Physical Literacy Skills for 3 Month Old Babies
Start teaching Physical Literacy to babies beginning at 3 months??? YES!
I am pleased to announce that through Gymtrix I have partnered with Sassy Baby Toys to develop an instructional DVD for their newly released Rock Star Developmental Gym. The product is now available in all Target stores. The Rock Star Developmental Gym is for babies age 3 to 6 months and features multiple sensory toys and movement challenges for baby. The Gymtrix DVD included with the product teaches parents activities that they can enjoy with their baby to increase fine and gross motor skills. This provides bonding time with parent and baby, and developes positive emotional associations with physical movement. Babies are eager to learn how to manage their little bodies and parents can be their teachers by following the activities.
As a Physical Education professional, it has been my lifelong quest to help people master and enjoy Physical Literacy skills. In over 35 years of teaching I have learned that it is never to early (or too late) to begin. Starting early in life builds skills, confidence, and also builds a network of brain connections that will maximize learning potential.
I am delighted to partner with Sassy Baby Toys in the release of the Rock Star Developmental Gym. Sassy Baby Toys is an ideal partner for Gymtrix because of their vision and mission to educate parents and provide the very best developmental toys for babies.
Remember that it is never too early to begin learning, and remember to keep moving. Rock on!
Sport Skills for Babies and Toddlers – Expert Advice
Recently I’ve enjoyed appearances in a New York Times story, on CNN, The Today Show, and numerous radio and printed media stories. The subject is Physical Literacy training starting in infancy. Sadly, some “experts” have made statements that no research exists to prove the importance of early sport training. Remarkable! This makes me both angry and sad and here’s why; making people fearful and worried immobilizes them and interrupts the very important work of teaching children how to become active. But, dear reader, I hope that you are a person who does your homework – reading research and facts – and who forms their own opinion. So, I have gathered some information and resources for people who want to know. Studies proving the importance of early physical training are not new, and are both conclusive and compelling. There is endless research and information available, but here are a few links to help parents, educators, and care-givers understand the critical need to teach Physical Literacy early in life:
The importance of physical learning from birth to 5 years as the critical window of time to optimize brain development.
Because the body and brain work together, a child who participates in a physical development program will have greater brain capacity than a child who is not. Physical activity activates nerve cells in the brain and stimulates them to create neurological pathways.
Early movement provides a hedge against obesity, and also provides the habits to keep moving throughout life. The book “Spark” by neuroscientist John Ratey, MD reveals the amazing and powerful brain benefits of physical movement.
In his book, “Teaching With the Brain in Mind”, Eric Jensen says that motor skill development has specific value for reading, stress response, writing, attention, memory, and sensory development. Studies show that physical movement helps memory, spatial perception, language, attention, emotion and decision making.The inner ear’s vestibular area plays a key role in school readiness and this is developed by moving upside down, rocking, and swinging. Enrichment for the brain is provided by learning something new such as eye-hand coordination tasks, spinning, tumbling, rocking, pointing, counting, jumping, and ball toss activities to stimulate the early neural growth patterning. Physical movement is one of the best ways to stimulate the brain and learning.
Experts recommend daily physical activity and Physical Literacy learning starting in infancy and continuing throughout toddler, preschool, and elementary years.
Some people fear that teaching babies and toddlers Physical Literacy skills will lead to sport abuse by adults. Tom Farrey sets the record straight in his book, “Game On” which exposes the huge money-making industry of child sport competitions and it’s harm to kids. It is important to distinguish Physical Literacy education from training for competitions. Physical Literacy teaches a broad range of skills so children have the tools to participate in any physical activity and is presented in a fun way without pressure. Early sport specialization and competitions teach the skills for only one sport with the goal of developing high level athletes.
Babies today are in danger of delayed development and obesity due to inactivity. This concern has led to new activity guidelines for babies and toddlers.
Getting kids active for life requires a combination of both structured and free play. It is important to start with babies and continue through the formative years of early childhood.
The American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines on physical activity for children in day care. Just like bigger kids, preschoolers need at least an hour a day of unstructured physical activity, and another hour of structured (adult-led) physical activities.
Dr. Mary McCabe, a health researcher, says, “Research suggests children can raise their achievement level, increase their motivation, heighten their understanding, accelerate their learning timeline, and expand their creativity through motor skills.” A review of more than 80 brain studies found that physical activity is critical to healthy brain development and cognitive functioning in children. Physical movement stimulates not only muscle and brain development, but also brain growth and development.
