text: According to Davis F. Tgizi-Williamson, Ph.D. of the Center for disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Giorgia, USA, "the Benevento Study is the most recent report to signal that childhood obesity is a growing problem in Italy, rivaling levels of childhood obesity in the United States!"
  During the European Forum on Young People's Health, held in Florence, Italy, in September 2006, various studies were cited which demonstrated that childhood obesity is an acute health crisis; for example, measures of body composition showed that 10-30% of European children 7-11 years of age, and 8-25% of European adolescents ages 14-17 carried excess fat.
  The risks of excess body fat in children and adolescents go far beyond the development of a negative self-image. Body fat in excess seriously increases the risk of developing Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease, and other chronic diseases BEFORE or during adulthood.
  One of the major causes of this acute health crisis is lack of physical exercise. Children and adolescents need to move, run, play. They need to dance.
  Hip Hop, Jazz Dance, Modern, Sport Dancing are all fun, stimulating ways of burning calories AND learning the latest moves. It helps children and teenagers develop coordination, agility, and grace. It develops dynamic strength and flexibility. Dance increases blood circulation to muscles and vital organs.
  Increased circulation garantees that oxygen rich blood reaches the brain; this in turn helps brain function such as memory, concentration, and learning.
  Coordinated movement to music helps increase a young student's ability to study and retain information while having a fun break from the pressures of school. In addition, dance and exercise in general help to burn calories and increase metabolism thereby decreasing body fat in excess. Exercise also maintains lean muscle and bones.
  Why do we make great food choices for weeks or months, then sabotage ourselves? Some say they lack willpower, but is that really it? For years I’ve watched clients try and fail with their health goals. Many started with a dazzling amount of willpower. Willpower doesn’t have staying power. There are three elements to success.
  1. Your Mind: Are your thoughts supportive of your goals? Do you see signs of improved health each day? Or see only your failures? Are you hopeful? Do you think and say things like, “I just can’t stick with it.” “I’m having a bad eating day.” Or, “I can’t resist chocolate.” Do you eat your way through the holidays because it’s a “time to celebrate”? Your thoughts determine your success. Make sure they are working for you.
  2. Your Emotions. Try this: Recall a time you felt deeply loving or grateful – perhaps when an infant lay in your arms, or a soft puppy was curled into your lap. Or maybe you are gazing at the sea or embracing a lover. Use your memory and imagination, to see and feel the details. Got it? Such a feeling state is not only healing, it reduces appetite. I took a workshop once called Healing With Love. Our days were filled with exercises designed to shift us into unconditional love. At the dinner table each night, normally hungry participants lost interest in eating, and merely moved food around their plates. Unpleasant feeling states of anxiety, guilt, shame and despair often trigger eating, or drinking, as self-medication.
  3. Your Body. The body produces an array of hormones and brain chemicals that drive our feeling states and appetite. Low blood sugar or lack of sleep can also trigger cravings or a binge. We release satiety chemicals in response to specific foods. Hormone and neurochemical changes are influenced by thoughts, but also what we eat, our sleep patterns and activity. Are your food choices keeping your brain chemistry optimized and appetite under control?
  There are many facets to success, in life, and in health. You don’t need willpower to be lean and healthy when your thoughts, emotions and food choices are working for you.
  Holiday Success Special Enjoy your holiday as you get healthier with fun, flavorful, festive, foods with this “two for one” special. Sign up for one month of email support and receive support through the holidays – that’s two months with your own personal nutrition coach. Email me with health questions, craving issues or requests for healthy recipe or snack ideas. Offer is for clients who’ve worked with me before. $115 for two months of email support. Email me at: linda.prout@gmail.com for your spot as space is limited for this special.