Cooperative Living February 2019 - 8

expenses per year within the U.S. and may
increase approximately $1.24 billion per
year until the year 2030.
INFLUENCE THE NEXT GENERATION
Before being on " The Biggest Loser, " Jones
spent 19 years in education. She taught
elementary physical education, coached
junior high softball and high school track.
She also served as athletic director at a
school. While she personally knows the
effects of being overweight, she has also
noticed it in our younger generations.
" Among children and youth, I've seen
some good changes and some bad changes.
I've seen students who start playing sports
at a younger age and desire to do well in them.
It's caused them to be more physically active
at a younger age, which has fostered a deep
desire to remain active and competitive as
they grow older, " she explains. " On the flip
side, I've seen other students become less
engaged in physical activity and instead
focus more on screen time and video games.
" Get your children involved, " continues
Jones. " Encourage them to be active with
their friends. Get on a team. Do activities
with them ... that's huge. Don't just demand
that kids go outside and play ... go outside
and play with them. "
That is one of the things Mike and I have
done. Our three adult children have watched
us learn to make healthy choices and have
made changes themselves. We also make
sure our grandson and granddaughter, both
toddlers, see fitness as fun. We want to
help them create a life-long love for it.
One of our favorite activities with them
is to grab our bright-yellow bucket and go
on a nature walk. I ask them to collect
treasures: an acorn, yellow flower, red leaf,
round rock, whatever is plentiful. It activates
their minds and bodies and allows quality
time together without the distraction of
toys and electronics. It's something we can
continue as they get older, though they
may not always carry the yellow bucket.
You can do the same. Help your family
change the trajectory for future generations.
You don't have to deprive your family of treats
or be on the go every minute. Be cognizant
of the choices you help them make. Be
intentionally active. Below is a list of
suggestions - things we have had success
with through the years.
* Don't allow your toddlers or teens to
mindlessly snack while sitting in front of
the TV.
* Don't reward your child for a job well
done with unhealthy foods.
* Don't let your teenagers spend all their
time playing video games or texting.
* Do sit down at the table together. Bring
back the tradition of the family meal.
* Do reward smart choices with ageappropriate
activities. Take a trip to the
zoo. Play at the park. Go for a bike ride
or long walk with your tweens and
teens. Ask for their suggestions.
* Don't make it complicated.
* Do create simple, fun adventures. When
you go for a walk, have the younger
children yell out " march, walk, hop,
skip, run! " You can call out the moves
and do them, too.
CHANGE IS POSSIBLE
Are you ready to move forward? Jones
says the best thing to do is, " Start! Start now!
And believe in yourself. If you think you
can, you're right. If you think you can't, you're
right. Believe you can make a change, develop
a plan and go get it. Don't make a hundred
changes at once ... just make some changes
you can incorporate into your daily life. Do
something you can do forever. Don't go on
some fad diet to lose a lot of weight ... it
always comes back on. Do something you
can continue to do throughout your life. "
Yes! It's a matter of choice. Change
your mind. Change your habits. Change
your life. n
6 | Cooperative Living | February 2019
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Cooperative Living February 2019

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