Research proves that movement is critical to brain and body development for babies and toddlers. Not long ago, neuroscientists believed that the structure of a human brain was genetically determined at birth. They now realize that although the main “circuits” are “prewired” (for such functions as breathing and the heartbeat), the experiences that fill each child’s days are what actually determine the brain’s ultimate design and the nature and extent of their adult capabilities.
Children gain strength, coordination and dexterity by using their muscles during play and other physical activities. A child’s healthy physical development depends on freedom of movement, opportunities for indoor and outdoor play and access to a variety of activities. Encouraging babies, toddlers and children to move and to try new activities helps them develop at a timely and healthy rate.
For adults who doubt the importance of Physical Literacy training for babies and toddlers, the REAL EXPERTS have made the answer clear. It changes the future of children in a very positive way! The experts have told us what needs to be done, and Gymtrix provides the how to do it for parents and caregivers. So, don’t be afraid; keep moving, and have fun!
Baby Athletes – the Science Behind it
The thought of teaching sport skills to babies seems absurd to many adults. Developing toddler athletes? People think it can’t or shouldn’t be done. Really? Let’s take a look at the scientific facts as quoted from Tom Farrey’s book, “Game On”…
Human beings learn at an astonishing rate when very young, perhaps faster than at any other time in their lives. Beginning in the mid-1980s, parents started becoming aware of the developmental importance of the first five years of a child’s life. The human body takes about two decades to reach its ultimate size, but 95 percent of the brain and central nervous system gets formed by age 7, and most of that growth is in the first four years. During that time, cells are being created and connected in ways that support the basic components of neuromuscular coordination. By 18 months, the cell content of the cerebellum – part of the brain that affect movement – has already reached adult levels. It’s not mature from a cognitive standpoint, but the physical infrastructure is all in place.
Motor skill development is a plastic process affected by habitual physical activity and the practice of specific movement. At age 2, a toddler might not be able to do much more than strike a ball with a plastic club. But each time they whack it, signals are sent to their neural systems – the brain, nerves, and eyes – and with repetition, the signals suggest that the capacity of performing this activity needs to be developed. The sooner those signals are sent to the neural system of a child, the better chance he or she will have of later nailing a technique. A similar neurological process controls the learning of language, which is why parents are encouraged to expose kids to foreign tongues as early as age 1.
Teaching Physical Literacy (sport skills) to babies and toddlers is consistent with the science of motor learning, which suggests that complex skills are mastered by first gaining proficiency on simpler maneuvers. Technique itself is merely a function of perfecting sensory-motor habits, learned activities that are practiced to the point of automation. The motor centers are taught how to act in a relaxed and economical way, so that ultimately a movement flows from the unconscious. The action just occurs on its own, once the go-ahead to do it is given. All that repetition also helps the muscles and joints to recognize minute deviations in proper form. “If kids are taught developmentally and start with what’s simple and build from there, they can learn skills early,” says Crystal Branta, a Michigan State professor of motor development whose research was cited by the AAP in its recommendation.
The nay-sayers are worried that early training is harmful to kids. But, the problem with teaching sport skills to very young children is not what is does to them, but what it can do to the adults around them. Early success can be intoxicating – and disorienting, knowing that potential greatness is in your care. If he’s this good now, parents may think, imagine how good he could be when he gets older. The needs of a child can become lost to the perceived needs of his athletic career. “Childhood should be a smorgasbord, instead of being pushed into a sport at an early age,” says Robert Malina, the youth sports researcher and expert on growth and maturation. “Otherwise, you’re violating a kid’s rights.” Remember that every good thing can be used in a harmful way, but let’s be sure to stop the harm and not the good!
Motor-skills expert Crystal Branta says that for optimum physical developmental, the priority should be on learning general athletic movements – running, jumping, hopping, skipping, and so forth – that can serve as a foundation for entry into multiple sports once children’s bodies mature. The best athletes are those who played a variety of sports through teenage years, rather than specialize early in one sport. This is because of the transferable value of basic coordination, balance, and other foundational skills. It should be our goal to develop every child into an athlete, but that doesn’t mean that every child should participate in competitive sports. There are many highly skilled athletes who choose never to compete and instead enjoy a wide variety of recreational activies. The goal is to educate children well, and then allow them to choose how they use their skill and knowledge.
