Step 1: Get him to calm down after the tantrum

Okay, this is a situation that I like to avoid when at all possible. It is the whiny, grumpy young complainer, who sees no joy in his parent’s suggestions. As soon as I see signs of this, I know that it’s low blood sugar and fatigue.

I refer to it as post-party syndrome, if it lands primarily after a busy, festive day (or a day with too much sugar and not enough real nutrition).  Generally, I call it low-blood sugar and have not been afraid to name the grumpy parties as “Crabbelpot,” “Count Crabula” or “Crabby Diaper.”  Let me stop here, aside from the occasional birthday party, we keep very little sugary treats in the house.  When I feed them to my kids, it is done after they’ve consumed ample nutrition so as to not hit their blood stream immediately and cause crankiness. However, low-blood sugar happens to everyone, and when you know how to handle it, then it becomes an easy problem to bear.

Today I had two individual “cranksters” who dragged feet and could not get happy about anything, especially a couple hours after lunch. I discovered that my first grade daughter ate half her lunch (three and a half hours prior) and did not have a snack. My four-year-old son refused to eat his sandwich, and I knew he was going to be punchy a couple hours later.

Why do I tell you this?  Well, you probably already know that kids need to eat frequently throughout the day.  What is more, they need a balance of grains, proteins, fats, vegetables and fruits.  Unfortunately, when they’re away at school, we cannot oversee how much of their packed lunch they eat (notice I did not say hot lunch!). What is more unfortunate, is that they are also less likely to drink water throughout the day. (I live for the day when schools will allow kids to sip water in class, but I will dream for the time being!)

Being low on fuel will lead to bad behavior. Who wants to cooperate when he or she is exhausted and hungry? So, what’s the solution? Feed the kid immediately (make sure you have dried fruits on hand for this very purpose and nuts or seeds for longer lasting effects on their metabolism).

Step 2: Get thee to the nearest healthy snack and feed (here eating a dried papaya stick)

As a parent, it’s sometimes difficult to allow a child to follow his instincts in the process of physical development. For instance, how many times do you hear a parent telling his or child to stop jumping, running or doing something because the child could hurt themselves?

Believe it or not, holding back on these urges “to correct” allows the child to learn in ways better than mom, dad or a future gym teacher or coach could train them. I specifically refer to the technique known as “guided discovery” that the International Youth Conditioning Association recommends for young children. It’s not necessary to teach a child a skill set like a push up or how to golf before the age of nine, let’s say. Of course, this is a bit of a generality based on chronological age, and if your child is very experienced in the ways of movement and is mature enough mentally, then obviously he or she can be taught a few skills.

Children are general learners and gain the most motor development from multiple experiences.  This is one reason why doing a single sport or skill set for a long period of time could inhibit that child’s ability to develop into a well-rounded athlete or a non-athlete with great potential to function! This also has academic implications. Read on.

“Guided discovery” is a simple process of allowing Read the rest of this entry »

Why not get a highly effective at-home workout? Include this exercise tip and you’ll be on your way to burning mega calories, getting strong arms, shoulders & chest as well as trimming your waist.  What is more, you will raise your heart level, making this a perfect addition to your exercise routine.

Give it a try. What do you think?

When time is of the essence (and is it rarely otherwise), you can and should still find ways to build your

strength, unwind and treat yourself to a good workout.

Here is a quick video demonstrating another way to use your home as your gym.  Now, you can really take the excuses right out of why you couldn’t work out.  Add this one to your arsenal and tell me how it works for you.

Want to make the most of your workouts?

For the best Cleveland personal trainer, then go to TrainingbyLiz.com.

You can still squeeze fitness into your busy life. Why wait? You know how important proper nutrition and exercise is for yourself and your family. What is more, you really don’t need a gym membership to pull it off.

Let’s face it, most people who have gym memberships don’t use them.  Most people who have kids struggle to work out anyway.  So why not save the money and workout at home?

For those like me who have very little personal time, I like to make the most of my workouts. But I can’t put them off for another time unless I specifically make a date with myself.

But if you keep putting off your own fitness, “tomorrow” never really happens, and “tomorrow” will bring you closer to preventable diseases.

Begin making those positive changes now even if they are little steps! You will see a big reward.

What’s the secret ingredient?

Your attitude!

When you decide that you will put your fitness at the top of your list, then you will find excuses to squeeze in a workout, even if it’s only 10 minutes here and there.

Maybe that means 10 fewer minutes of watching TV, 10 fewer minutes on the phone or 10 fewer minutes on the computer. Even a quick workout will give you energy to conquer your world. Incidentally, I generally do not recommend workouts that go beyond 45 - 50 minutes. (More on that at another time.)

Here is a quick demo on a way I like to incorporate the stairs in my overall exercise program. This is tough and not for the beginner, but it’s a great way to incorporate tough workouts during times that work for your schedule. Take a look and let me know what you think by posting comments below.

Let me know what you think of this demo (there are more to come, so check back frequently).

If you want an excellent total body workout and you live nearby, then check out Cleveland’s best fitness boot camp at TrainingByLiz.com.