Why There's More to Diet and Exercise Than Just Weight Loss By Babble.com | Healthy Living – Fri, Apr 11, 2014 3:21 PM EDT

We've been hearing for years and years that losing weight is a matter of eating well and exercising. Weight loss, it seems, has been at the center of our national discussion on obesity and its health-related issues. Which is fine. Being overweight is often a problem on many levels, from physical health to emotional well-being. It's good that we recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. But lately I've noticed a slight change in the discussion. I've heard (or rather, read) more and more talk about eating well as a means of improving health, including curing specific ailments like high blood pressure, and about exercise as the antidote to mental issues that we've grown accustomed to taking pills for. Eating well and exercising, it seems, are not just for weight loss - they're also good at combatting some of the illnesses we develop by (wait for it) … eating poorly and living sedentary lives. Things like high blood pressure, anxiety, stress, and depression. This is a step in the right direction. It's a sign that we are recognizing the connection between our diet, our activity level, and the way our bodies feel and perform. It also means that we're realizing there is a safer, healthier, more cost-effective way to fight the ills of our age than by taking pills, some of which have side effects that are as bad as the disease itself. While this development in the conversation on nutrition, exercise, weight loss, and health comes at a fortuitous time - when we are having other conversations about the costs of healthcare in our country - I am nervous about where it could lead. Changing our diet and moving our bodies more frequently and intentionally are, I'm sure, the most natural and efficient ways to both improve our health and decrease the amount of money spent on medicine and medical treatments. But if eating more carefully and exercising more consistently are to become "treatment methods," what will the future of our healthcare system look like? I certainly don't have the answers, but one scenario that goes through my mind is that doctors will be writing prescriptions for "three 4-mile runs per week at an easy pace" or "kale salad with dried cherries and toasted nuts" for their patients. And that running 4-miles will be just like taking a pill: You do it because you have to and try not to think about it too much. Related: You'll save money on therapy ... and 7 more unexpected benefits of exercise If that happens I think we'll have not necessarily missed the point, but possibly missed a great opportunity - the one in which we realize that living active lives and eating real, whole, fresh foods is actually really enjoyable. Living that way leads to greater energy and awareness, to a variety of experiences, to meeting new people and to discovering new, empowered parts of ourselves - and that's in addition to the lower blood pressure, calmer mind, and fewer prescriptions to fill. It's possible, of course, and even likely that even if doctors prescribe meal plans and workouts instead of pills, people will come to a realization on their own that their health, their energy, and their life in general has greatly improved, and they will learn to love the "drugs" (diet, exercise) that got them there so much that they will integrate them into their lives as a lifestyle and not merely as something to take before breakfast or with dinner. But I believe the better course could be to skip that step in which doctors have to tell us what to do and just do it ourselves: discover the joy of movement, the deliciousness of food that doesn't come pre-cooked in a plastic tray, and reap the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits that come when we do things because of joy and not because of fear (of disease, of fat, of the unknown). One of my personal heroes, George Sheehan, the late running enthusiast, writer, doctor, and philosopher of sport, wrote frequently about the importance of finding those intrinsic reasons for running, playing, and being active. Things like increased creativity, conquering the blues, discovering your inner hero. When a similar topic came up during the rise of aerobics nearly 40 years ago and the prospect of prescribed exercise had been suggested, he wrote: "There is an alternative to the athletic-state or the exercise-your-heart-ailments-away argument of the aerobics plan. The answer is to consult your friendly neighborhood athlete, be he runner, tennis player, or average half-court basketball player. Why does he do it? [ . . . ] Running pays off and it pays off today. Exercise gives instant and exhilarating effects. There is a natural high to be obtained legally." And, more poetically, but no less accurately: "And while these pounds were being shed, while the physiological miracles were occurring with the heart and muscle and metabolism, psychological marvels were taking place as well. Just so, the world over, bodies, minds, and souls are constantly being born again, during miles on the road." Weight loss is a good first step. Better health and fewer pills are worthy motivations, but until we embrace a healthy diet and consistent exercise as both a gateway to and a hallmark of a full, well-lived life for body, mind, and spirit, we're cheating ourselves of those final revelations: that there is natural high to be obtained legally, that our bodies, minds, and souls are renewed when we treat our bodies well. Doctors can't prescribe that to us. We have to claim it for ourselves. Photo source: Lizzie Heiselt -By Lizzie Heiselt FOOTNOTE: At Ezra Baker Innovation School, we have been addressing this exercise to mental health relationship by instituting our Open Gym concept by which any child during anytime of the day may come to any gym class and participate in the class activity. This often looks like a child coming into the gym who may be restless or frustrated from a classroom activity and just needs a fun few minutes. Sometimes the child stays for only a brief time and for some it may last for the whole class duration, but the child often helps the support staff as to how they are feeling and whether they are ready to return to the class. This helps the child to be an active participant in their understanding, recognizing and controlling their emotional self control.