Learning sport skills starting in infancy can and should be done. And, little ones can be taught in a safe, and creative way that is fun for both parents and babies. Gymtrix DVDs teach parents and caregivers how to do this. When babies and toddlers do learn Physical Literacy skills, they become more confident and active. Isn’t that what we want for our kids, and isn’t that what every doctor prescribes for health? The good news is that every child can learn Physical Literacy skills and if we start now, we will change the future of our nation!
Sport Training IS for Babies!
Babies training for sports. Is that crazy? Many people think so, but I don’t. In fact, adults have a responsibility to teach babies and toddlers sports skills. How many adults and teenagers do you know who watch from the sidelines because no one ever taught them how to be active. Sad, right? And preventable.
Most parents avoid teaching sport skills because they don’t know how or they don’t understand the importance of it. Gymtrix DVDs empower parents to teach sports skills to their babies, starting at 6 months. Can 6 month old babies really learn much? Absolutely! The human body is an amazing machine, and babies are capable of SO much more than adults think. Adults underestimate babies because the infants can’t talk yet. In contrast, the babies I work with at Gymco and Gymtrix are literally leaps and bounds ahead of their peers, and they love it. Little ones love to master new skills. Each new skill is a step toward greater mobility, independence, and confidence. So, why would we deprive babies and toddlers of this very real reward? While adults are wringing their hands and wondering what to do about the obesity epidemic, there IS an answer. Teach kids the skills that they need to be active! Just as we put babies on our laps and read to them to begin academic literacy, we must also begin Physical Literacy the same way. Gymtrix is the first and only comprehensive curriculum to teach parents about Physical Literacy. We don’t need to be afraid of teaching sports skills if we understand the right approach!
Babies will develop positive emotional feelings about sports when the learning is positive and fun. This means no shouting, coercion, drilling, threats, or competitions! It means teaching a broad range of skills: throwing and catching; batting and racquets; kicking and foot dribbling; jumping and agility; fine motor skills; rolling and twisting; balance; and going upside down. When we nurture a positive and healthy approach, these sport skills and confidence will keep kids moving throughout their lives. I have seen this happen for the 35 years that I have worked with children. Now, my former students are active adults who share their stories about how powerful this training has been in transforming their lives.
We are not powerless in the face of this obesity epidemic. Inactivity is preventable if we start early in life. And, babyhood is the perfect time to begin!
Motor Skills Build Confident Kids
Every parent wants their child to be self-confident. Many well-intentioned parents try to reach that goal by meaningless praise for everything their child does. But, it doesn’t fool the kids into being self-confident. No, confidence comes from something - and that something is ability. Kids (and adults) earn confidence by becoming proficient at skills and abilities. In early childhood this begins with motor skills and movement ability. Mastering motor skills enables kids to experience the reward of achievement that comes from hard work. It is a great feeling to master new skills that you’ve worked hard to achieve. It helps kids to face challenges with an attitude of fun and excitement rather than fear and trepidation. This enhances their confidence and enjoyment of life.
Very young humans experience life primarily in the physical realm. It is a huge event in the life of a child when he learns to walk, jump, skip or turn a cartwheel. These events have far more impact on a person’s psychological makeup than does learning to conjugate a verb or solving a math problem. Children form a perception of themselves based on how well they compare physically to their peers. It is more important to a 3-year-old to be able to keep up on the playground than it is to read or do math. For young children, feeling competent physically generates a belief that ”I am capable”, a foundational component of a healthy self-esteem. A healthy self-esteem is important for inner peace and happiness and to tackle life with gusto.
The gift of motor skills and “physical literacy” is a gift for a lifetime. And, there is a window of time from birth to 7 years old that is the critical time to teach these skills. By age 7, kids with poor motor skills already struggle with self-esteem which can turn into a lifetime battle. Therefore, the babies in my family begin this process in the first week of life. I gently move their tiny arms and legs to begin teaching the patterns they will need to walk, throw, kick, etc. I carefully move their bodies in every direction – upside down, each side, swinging, etc. We progress each month and build on the patterns. Their pediatricians are always amazed at how strong, confident and capable these little ones are compared to their peers. However, this level of development should be the norm, not the exception. And it could be the norm if each parent learned how to work with their baby to teach them these skills. It would literally change the course of each life! Research conclusively shows that good motor development prepares a baby/toddler brain for academic learning. The same parts of the brain used for motor development are also used for academic learning. If you have a baby or young child in your life, don’t stand by and watch their motor development, be intentional about helping them with it. You won’t believe what they can learn!
