Momathon Blog

Kidding around with yoga–the new trend for busy kids

I almost hesitate to suggest that parents add one more thing to the schedules of already overbooked kids, but research says a regular yoga session might help kids cope with the demands of their busy lifestyle.

Finding a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety is especially beneficial for kids because higher stress levels lead to fatigue and lower concentration at school and at home. Yoga with its emphasis on breathing and centering techniques might be just the thing to help kids find a healthy balance in their hectic lives.

Is it even possible to encourage a group of squirmy kids to improve coordination and posture by balancing on one foot? The secret is turning the yoga exercises into a game and kids learn the new skills quickly. In other words, make yoga fun. Classes for older kids and teens include fewer games and focus on lowering stress while building self confidence.

Yoga classes are a new trend in schools, hospitals, and yoga studios according to an article by Emily Glazer on WSJ.com by helping kids "relax and focus, and improve their flexibility." The WSJ.com video below explains how yoga classes for kids help:

According to Sheknows.com, yoga can provide kids with the tools to deal with stressful situations:

Yoga can provide much-needed centering techniques for kids with busy lives, experts say. "The benefits are many and basically it’s not only settling the foundation for a life of health and well being but it gives them the tools to deal with stressful life (events)," says Laurie Jordan, who manages children's programs for The Kaia Yoga Complete Wellness Centers. 

Regular yoga sessions can improve concentration and overall health, but does yoga really lead to higher test scores and improve fitness in schools? Researchers at California State University in LA in 2003 studied the relationship between yoga and academics. According to msnbc.com, researchers studied a charter school where students practiced yoga almost everyday:

Researchers found a correlation between yoga and better behavior and grades, and they said young yogis were more fit than the district average from the California Physical Fitness Test.

Tumbling and gymnastics classes for young kids have been popular for decades. Now more parents are signing young kids up for yoga classes because yoga stretching and body alignment improves overall health with the added benefit of possibly helping improve other athletic pursuits. According to an article on Chicagotribune.com (via Detroit Free Press): 

A preliminary study of pediatric health benefits of yoga, published in 2008, finds motor skills and concentration improvements, on top of better posture and breathing.

Apparently yoga is for all ages--even the diaper set. A selection of yoga classes and yoga DVD sets designed for young children and their families are reviewed by Shivani Vora in the Cranky Consumer blog on WSJ.com. A DVD mentioned in the blog is the Yoga Kids series for kids ages 3 to 6.

You can even connect with other parents interested in yoga for kids at the Yoga Benefits Kids Facebook page.

(The wonderful yoga photo above is by Carl Lender.)

 

Takes a village to convince young girls they are fat...

 

Can a girl as young as five learn to dislike her body? If you are unhappy with your body and obsess over dieting, your young daughter might follow your lead and learn to feel the same way according to the American Dietetic Association:

"Parental body image has a powerful influence on how kids feel about their bodies. If you talk about your thighs, your latest diet or your punishing workouts, your children will naturally absorb these negative messages. They will begin to worry about the size of their thighs and think they should be dieting."

I know how easy it is to spill my own feelings about dieting or the fact that a certain pair of jeans no longer fits. It happens. I don't have a simple answer to this dilemma. I will never be able to live perfectly. Perfection is something air-brushed on a magazine cover or edited in a movie. I gripe about not getting to the gym. We keep a big supply of cookies at our house. We have ice cream. Lots! But we also have plenty of good stuff like fresh fruit (or the easy to use frozen fruit), yogurt, whole grain foods, and the super food called water.

I know I won't always set the best example. However, I am taking baby steps in the battle against negative body images. Instead of saying certain foods are bad, at my house I am trying to focus on the foods with positive benefits. As a family we read the food labels. If my kids know the low fat content or the fiber benefits of a certain snack I consider that a success story.

