If you want to join in the fight for Childhood Obesity…

As you all know, I’m over-weight.  I grew up eating whatever and whenever I wanted and was able to do so because I was active in sports and kept myself busy.  My father and I lived within five minutes of the local fast food joints and that’s what we had for dinner every night.  And breakfast?  I usually stopped at a convenience store on my way to school and got a candy bar or donut and a soda.  So, obviously, I didn’t have a very good start.

Once I was no longer participating in sports, after college and even quit playing sports recreationally, the weight started to creep on me.  Since that time, I’ve never managed to curb my desire for fast food and large sodas.  So, even now, when I choose the whopper junior instead of the whopper, I think I’ve done something amazing. 

With that, I want to tell you that I do have a degree in physical education and it is quite amazing to may people that I am not a big exercise fanatic.  But, the thing is, I was never big on individual exercise, I did what I had to do to maintain my spot on a team and that was the extent of it.

Now that I have children, I am making an honest effort to see that my children have it better than me.  At the age or 39 I was diagnosed with diabetes and at the age or 40, thyroid disease hit me.  I do not want that for my kids.  So, I fight the fight to keep the candy and cookies to a minimum and also keep them active because they want to be active.  I think seeing their parents being active would be much more beneficial than anything. 

But, as I watch state after state remove physical education from the curriculum, I start to worry how this will affect my children.  And as I do more and more volunteer work at school, the more students I see who fit the bill of being obese.

With that, I want to introduce you to a website and a person who is making strides to fight childhood obesity.  Dr. Andy Baldwin and the website www.healthride.org can provide you with lots of excellent information.  Here’s an introduction straight from the site and Dr. Baldwin himself.

Andy Baldwin’s Pennsylvania Health Ride and Kids Fitness Days 2009

"The nation’s epidemic of childhood obesity weighs heavy on the future of our youth – and on my heart personally. As committed citizens and neighbors, we can and must serve as important role models to our children and teach them the power of healthy habits. Step up and join my effort to help the kids of Pennsylvania get and stay healthy!" – Navy Lt. Commander Dr. Andy Baldwin

 

So, go to the site, check out the information provided and see what you can do to help.