No Child Left Behind? Schools get a failing grade in P.E.
Research shows that parents understand the value of physical education in obesity prevention, learning readiness, and brain development. Parents want more activity for their children during school hours. They want children to learn motor development and healthy habits for life. Why, then, are schools cutting Physical Education at all grade levels? Why do administrators disregard the hoards of research that proves physical activity enhances academic learning? Are they ignorant of it, or just don’t care? And if they are ignorant of it, WHY? A school administrator’s job is to stay current on the research and provide the richest learning environment possible for kids.
Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that our kids get one shot at their education. And if it’s not done well the kids are ones who suffer. The job of parents is to be an advocate for their child to protect them from harm. This includes harm by clueless school systems! PLEASE, become informed and involved in your child’s school. Read the research and be active in promoting positive change. Kids should have regular activity breaks because it not only burns calories and teaches healthy habits, it also produces brain chemicals that enhance learning and quiet behavior. Kids actually learn more in less time. Their focus increases, memory increases, and they process information more efficiently.
I have visited and read about many school systems who have integrated movement into the classroom in response to the latest research. Some kids are sitting on exercise balls during class. Some classes take a 10 minute activity break. Some schools have increased their Physical Education time. There are so many ways to incorporate movement into the school day! It sure isn’t difficult, so why isn’t everybody doing it? Maybe laziness? It is easier to do things the way they have always been done. That approach doesn’t require any energy, creativity, problem solving or critical thinking. But, the damage will be evident 10 – 20 years from now when we can’t go back and do it over.
Please click on the link above (in the first sentence) to get started with your education. Then, Google “physical activity and learning” or other key words to become informed. Then, gather other parents and become advocates for change in your child’s education. You will be glad you did, and please tell us about it!
Habits Against Obesity
Overweight and obesity – is it nature or nurture? It is overwhelming for most folks to figure out how to fight the fat. I was talking with Chad, a co-worker, yesterday about our personal battles against obesity. We figured out it’s been a lifelong journey for both of us, and one that we expect to continue always. Chad has been sharing some tips with his Dad who is waging a frustrating battle with the “bulge”. We realized that our successful battles against obesity was really a series of very small steps. It is the changing of habits, one at a time, that together produce a powerful result. Chad and I both reached a point in life when the weight was gaining on us. The habits and techniques we had used before were no longer working. We had to learn something new. The battle against obesity isn’t ONE diet or one simple solution. When we talked about all of the things we’ve learned and changed in our lives, we saw what a lifetime journey this is. Here are some of the new habits we’ve learned:
First, the food thing:
First thing in the morning, sip a 16 oz. glass of water before breakfast. This will hydrate your body and help you to avoid overeating for breakfast.
Sip 40 more oz. of water throughout the day – sometimes we eat when we are really thirsty
Eat 5 – 7 servings of fruit and vegetables each day. This will provide your body with critical nutrients and replace higher calorie junk foods.
Keep a fruit stand stocked with enticing fruits on the kitchen counter. You’ll reach for that first instead of junk food.
At meals, drink water instead of soda, milk or juice. Get your nutrition from your food. Add lemon to your water if you like some flavor.
When eating out, cut your meal in half before you start eating. Take half home for lunch or dinner the next day. This helps save money too!
Choose whole grains instead of white, processed stuff. It satisfies your body with less because of the nutients and fiber.
After entertaining at home, donate leftover sweets to the snack table at work or to the neighborhood kids. Everybody will love you for it!
Skip the white rolls served with restaurant dinners or burgers. Eat just the meat or main meal. It’s an easy way to cut calories and fat (remember the butter you put on that roll?)
After physical activity, fuel your body with some high quality protein, not sweets. It will sustain your energy and blood sugar much more effectively.
If you have a busy schedule like I do, keep half of a protein bar with you always. If you have a snack attack, you are prepared with decent fuel for your body. Add a glass of water too.
Keep some minty gum in your car or purse. Sometimes we want a taste in our mouth and use food when we really aren’t hungry. A piece of minty gum can be satisfying, and freshen your breath at the same time!
