Exercise along with a healthy diet for improved quality of life.

Recent news that many children use personal trainers at gyms to fight obesity, secure athletic scholarships and gain confidence caused some to chuckle and others to be aghast.

Fact is, one in three kids in America is currently overweight.  Some parents are taking their kids along with them for their workouts, hoping to instill lifelong habits. I think this is great, if you can afford it. Anything to get kids moving is good, and mom or dad exercising along with them models good behavior. Even better, in my book, is to get the kids outdoors, out of the gym.

In Hawaii we have so many opportunities for movement, it should be easy to motivate a sedentary child. The key is attitude. Get them excited about the exercise! In Hawaii we can walk, run, bike, swim practice martial arts, dance, or  yoga, surf, body board, snorkel, hike, play soccer, baseball, football, basketball, go skateboarding – the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Try a few until you find one or more your child enjoys.

If rain bother you, you can also lift weights, use home exercise equipment, join that gym, or do home exercise DVDs. The point is to factor movement into your life. While a healthy diet is key for a healthy life, exercise may be even as important to feeling and looking your best. It improves attitude, energy levels and is just plain fun.

If you need help getting started, there's lots available.

Out in Waianae the Kid Fit program has gained 100 new kids every year since 2004. According to Christy Inda, Director of Preventive Health for the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, "we're getting the word out to promote physical activity."  Former couch potatoes are working out and losing weight.

The beautiful Wai Lana Little Yogis DVDs, which were filmed in Hawaii, are another local effort to help kids. Wai Lana makes it easy for you and your little one to exercise at home, after school, weekends, whenever!

Local Hawaii station KGMB offers motivational tips on exercise for the overweight child.

If you're interested in more materials to help you help your child to move, Len Saunders has popular books, including his newest, Keeping Kids Fit & Adventure in Exercise.  These books reportedly get kids excited about exercise.

Looking for an energy boost to motivate your workout? Why not try the green drink that Mimi Kirk, the Sexiest Vegetarian over 50, drinks daily. Just put a cucumber, spinach, celery and an apple into your juicer or blender, maybe add a banana, and drink up for a live and raw boost. Just try it; you may be pleasantly surprised. Sure beats a doughnut.

See ya out there - moving!