Family Fitness

Next Sunday most youth across the country will go to church and do the same routine youth group thing --- (yawn). Other teens will have a lot of fun, build muscle strength, get their heart beating good and grow closer to God. And- they’ll experience a kind of fellowship that you just don’t get by sitting in the church pew. Take a look at the extreme makeover that could be coming soon to a youth group near you.

I am the mother of 4 teenagers. It occurred to me that a lot of skin issues are affected by sport and fitness activities. I’ve discovered an approach to skin care that is effective for the active person and spiritually strengthening too.

Fatherhood confounds most men at first. This leaves less time for exercise. If physical fitness is going to be part of your life you have to make it a priority. Psychologist and father of four, Stephen W. Simpson shares important lessons he has learned about fatherhood and fitness.

It can be difficult for a parent to find a way to motivate his or her daughter to have a healthy lifestyle. Chapan, a personal trainer with a focus on children, has found that the Girls On The Run program builds character among girls, gives them exercise and time to simply have fun together. Schools and parents love it. It is a Christian friendly approach to health that makes wise sense for families. Find out how to start one in your community.

Sweating and doing all those exercises in the gym can make you extremely self-conscious. Performer and trainer Lauren Lucille Garner shares her personal fitness experience and offers encouraging support to help you make positive choices and move forward with confidence.

The folks who run the American Dental Association must be marketing geniuses. Tooth brushing is such a part of a child’s routine. Our family has developed a way to make exercise and faith a regular part of our evening routine. Imagine children and parents squeezing but a few exercises together, brushing up on some Bible reading all in conjunction with good oral hygiene.

Is lunch time a highlight of your child’s day, or does she dread pulling out what you’ve stuffed in her brown bag? Do you know what foods contribute to heart health, and how to “sell” your picky eater on wise choices? Send your child off with a lunch that makes both his mouth and heart happy.

Coaching offers opportunities to build teams and build lives. Jeff Raisley offers lessons that he shares as a coach about self, group, and fun. They are important to the sport and to kids’ daily lives. In coaching, sometimes the goal is more than just a net.

Fierce yelling, snarling mouths, gritting teeth, and grunting under extreme weights… the testosterone zone of a high school weight room can be a formidable place for a teenage boy. A responsible coach knows how to harness that drive and build up the team without tearing down the young man. Parents have to focus on leading their children down a path that gives glory to God. Do you know how to get the job done?

In today’s face-paced world it is increasingly difficult to find time to dedicate to reconnecting family. Interactive fitness technology is helping parents and their children to interact with each other, have fun, and get in a very - VERY good workout.