Next, the body thing:
Studies repeatedly show that people who get 8 hours of sleep a night are slimmer. Chad and I have taken this to heart. We have lots more energy. A trick Chad learned: instead of watching TV until the wee hours of the night, get into bed at 10:30 and read. Before you know it, you’re sleeping!
Get up early enough for your body to wake up and take time to eat some breakfast. Every study shows breakfast eaters are slimmer. Make yourself do it! This one was hard for me, but I’ve mastered it.
Take a walk. Add 20 – 30 minutes of walking to your day, even if you already exercise. And, you don’t need to do it all at once. It can be done in 3 intervals of 10 minutes each. It’s the perfect brain break at work instead of coffee.
Do something to build more muscle strength. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even at rest.
These are just a few ideas - there are SO many more. But, choose just one thing. Do it for a month until it becomes a new habit. Then, choose another new idea that makes sense for you. Do that for a month until it too becomes a habit. If you do this each month you will have made 12 changes in a year, and 60 changes in five years! Think about that – it’s huge! Chad and I have been making changes, one at a time, for 25 years (me) and 10 years (Chad). The cool thing is that we’ve been able to maintain our high school weight as a result of our continued efforts. We are always learning and changing. And, you can help your family members too. If you have kids, you can help them learn habits against obesity beginning in childhood. That’s a gift for their lifetime. When people tell me I’m lucky because I’m “skinny” they’re wrong. I’m not lucky – this is no accident.
“Ya don’t get somethin’ for nothin’”, and “if nothing changes, nothing changes”, so get started on a habit against obesity today. You really can make a difference in your life! If you are already on a journey, what has worked for you? Chad and I would love some new tips….
Fitness Is a Choice You Can Make!
I got a nice compliment today. And it got me thinking. I was out and about, and a lady about my age stopped me. “Wow, you have a really flat stomach”, she said. “You look great”. “How did you do that”?
“Well”, I said, “I do about 400-500 various kinds of crunches when I work out”. Her mouth dropped open. “Whoa”, she said. I told her that I didn’t start out with that many. I added a little at a time and now it’s not difficult. And, it’s something she could do if she wanted to. It only takes about 15 minutes three times a week. A small investment for a flat stomach. Besides the ab work, I run 3 miles three times per week, do some strength and flexibility work, and choose carefully what I eat. Stuff anyone can do, really.
You don’t get something for nothing ( my Mom taught me that). And, nothing gets done only wishing and thinking about it. Anything worthwhile takes some work. We all know that. I have heard comments like: “You are really lucky”, or ”I wish I could eat what you eat and be that thin” (usually a comment heard when I occasionally eat a dessert). Well, I’m NOT lucky, and if anyone ate what I eat, they would probably be about the same weight. The fact is that fitness doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a conscientious choice every day. And, everyone can attain a measure of it depending on what they’re willing to do. And, it is a lifelong choice. I weigh less now than I did in college, and am in better shape too. But, it is because I have changed my daily habits one at a time over lots of years. The cumulative effect of all those choices has been great.
You can do it! And don’t think it is beyond your grasp. There’s nothing magical about it. Search out good health habits. Take your very worst habit and change that first – it could be finding a healthy alternative to chips or soda. Or, it could be getting up off the couch and taking a 20 – 30 minute walk every day. There’s plenty of information out there on what to do, but it won’t help unless you do it. Start today! You CAN do it! And, somewhere down the road you’ll hear someone say, “boy, you sure are lucky”! And you’ll say to yourself “lady, this is no accident”……
Obese teachers create sedentary students
I just got back from the National Convention for the National Association for Education of Young Children, held in Chicago. It was an awesome experience – 17,000 creative people who care about the future of our kids. I presented a session entitled, “Physical Literacy – Building Smart, Healthy Kids” and I had an incredibly positive response to this new message. You see, the answer to our problem of inactivity in kids isn’t “exercise”. Exercise is an outgrowth of physical literacy the way that reading is an outgrowth of academic literacy. We need to tackle the core of our inactivity problem, which is teaching kids the skills they need to be physically active – things like motor skills, coordination, agility, balance, spatial awareness, etc. Learning a comprehensive set of physical skills won’t happen by accident, any more than academic learning happens by accident. It needs to be planned and purposeful. Our national education motto is “no child left behind”, but we are leaving children behind in physical development every day! How sad that the bodies they live in will become a burden instead of a joy. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can do something to change it – we’re not helpless, and we need to do something besides just wringing our hands over the obesity epidemic in kids.