(Photo above: limaoscarjuliet)

Ski Bum Mum: Go virtual at the Vancouver Games

If you read my blog, then you probably know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Winter Olympics--especially skiing. In another lifetime I was an alpine racer and a racing instructor. Fast forward a few years--okay a couple of decades--and I'm so excited to be following one of the best skiers ever--Lindsey Vonn. She started racing on the same "hills" I raced on as a kid back in Minnesota. The fact we hail from the same state is the only racing similarity I share with Lindsey. She is phenomenal. I really had a lot of fun racing, but I also had a talent for catching a ski tip on a gate, spinning out, and crashing. (I blame it on my goggles fogging up.)

Okay, enough nostalgia. This year keeping up with the athletes and the stats at the Vancouver Games in 2010 is even easier thanks to some pretty amazing techie gizmos.

If you want to keep up with Lindsey, become a fan on Facebook or Twitter

 

 

 

Unfortunately Lindsey Vonn has a shin injury this week and I know from experience how painful that can be. I still will be following her and praying that she heals quickly and brings home the gold. 

Keeping track virtually

The thing is, with the freaky weather out in Vancouver some event schedules might change. I don't want to miss anything, but I can't sit by the TV all day. Thanks to the widget below, you can track the women's (and men's) alpine skiing schedule and results with the Widget below:

If you want to track the overall medal count, check out this widget:

You can track almost anything happening at the Winter Games using the Widgets of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Go Red for Women Day

 

Wear red today--National Wear Red Day--to promote awareness of heart disease and strokes in women.

One in three women die of heart disease in America. 
 Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America. 

The good news is women have control over many of the risk factors linked to heart disease including: 

smoking
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
high stress
lack of exercise
obesity

Talk to your physician to find out what you can do to lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 

Unfortunately, too many women shrug off the risks of heart disease in women because they think it's a man's disease. Spread the word--talk to your girl friends about the importance of taking care of our hearts and our bodies.

Going out tonight? Spread the word about preventing heart disease and ask your family, girl friends, and co-workers to wear red. 

 

 

(Photos: Go Red For Women)

Ski bum mum on the weekend

A good day on the mountain starts with some carbs...

 

And a cuppa joe...

 

Nothing makes a ski day like sunshine and kids

 

And when you are tired, just follow the signs...

 

  

Photo credits: 1.  Sauce Supreme, 2. Alex-s', 3&4  Luna Blue Studio

Geeky Mom: Eat This, Not That app for the iPhone

You've probably already heard of the wildly successful Eat This, Not That book series by Men's Health editors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding. Now you can get the book translated into an iPhone app format.

The ETNT app price at $4.99 is higher than many similar apps costing less than a buck, but the creators promise you get more.

Here is what the ETNT app offers according to their promo featured on the iPhone app store.

• complete no-diet weight loss solution
• discover thousands of simple food swaps
• track calories for over 13,000 menu items and 10,000 grocery products
• tools to build a healthier grocery list
• tools to view nutritional grades for over 13,000 adult and kid menu options at restaurants
• food comparison chart lets you put two foods head-to-toe to see which is the healthier option.

One obvious benefit of the app over lugging around the book is the fact you can take Zinczenko and Goulding's advice with you everywhere--in the grocery store, at a restaurant, or at a fast food place.

We all know that sometimes it is difficult to get kids to eat healthy, but this app could make the difference. The graphics and interactive features will make it more fun for you to help younger children decide which item is the healthier choice. Of course, older kids with an iPhone can use the app themselves--just don't tell them it was your idea.

Ski Bum Mum: 100 days and counting

Skiing has been one of my passions ever since I was five and my family moved to a Minneapolis suburb with a tiny ski resort only a block away from my house. I grew up skiing with my older brothers almost every day during ski season.

Fast forward many years and a move to Colorado, now I am chasing my own kids down the mountain.  Note that my kids are not chasing me. Now they are the fast ones. And I do my best to keep up with my kids even though old racing injuries and age have slowed me down just a bit. 

Counting down to the Winter Games 2010...

