National Yoga Awareness Month

September 1, 2012 by
yoga pose lady

Did you know that for the whole month of September, the Yoga Health Foundation calls for individuals, families and groups to acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful benefits of yoga? It is a campaign to encourage everyone to create a healthy lifestyle based on prevention and is a perfect opportunity to get started with a practice that will nourish you for a lifetime. Practicing yoga has innumerable proven benefits. From a physical standpoint, yoga stretches and tones muscles, increases flexibility, improves respiratory function and reduces pain and inflammation all over the body. As for the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Integrative Wellness, Yoga

September is National Yoga Awareness Month

September 1, 2012 by
Yoga Collage

Did you know that for the whole month of September, the Yoga Health Foundation calls for individuals, families and groups to acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful benefits of yoga? It is a campaign to encourage everyone to create a healthy lifestyle based on prevention and is a perfect opportunity to get started with a practice that will nourish you for a lifetime. Practicing yoga has innumerable proven benefits. From a physical standpoint, yoga stretches and tones muscles, increases flexibility, improves respiratory function and reduces pain and inflammation all over the body. As for the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Integrative Wellness, Yoga Tagged With: , , , ,

September Letter from the Editor

September 1, 2012 by
family yoga

Greetings eFitFamily readers!  Thank you for visiting and we invite you to explore our site to find information and inspiration as you take simple steps towards a healthier lifestyle.  This month we celebrate Childhood Obesity Awareness Month as well as National Yoga Awareness Month. We continue to face a crisis of childhood obesity in our country.  According to the American Heart Association, approximately 1 in 3 children ages 2-19 are overweight and obese (BMI-for-age at or above the 85th percentile of the 2000 CDC growth charts.)  www.heart.org  Join us in creating awareness and making … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Exercise, Child/Teen Health, Yoga

Benefits of Exercise for Children

September 1, 2012 by
NIHMS245691.html

Those of you who have read my articles in the past already know how much significance I attribute to the benefits of exercise and nutrition on our mental well being. I am often being asked why I think we have so many children, and adults by the way, diagnosed with something we call ADHD, mood or anxiety disorders. Well, one day we may possibly find out that there is something particular in our food or environment that directly causes it. And for some children reducing simple sugars, gluten, or other additives can make a big difference. However, thinking about some friends of mine and how they … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Exercise, Child/Teen Health, Child/Teen Mental Health, Exercise, Integrative Wellness, Mental Wellness

Kelly’s Week 8

August 23, 2012 by
half on scales

Kelly’s Blog – Week 8 This week has been average. Probably more like most weeks in my life and what my upcoming weeks will also look like with school starting back. We (the family) had a lot of errands getting ready for school to start (and our regular activity schedule is outrageous). I exercised some, but not as much as when I was on vacation and I did not get in my weight training like I had been doing. But…it happens, right? So, you just try better the next week and that is what I am doing. I did still lose 1.5 pounds, so my new total loss is 17.2. Yay me! I did eat out a little more … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Take Control

Kelly’s Week 7

August 16, 2012 by

Kelly’s Blog – Week 7 15.7 pounds….means I lost 1.8 pounds on vacation (10 days), while enjoying myself and eating dessert!! But, I did learn a few things about myself. I missed my scale. Yep – I said it. The scal-o-holic missed her scale….but, I missed it because I use it as a tool to keep me on track. Not to mention, knowing I have to check in with Angela and the blog also keeps me on track. I did eat too many desserts and didn’t feel real great about it (even when I was doing it); however, I just seemed to keep doing it anyway. Don’t get me wrong, it tasted good, but I need to learn to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Take Control

Kelly’s Week 6

August 10, 2012 by

Kelly’s Blog – Week 6 One day until I leave for vacation and I am right on track!! I feel like I just wrote a blog and don’t have too much to report this week. Once again, I have been on point with my food and have increased my cardio exercise (I had a little more time this week). I did a pyramid leg work out on Tuesday that Angela gave me and my legs are quite sore today (Thursday). I plan to get the chest/shoulder workout in this afternoon. My house is clean, my bags aren’t packed yet, but I am ready to get on the road. We will be with family all week, which I am really looking forward … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Take Control

August ~ Healthy Back to School

August 2, 2012 by
back to school2

We had so much fun with summer sports and the fall is already upon us!  August always brings an assortment of emotions.  Your children may be excited, curious, or nervous; parents may be relieved, hopeful, or concerned; teachers are hopefully motivated, rested, and inspired.  Whether or not the school year affects you, we encourage you to consider the impact of a healthy routine on your emotions and attitude towards any transition.  Children require opportunities for exercise, especially with school limitations of recess, free play, and lunch time.  Healthy balanced meals keep our brains … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Exercise, Child/Teen Nutrition, Mindful Parents, Motivation

Back to School Food Tips for Teens

August 1, 2012 by
iStock_000016154115XSmall

Back to school is very exciting for kids of every age. Buying new school cloths and supplies but what we usually forget to plan for is how we eat! I interviewed several teens for this article to learn more about their habits and what they want to know about eating healthier. So for all you teens that are getting ready to head back to school don’t forget the most important school supply of all food! Fuel your brain and body right with good foods! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so don’t miss it. I was not surprised to hear that most teenagers miss breakfast during the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Health, Child/Teen Nutrition, Family Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Mindful Parents, Nutrition Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Kelly’s Week 5

July 31, 2012 by
choices

Kelly’s Blog – Week 5 Hello everyone! I am writing this blog on a one hour break between our local “Wizard of Oz” show that my daughter is in…but before the 11:30 cast call my morning started with a 2.5 mile walk, a visit to IHOP, and then a kick box video. At IHOP, I ordered egg whites with two slices of turkey bacon and did not eat the toast. In the past, I would have probably ordered regular eggs with a side of grits and regular bacon (then had a taste or two of my kid’s left over pancakes). So again…another food milestone of making good choices. That is really what it is all about in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Take Control