill O’Reilly is correct, American armed forces did engage in actions that could be seen as atrocities against German prisoners of war.  What both commentators miss though is the broader context of the situation and, in that, lies the real key critical aspect of these events and why Bill O’Reilly’s comments represent a horrible twisting of history.

    Massacres of German prisoners of war, conducted by American forces in the Normandy campaign, and earlier in the Italian campaign of 1943, were actions of individual units of soldiers.  The highest levels of command authorizing such actions, to my knowledge, were commanders in the front lines of individual units, no order of that nature came from the central leadership of the United States armed forces or from any political leadership of any Allied power.  To put it more simply, Eisenhower, Roosevelt, and Churchill never issued any orders following the events of Malmedy to kill German prisoners of war.  However in Germany, on the Eastern Front, the situation was quite different – Russian prisoners of war were executed in vast numbers, through forced labor, starvation, and direct violence upon prisoners taken on the Eastern Front.  This savage policy was an extension of Germany’s policies regarding “racial purity” and the overall plan of the Nazi leadership to destroy the various Slavic ethnic/linguistic populations in Eastern Europe to replace them with ethnic German settlers.  Slaughtering Russian prisoners of war, in brutal and calculated fashion, was the official policy of the high command of the German SS, it was a policy followed and often supported by the command of the German Wehrmacht, and it was a policy endorsed and orchestrated by the highest levels of command in the Nazi government of Germany.

    In other words – evidence indicates solidly that Adolph Hitler was the central figure behind a systematic policy of execution of any Russian prisoners of war taken from 1941 onwards and that he was supported in this policy at most, if not all levels, of the command structure of his military forces and the government of Germany.

    So why does this link to the events on the Western front in which American prisoners of war were killed by a German SS unit?  It matters because the massacre of the American prisoners of war is an extension of a Nazi policy of war on the Eastern Front, meaning that this massacre was undertaken in a military environment far different then that facing American military personnel.  It was unacceptable to the higher levels of command in the United States armed forces that German prisoners of war would be executed if taken in battle, it was a breech of the rules of engagement and punishable.  For the SS units going into battle in 1944, it was not an unacceptable policy and might have even been ordered by the Nazi high command.  Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann miss the broader impact of the Malmedy massacre and the executions of German prisoners of war that occurred at the hands of American soldiers, when German prisoners of war were shot by Americans it was an action by an individual unit acting on its own, in violation of the rules of engagement and standing orders.  When German military figures executed American prisoners of war in a field in Belgium, it was an extension of a policy in operation, with official blessing, in how the German military conducted its wars from 1941 onwards.  One is a single incident that is a regrettable human failing, the other a systematic policy of slaughter and brutalization with the aim of spreading terror among ones opponents and, more darkly, destroying an entire ethnic and cultural group.