Family Health and Fitness Day is a Great Reminder!

Horizons in Hemophilia, August 2012

By Cathy Hulbert, LCSW, Social Worker

Like an alarm clock buzzing to get us up, Family Health and Fitness Day 2012 is a reminder to get up and move as a family. The official day is September 29, so why not plan a family outing at a local park or any place where it is easy to walk? There’s no need to wait, of course. Today is a great time to start.

Studies have shown that walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week has benefits such as helping to maintain normal blood sugar levels, weight and blood pressure, as well as keeping joints as healthy as possible. But there are lots of other ways to get fit and stay that way. At Camp Wannaklot, clean-up time after meals involves cranking up the music and adding dance time to this daily task. This works at home, too, and you can add a dust cloth and vacuum cleaner!   
 
Staying healthy as a family can also involve gardening, swimming laps, walking the dog together after dinner or traveling by foot to a nearby destination where safe walking is possible. With young children, how about a walk around the neighborhood to count the number of birds or colors you see? Going to the local farmer’s market, apple orchard or a state park can also get the body moving and the family talking. With a pedometer you can measure your distance and try to add a few more steps to each outing.

We all recognize that modern life can be hectic and that healthy habits can fall by the wayside if we’re not paying attention. The American Heart Association provides more information. Through the fall of 2012 there will be “Heart Walks” throughout Georgia and the rest of the nation, sponsored by the American Heart Association. Find one closest to you.

And, of course, the Trot to Clot Walk and Run will be April 20, 2013 at Stone Mountain Park.  Visit www.hog.org/trot for all the details.  What a great way to raise money for Camp Wannaklot while keeping up your healthy habits!