One thing I became very concerned about at the national conference, was the number of obese people teaching our young children. I was absolutely shocked at the percentage of overweight and obese people walking by our Gymtrix booth (Gymtrix is a DVD series designed to teach young children physical literacy skills). For the most part, the overweight and obese teachers walked passively by our Gymtrix booth, uninterested in a tool to teach physical skills to kids. But, we had many “fit” teachers who stopped, very excited about finally having a way to teach their students to be physically active. These teachers knew the joy and benefit of physical activity in their own lives and wanted to learn how to share it with their students.
Now, if an overweight or obese teacher has no physical activity in their own life, how can they be effective as a role model and educator to teach young children the importance of an active lifestyle? Would we expect academically illiterate people to teach our children to read? The answer is obvious. Yet, we are leaving our children behind physically, and then whining because they are couch potatoes and overweight. HELLO! Wake up everybody! Choose your preschool and day care carefully. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education has recently released national physical activity standards for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. In a recent study, NONE of the preschools and daycares studied met the minimum standards for physical activity! Studies now show that one in five preschool children are already obese. This is a call to action and an appeal to educators, parents and administrators. Please quit talking about the problem and do something about it!!!
The years from birth to age 5 is a powerful window of time that will shape the abilities and habits of children for their lifetime. This is the time to set the stage for an active life by teaching kids the skills they will need to be active. Exercises for kids like flapping arms and legs to music and jumping up and down might burn some calories but it is not true education.How will kids learn to throw, catch, kick, leap, etc. unless we teach them? We can’t wait until kids are in school – we’ve lost precious time by then. And, schools are cutting physical education in favor of more academic curriculum. The irony is, motor learning develops the parts of the brain needed for academic learning. So, physical learning should be part of the curriculum of every school, for every age, because it prepares the brain for academic learning. And, it should be presented at intervals throughout the day to boost brain power, focus, and attention. What are you doing to fight obesity and give children the gift of physical literacy? Please, do it for the kids!
The Biggest Losers Lose More Than Weight
The Biggest Loser TV show has captured the support, attention, and fascination of Americans. Folks are cheering for the contestants during their arduous and public journey of weight loss. There are tears, laughter, confessions, angry outbursts, hugs, full body collapses, sweating, hope and hopelessness; all the stuff of soap opera drama.
Each viewer can see a little bit of themselves in the contestants. We can all relate at some level to their personal struggles as they work to rebuild their self-esteem and their lives, and become the whole person that they have dreamed of. We cheer their successes and mourn their losses as some make it and some don’t. But, what about their lives before they became “The Biggest Loser” celebrities, and what drove them to the quest for “fat fame”?
The truth is, being fat is miserable for everyone. Nobody is truly happy fat. Sure, there are happy people who suffer from obesity and remain happy in spite of their weight struggle. But, nobody is happy about the fact of being fat. Being fat makes every day harder than not being fat. It is harder to move or get around; to find clothing that fits; harder on the joints, heart and blood pressure; harder to feel confident; harder to make friends and feel accepted. And all of this makes it harder to enjoy life every day.
Before contestants on “The Biggest Loser” get to the show, they’ve already lost a lot in their lives. Because they haven’t lost weight, they’ve lost opportunities and the freedom to live life to the fullest. And when the days of loss add up to years lost, the regret and sadness is real. For this reason, we applaud the efforts and successes of “The Biggest Losers”.
The simple remedy for obesity has always been calories consumed versus calories expended. In other words, diet and exercise. Despite all of the faddish solutions over decades, the simple truth is still the same. The contestants on “The Biggest Loser” work hard to burn more calories than they consume, and it pays off. It is a difficult journey and a enormous lifestyle change, but it does pay off. The message for all of us and our families is that weight loss is achievable if we are willing to do the work. Even better, we need to create healthy lifestyles in our children so they never have to endure the pain of the contestants on “The Biggest Loser”.
The next time you watch “The Biggest Loser”, ask yourself what the contestants might have GAINED by eating less and being physically active year after year. The answer is huge. As a friend once said to me, “nothing tastes as good as being thin feels”. And you know what? She was right. I think the “Biggest Losers” would agree.