Lindsey Vonn at Val d'Isere in 2009 (image by gulgul sk8 74)

Some of the US Ski team, including my personal fave Lindsey Vonn, started training this week in Vail for the Winter Games. The good news is a recent storm dumped plenty of the white stuff at nearby Beaver Creek Resort just in time for the December 4-6 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup event.

I am psyched.

Social Media Helps People Find Stolen Bikes

Yes, it can be a very impersonal world out there and bike thefts are on the rise, but bike thieves beware. Thanks to a community of bike lovers online, someone just may catch the next thief with the help of Facebook and Twitter.

According to Anjali Athavaley at WSJ.com:

Last month, Boston launched StolenBikesBoston.com, where people can register their bikes and send out theft alerts on Twitter and Facebook.

So far, about 240 people follow the alerts on Twitter and 350 on Facebook. Boston police don't track bike-theft numbers, but "we wanted to head off the theft issue because as ridership increases, theft increases," says Nicole Freedman, director of the city's bicycle program.

Want to reduce the chance your bike will get stolen. Check out the WSJ.com article for a video that includes tips and tools for properly securing your bike.

Leftover Ham? Make a Kickin' Spicy Ham on Ciabatta Bread Sandwich with Susannah Locketti

What should you do with the leftover Easter ham? Well, you could poll shoppers at your local market for ideas. And that's exactly what Susannah Locketti did.  Susannah is a Momlogic contributor and on-air chef at the Food Network.

What was the most popular choice of shoppers? A sandwich. But Susannah has even bigger ideas. She adds Ciabatta bread with a crispy crust and Thousand Island dressing. My husband must be destined to be a celebrity chef because he has been making the same yummy meal for years.

Watch her make the yummy sandwich on this Momlogic link. 

Digital Kid Syndrome: Are Your Kids Couch Potatoes?

I dream about a world--or maybe just a weekend--without a Wii, Xbox, or iPod. My kids would talk to me and other real people in real time. Their eyes would enjoy looking at real things like books, bicycles, broccoli, and basketball courts. Their arms and legs would move with real things like the vacuum cleaner!

Okay, it's just a dream. But what if you could convince your kids to step away from their digital worlds and go outside. Taking a class with their friends or with siblings is one way to develop new hobbies and talents that can last a lifetime. Imagine a teen who makes dinner. Or an 8-year-old who creates all your greeting cards. According to the clever editors at Oprah.com you have many wonderful choices including these ideas:

• Cooking classes (or teach them to cook at home with Recipes Your Kids Will Enjoy Making and Eating!)
• Music classes
• Photography class with mom or dad (check out these Photography Tips)
• Fitness class
• Sewing, knitting, or other craft classes
• Language class
• Dance class
• Magic lessons
• Volunteer (check out these tips on the Art of Giving Back)

In my personal experience, some affordable (and even free) classes that last a day or an afternoon can be great fun too. Group lessons are usually more affordable. Here are some to try:

• Horseback riding lessons (More affordable lessons might be offered to a group such as Girl Scouts, etc.)
• Writing or journaling classes (Some classes are offered for free at the library)
• Tennis lessons
• Golf Lessons 
• Scuba diving lessons
• Pottery or ceramics classes
• Mommy and kids craft classes at your library 
• Or create a co-op with your friends. Each mom (or dad) can sign up to teach a class in a hobby they enjoy

Have fun! I might sneak into one of the classes too!

Swimsuit Models on Planes...Literally

I like swimsuits. I'm not phobic about trying one on. I know I am "older" so a bikini probably isn't a good option. And because I used to be a lifeguard, I don't pick a red tank anymore.

However, swimsuits--even on super models--in my highly opinionated opinion belong at the beach or the pool. I was not impressed when I saw the story about Southwest Airlines teaming up with Sports Illustrated to paint one of their Boeing 737s with the image of uber swimsuit model Bar Rafaeli in a white binkini. I wouldn't go as far as to equate the plane's swimsuit edition to "soft porn" as some shocked passengers did according to Gadling.com. 

Sure, it would be funny to see this "swimsuit edition" plane, but funny is not what I am looking for in a plane.

