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Keith Ahrens
Health tips and discussions, motivational articles and positive lifestyle coaching from Lifestyle Change Expert, Keith Ahrens
8
Today was a blast… of Water.
The Jump For Joy Foundation had another camp today. I love these camps.
Fighting the rising Childhood Obesity Epidemic by getting kids physically active is “Camp Jumps” primary mission. Arming the parents with the knowledge they need to help their children eat healthier and stay active is another mission.
Bill gave another outstanding nutrition class to the parents. Anthony and Branden worked tirelessly to keep the kids moving. The many volunteers tried to keep up with the kids and always had a smile on their face.
Today’s theme: Firefighters Boot Camp.
Firefighters from The Clark County Fire Department came to the camp today in full gear. They used fire hoses, relays, and fitness drills to get all the kids involved in fitness. To have these Hero’s come and work with the kids was Amazing and Inspiring.
The firefighters explained the importance of staying fit and eating healthier foods to stay in shape with the kids.
The highlight came at the end of camp when everyone went outside and saw a Paramedic Ambulance, a Huge Fire Truck and an even Bigger Ladder Truck.
The firemen repositioned the Ladder truck, raised the ladder, had a very brave firefighter scale 6 stories in the air and turn on the fire hose cannon. At 800 gallons per minute this site was awesome.
They also let the kids grab hold and discharge a fire hose and spray the parking lot.
All I could say was “WOW”.
The Jump For Joy Foundation is doing excellent work.
Visit their website and learn more. Click Here “JumpForJoyFoundation.org”
Have a Heart Healthy Day and Keep Moving America. – Keith
SB230 is coming up for a vote in the Nevada Legislature tomorrow Friday, March 25.
The bill prohibits the sale or provision of foods containing Trans Fats at public schools within this State.
I’m hoping the advocacy work we’ve done and our testimony tomorrow pays off and the bill gets passed.
It will greatly improve the heart health of our children and reduce future medical expenditures for generations to come. – Keith
From the American Heart Association Below:
THE AHA ADVOCATES
The AHA will continue to monitor removal of trans fats from the food supply and assure that healthy replacement oils are used.
• The Association will advocate for legislation and regulation that removes industrially-produced trans fats from food preparation in restaurants and schools and requires that all foods brought in be zero grams of industrially-produced trans fat as labeled.
• The AHA will also address labeling issues to assure that there is accurate information provided to consumers about the actual amounts of trans fats in foods products.
• The AHA will support robust nutrition standards in schools and for foods marketed and advertised to children and strong procurement standards for foods purchased by employers and government feeding programs.
Nevada Heart & Stroke Day was held at the Nevada State Legislature and Capitol.
I bought my flip cam and shot some video and put together a short trailer on YouTube.
Click here to watch the YouTube video
The American Heart Association coordinated the event.
Advocates from many different fields advocated legislative action to the Governors office, our State Senators, and Assemblymen.
The 4 key legislative initiatives we lobbied for were:
1. Childhood Obesity – Removing foods containing trans-fats from the schools in Nevada.
2. Childhood Obesity – Improve nutrition and physical activity/education during and after school and childcare programs. Support statewide school wellness policies and help schools adhere to the program. Support school playgrounds and athletic fields for use by community and non-profits.
3. Tobacco Control – Increased price of tobacco products, limiting exposure to second hand smoke and funding to cover cessation programs and services.
4. Stroke Quality and Availability of Care – Support state level recognition of certified stroke centers and coordinated systems of care for stroke in Nevada.
Click here to watch the YouTube video
Please feel free to share the link.
“The hardest thing anyone can do is putting his or her hand on the door handle and opening the front door. Walking through the door is the second hardest.”I recently spoke to fitness and health professionals and told them just that.
It may be intimidating, even frightening for some people to decide to go to a gym for the first time or to go back after a long layoff.
I explained how critical customer service was once the potential customer came in to their gym. Feeling welcome and making the initial visit as unintimidating as possible was a goal they should strive for. Sometimes, all it takes is a smile at the front counter to take the tension off.
I told them that everyone employed at the gym ultimately has a positive or negative effect on someone’s fitness and well-being.
The lesson of opening the door can be applied to just about any challenge or fear we have in life. Will you open the door or just walk on by?
It’s making the decision to take action that stops so many of us from accomplishing a goal. Keep in mind that not making a decision — is a decision. Fear and the unknown usually drive our actions or inactions.
