Article Written By: Connor Sullivan
It should come as no surprise that too much time in front of the television makes for chubby kiddies. With childhood obesity hitting a scary all-time high, it's more important than ever to teach our kids how to combine proper exercise with a healthy diet. By understanding how to incorporate the best exercises in a safe manner, fun and healthy habits can be embraced by the young and followed for life. Do this now so your child can avoid the trauma of being sent to a weight loss camp or fitness boot camp in the future. In addition, by adopting a healthier lifestyle yourself, you will serve and a positive role model for your entire family.
It is common knowledge that aerobic exercise is what is necessary to burn fat. This is accomplished when breathing is increased and the heart rate is elevated for more than twenty minutes. It is after this time when the body turns to stored fat and use it as fuel. Examples of aerobic exercise that is fun for the whole family include swimming, running, biking, rollerblading, basketball, tennis and walking, just to name a few. In contrast, anaerobic exercise occurs when energy is exerted in short bursts with intermittent rest periods. While anaerobic exercise does not burn fat, it is responsible for building muscle. This is important to know because the more muscle mass a person has, the more calories, and therefore fat, they are able to burn. Some examples of anaerobic exercises are lifting weights, push-ups, stomach crunches and pull-ups.During aerobic exercise, you inhale lots of oxygen which helps to burn the fat away as well as increases your metabolism so that your body burns more calories during the day even when you're at rest. It is recommended that everyone get at least thirty minutes of aerobic exercise at last three days per week. While younger children are generally more active and have no problem meeting this goal, participating in aerobic activities as a family will keep everyone motivated and build bonds. Although it's good to be motivated and work hard, it is not beneficial to go overboard. Your workout should not be so intense that you should be able to talk during the activity.When it comes to safety, it is wise to talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise program to make sure your family understands any limitations. No matter what physical activities you decide to do, make sure you become familiar with the appropriate safety equipment such as protective eyewear, helmets, mouth guards, and padding. In addition, it's will help flexibility and prevent injury to learn to how properly stretch once the muscles have warmed up a bit. And, forget about the old saying, "no pain, no gain," because if it hurts, you should stop and adjust what you're doing before you get seriously injured.It is indisputable that exercise is good for growing children and it's best to promote a healthy lifestyle as soon as possible. Your family will achieve the most success if you find activities that they enjoy and that keep them moving.Connor Sullivan found that the weight loss camp was the perfect answer for his problems. He has signed his teenage son up for fitness boot camp this summer.
This Article Has Been Published on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 and Read 208 Times