Does This Salad Make My Butt Look Big?

Going out to eat? Eating a big salad packed with fresh veggies sounds like a good idea. That is until you stop and consider that your salad could also include fat riddled toppings and excess sodium.

Imagine a green salad with as much fat and sodium as a big plate of cheese fries. According to a segment on the TODAY Show with Men's Health editor David Zinczenko and Matt Lauer many popular salads are over the 1,000 calorie mark. 

I hear you. You thought you were making a good choice by eating a salad instead of the cheese burger and fries. How could a nice green salad be so bad? Consider the T.G.I. Friday's Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad that has 1,300 calories making it as caloric as eating an entire Domino's thin crust Hawaiian pizza plus an extra pizza slice. Yikes! To find out more caloric salads--including one that is the fat equivalent to eating 10 scoops of  ice cream--check out the TODAY Show video below.

The good news is you can still eat a healthy salad at a restaurant, just do your homework before you order. Here are a few healthier salad options according to the  TODAY Show.

HEALTHY SALAD CHOICES

McDonald's Premium Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken

• 300 calories

• 10 grams fat (1 gram saturated)

• 890 mg sodium

Panera Classic Cafe Salad

• 400 calories

• 11 grams fat (1.5 g saturated)

• 270 mg sodium

Find out more tips to eating healthier salads at restaurants with Men's Health editor David Zinczenko and Matt Lauer on the TODAY Show video clip below.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Can a Virus Make You Fat?

When I have a cold I feel awful and I know I look awful, but is it possible a common cold virus can also make you fatter? 

Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar in Louisianna believes one strain of the common cold virus called Adenovirus-36 can interfere with body processes and cause a person to gain weight. His team of researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Centre has documented over 1000 patients who may have gained weight more quickly than normal because of this virus.

If a virus changes your immune system and makes your liver or pancreas metabolize differently, then you might gain more weight. 

According to a report in BBC NEWS, Dr Dhurandhar says, "When this virus goes to the fat tissue it replicates making more copies of itself and in the process increases the number of fat cells, which may explain why people get fat when infected with this virus."

The Zen of Soccer Moms and Juice Boxes in VW Ads

Never underestimate the power of a soccer mom--or any mom on a mission. Meet the passionate self-proclaimed "#1 soccer mom" Deb (played by Mo Collins of MadTV) on her mission to deliver the MLS Cup to L.A. in her brand new VW Routon. The new ad campaign "VW Road to MLS Cup" features webisodes that follow the eight-day cross-country trip. Never fear. Deb remains in charge even when the MLS cup's offical handler is a bit grumpy and the MLS players that tag along drink a few too many juice boxes. 

MLS player: "Are we there yet? ... We need to go to the bathroom."

Deb: "Sorry Sweetpea, but if I pulled over every time someone had to use the biffy, we'd never make it to L.A."

Sound familiar?

Finally VW got it right. This new soccer mom campaign is hilarious and a big improvement over the funny but also kinda creepy VW ads featuring Brooke Shields that urge women to "have a baby for love, not for German engineering."

You can watch the webisodes in the YouTube clips below.  

"It Begins," Episode 1

"Juice Boxes," Episode 2

"People's Pickup," Episode 3

"Lost," Episode 4

More webisodes coming up. Episode 5, "L.A. Sleepover" is avaliable tomorrow (11/21) and episode 6, "Game Tape" on  11/21. You can find these episodes on Major League Soccer: VW: VW Road to MLS Cup.

Treadmills for Tots?

At what age should parents begin a gym workout with their kids? Does a preschooler really need a grueling circuit training workout? I hope most young kids can get plenty of exercise during unstructured playtime. Even something as simple as a walk around the block with your kids has health benefits. I have nothing against enrolling your preschooler in a weekly tennis class or swim lessons, but a nightly gym class seems over the top. The toy companies are getting into the tot fitness craze too. Now parents who are unable to--or just don't want to--leave the house to get their kids to exercise can buy a Fisher Price Smart Cycle stationary bike that hooks up to a television, according to ABC. I'm all for tot toys like mini kitchen sets or work bench tools that encourage playing at being grown up. The key word is "play." But I wonder if a toddler running on a treadmill is play or torture?