The challenge is to put your hand on the door handle and turn the knob. Open the doors that have held you back. What have you really got to lose? What do you have to gain?
An opportunity can only come when we walk through the door. – Keith
I’ve recently taken a few classes at the gym to mix up my workout routine such as Zumba, BodyPump, and Spin.While waiting for one of the classes to start I was able to observe a Silver & Fit class in progress. This class is designed for seniors to enhance their flexibility, weight resistance training and mobility and get some cardio in.
They used stretch bands, light-weight medicine balls and light dumbbells.
It was really a class for all levels of fitness, not just seniors. I saw it as an opportunity for people who need to get started.
I’m often asked, “Where do I start?” Regardless of age, this class would be a great place to start if you’ve been sedentary and just not moving much.
It’s a fun class with music and the trainer usually keeps it upbeat. I would think the 50 minutes flies by like it does on most classes.
So, if you’re not moving much and want to start somewhere and you have access to a gym, try the senior program to get started. Remember to always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
If you’re afraid to go in, just tell people you’re there for rehabilitation.
Because of my bad knees from carrying over 400 pounds for so long, I just do what I can when I’m in different classes. If it means not bouncing, then I don’t bounce. If it means not standing on the pedals of the spin bike, I may not stand. You get the point. Make the class your own and own the class to your level of fitness while pushing yourself a little further each day of training. Listen to your body.
Just move. All of the exercises can be done at home if you can’t get to a gym. YouTube is normally a good and free resource to look at different exercise routines or to see what a class may be like before taking it.
Remember, we all started somewhere. – Keith
I’ve come across a lot of people in the last 2 years that have told me they were concerned about what other people thought of them when they went to a gym or out for a walk or even out in public.These fears arise from the way we look and how “we think” others perceive us.
I always say, “Its none of your business what other people think of you.”
By this, I mean it’s our life, not theirs.
We’re not going out for a cup of coffee with these folks. We’re not going to have a drink at a bar with them nor are we going to have them over for dinner. So it really shouldn’t concern us what someone else thinks of us when we try do anything to improve our lives.
It’s important that we break down any barriers that will prevent us from getting more fit. Being afraid of what someone else thinks should not be one of them.
Remember, it’s your time; it’s your life. – Keith
Have you heard the saying, “Don’t be so concerned about overeating between Christmas and New Years but rather be more concerned about overeating between New Years and Christmas?”This saying makes perfect sense.
Well, it’s not Christmas so I guess now’s a great opportunity to seize the moment. Just think of the possibilities and what you can accomplish in just 3 short months. Summer is around the corner and June 1 will be here soon enough.
By slightly reducing your daily caloric intake and slowly increasing your daily activity you’ll see significant changes in your body’s physiology.
By thinking heart healthy when you go grocery shopping and while you prepare meals will not only make you feel better but also help you shed a few unwanted pounds before summer. – Keith
The fight against heart disease and obesity takes place everyday, every moment, every second.A commitment to eating heart healthy, getting regular physical activity, taking time to relax, and developing other heart healthy habits puts you in the game. These heart healthy habits determine whether we’re in the game or on the sidelines.
There’re so many resources out there to help us learn, succeed and fight Americas #1 Killer.
By making daily commitments and dedicating your efforts to implement an action plan to succeed takes effort. Let me tell you – It’s worth it!
Managing our individual risk factors is critical to a healthier life.
Get off the sidelines and Get In The Game! – Keith
Wal-Mart’s getting healthier and taking its customers with them.According to a story in the New York Times, Wal-Mart is going to announce a plan to reduce unhealthy salts, fats and sugars from their packaged foods.
They’re also reporting that they will be lowering prices on fruits and vegetables.
This is fantastic news for the consumer and millions of families.
Read Full Article Here: (Wal-Mart, NY Times Story).
Do you follow the golden rule when it comes to taking care of your heart?For your heart to work properly, stay strong, and do its job, then you need to treat it right.
Heart healthy nutrition and regular exercise are the cornerstones of good heart health. They’re also the first prescription given to fix a bad one.
I wish we were all given 2 hearts when we were born. That way, if the first was to be worn out then we could shut it off and turn the other one on. This just isn’t the case.
Take care of the Heart you have, treat it better and pay attention to what it needs to stay healthy. – Keith
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