Turning Lemons..into Lemonade!

Even though our gym is being repaired...Watch the video closely to see the excitement in our children! Despite the adversity of no gym building.. the kids are excited about P.E., the smiles on their faces and their personal learning that goes on as they experience change is truly a great life lesson. We talk about change and how we deal with the negatives to find the positives....yes that is education.
thanks to Ms Cevoli for bringing Yoga into our lives!!!!!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Phys. Ed. news!

So how about some dance and yoga to add into our PE curriculum this year?! Because of our unique facility situation, Miss Cevoli and Mr. Fantaroni have become even more creative with their physical activity ideas this year! We have added a Dance unit into our curriculum where students have learned or reviewed a variety of popular line dances and some original line dances choreographed by Miss Cevoli. The K-1 students have done some fun easy dances in their classrooms such as the hokey-pokey, YMCA, cha-cha slide, ‘seasons’ dance, and chicken dance! The 2nd through 3rd graders have also done the YMCA, chicken dance, cha-cha slide, and Cupid Shuffle. They have also learned some original choreographed steps from Miss Cevoli to a variety of music for warm-up and creative group work. By using a variety of music, it exposes the children to different types of rhythms, tempos, and genres! In February, we did some scooter activities that helped increase cardiovascular endurance and hand-eye coordination. Mr. Fantaroni introduced the students to his original “Scooter Handball” game as well as basic scooter soccer, and scooter relays. We take the students outside as well for some fresh air and fun in the snow whenever the temperatures can allow us to! When we return from February vacation, we will be starting some Yoga and core-type activities using the donated mats from Baker’s PTAC, parent donations, and various yoga studios throughout the Cape, thank you all for your help and support!

Baker School Supports "Stands UP to Bullying!"

The link to the left "This Bully Didn't See This Coming" is a must see! My friends at the Yarmouth Station Ave Elementary School passed along this link from our Cape Cod sister school in Falmouth, to us here at the Baker School and we are all in with this anti-bullying message! Bullying is not tolerated and we are all proud of our students who share in others well being and do step in to help students in many different ways. The video is well done and we all step in to protect our kids! In our P.E. curriculum sportsmanship discussion, we spend allot of time talking and practicing good sportsmanship and learning how to be happy winners and encouraging losers, with no place for bullying others in competition. Well done Falmouth!

Kindergarten health habits influence obesity chances!

The article to the left on this page discusses the health habits decisions which can lead to an early predictor of obesity. Please read and its crucial to help children learn healthy habits early in life about healthy lifestyle's early in life as a deterrent to avoiding the chances of being obese in life.

Snowy Owl on West Dennis Beach!!!

A lifetime of being active doesn't always mean playing sports! Bird viewing and hiking to where the birds are keeps you active , outdoors and can be personally rewarding, especially when you are fortunate enough to catch a Glimpse of this beautiful Owl seldom seen around here! Hike and explore the beauty that nature provides and will keep you healthy!

Baker is more than a building

Despite the loss of our gym temporarily, teachers pull together to keep kids excited about learning. Our P.E curriculum continues to adapt and create opportunities for learning health concepts, fitness, dance and FUN! Our teachers make Baker what it is...not the building! Let's Dance!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com