(My First Treadmill, $89.99)

Many kids need more exercise and a healthier diet. The CDC studies estimate 16 percent of American children are obese and 15 percent are overweight. 

Older school-age kids participating in the gym seems like a healthy idea, as long as it is done in moderation. And above all, parents have to be mindful that the kids need to be motivated. Evidently lots of kids want to squeeze in a daily cardio workout. More and more kids are going to the gym with their parents. "Last year 1.3 million children ages 6 to 11 were members of a health club," according to an AP article. Fitness centers and families are buying kid-size equipment for workouts. Hook the stationary bike up to a PlayStation 2 and it's hard to get kids to stop exercising. Besides circuit workouts designed for school-age kids, fitness centers now are offering hip hop dance, yoga, karate, and nutrition classes.

-Posted by Chris at Momathon Blog.

Do Your Kids Play Enough?

"I just want to play with my friends." I hear that a lot at my house. When our after-school calendar becomes so booked we have to schedule in our bathroom breaks, I can feel the tensions rise and the energy levels plummet. That's when it's probably a good idea to turn off the PDA and tell the kids to go out and play. 

Researchers say unstructured play time is important to child development according to a segment on the The Today Show. Play may even be the key to making kids more successful later in life. Play nurtures curiousity. If you want to boost their creativity, give in to their pleas to "just play."

Of course a math tutor class can help your kids. But don't underestimate the power of play. What breeds innovation? Play. What helps kids to think on their own and develop self direction in life? Play.

Unfortunately, kids today have on average 12 hours less play time per week than kids only two decades ago. And more and more school districts are reducing recess time or even eliminating it.

It's not just the loss in play time that is detrimental, it's the temptation to only provide educational toys. We love educational gadgets at our house, but I'm learning that a watering can, some sticks, and a corner of the garden is better than a educational science DVD. It's time to get out the blocks, read a book, and just enjoy free play.

I know I'm guilty of worrying about how my kids spend their free time. It's only natural as parents that we get anxious about wanting to help our kids, but sometimes we give in to our anxieties and over schedule our kids lives. We forget the value of "agenda free time."

That reminds me, it's a sunny and warm outside today. The perfect reason for me to squeeze in some time for the kids (and me) to get outside and play today. Hope you can too.

 

My Latest Fantasy: The New Green Electric Bikes

Biking is one of my favorite ways to exercise, clear my mind, and have fun with the whole family. Ever since I was a kid riding my yellow Schwinn 10-speed, biking has given me an energy boost--that is, until I have to make the exhausting hike up a steep hill. That's why I am dreaming about buying an electric bike that uses pedal power, but also lets you pedal when you don't want to. Cleaner and cheaper than the gasoline-powered scooters, an electric bike has a rechargeable battery and a little electric motor. The pedal power from the battery varies depending on the bike model, but many models have a range of about 20 to 60 miles on a six-hour charge and operating speeds of approx. 20 mph. The bikes are relatively light with the motor and batteries hidden in the frame. (The electric motors and batteries are integrated seamlessly into the design in the Campus bike featured above--the least expensive model at Schwinn for $1900.) A LCD readout mounted on the bikes tells you when you need to recharge the battery.

With gas prices soaring this summer, an electric alternative that lets you ride without the high prices and without sweating sounds pretty sweet. Of course I love the eco-friendly features of electric bikes, but I also love the idea of arriving at my destination without getting hot and needing to change into fresh clothes. Weather will always be a factor when biking, and the standard electric bikes do not offer "rain protection." However, some models do offer a special cover that protects the rider in the rain or wind.

Electric bike news:

Schwinn's Electric Bikes Now Available : TreeHugger

IZIP Hybrid Electric Bicycles and Scooters

eZeeBike

Electric Bikes Northwest