Does your kid have an internal locus of control? If so, it's a good thing because kids who have one by age 10 are less likely to be overweight at age 30. They also grow up to be healthier adults and are less likely to describe their health as poor or show high levels of psychological stress. Despite childhood IQ, education, and family income, these tendencies remain.

A locus of control is the extent to which people think they can influence events through their own actions. Each of us has one. It's a natural component of a person's personality and is shaped by childhood experiences and interaction with parents. Those who are shaped to believe they are in charge of their lives have an "internal" locus of control. Those who are not have an "external" locus.

"I think it is quite probable that a major explanation why children with a more internal locus of control behave more healthily as adults is that they have greater confidence in their ability to influence outcomes through their own actions," says Dr. Catharine R. Gale, of the University of Southampton in the UK. They may also have higher self-esteem, which can encourage healthy habits.

Source

When I need a little pick-me-up, especially in the self esteem department, I try to remind myself of all that great things I've accomplished with my body.

Like pushing out two whopper baby boys and enduring a miscarriage. Like running miles and miles and dropping a few pounds with an overhauled diet and more strenuous exercise plan. Like climbing a rock wall in college when I so wanted to give up and back myself right down to the ground. Like mowing our up-hill yard last summer, trying to keep a self-propelled piece of machinery from running off what seemed like nothing less than a steep cliff -- I should mention I'd never before touched a lawn mower. Most of all, I try to remind myself that no matter how much I eat, or how much I exercise, or how much I weigh, my body has conquered something both fierce and deadly: Cancer.

When I really think about it, I realize that my body rocks. It's powerful, strong, capable, and on a good day, it doesn't look so bad either. Sure there are some things I would change about it -- and one thing I will change on April 23 -- but for the most part, my body serves me well. Yours likely serves you well too.

Think about it. What has your body done for you?

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz! I am 29 year old male and I am thinking about starting a workout routine. However, I don't know where to begin. I have a treadmill and that's it. I am 5'11 and about 160lbs. I don't have a lot of muscle, have a low self esteem towards my body shape and would like to change it. Something simple I can do at home with or without the treadmill would be OK. Any suggestions? Jared

A. Sweet Jared. So sorry you're feeling down in the dumps. Hard to know exactly what is causing it all, but getting yourself in shape can certainly be a grand opportunity to increase your physical fitness, confidence and self esteem. It's proven to help people live better and longer. I can help you with your physical goals. If you feel like there may be something else adding to your low self-esteem, please don't feel shy to talk to your medical doctor or a counselor.

Having said that, it sounds like you are long and lean. What a lucky place to start! Let's get you going with a very simple routine which should get you on your way towards the athletic body you so desire. Make that treadmill your home for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week. Jog for as long as you can, take a two minute walking break, and then repeat. Continue this jogging/walking training until you can jog for 30 minutes straight. Once you get there....increase your time, distance, speed or all three. Up to you! When you feel like you have bricks in your shoes, just walk! It's OK to have some slower days here and there.

Source

FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

You may believe your self-esteem is tied to the number you see on the scale. Many people do. Some become so focused on what they eat and how much they weigh that it compromises their quality of life. They detect a weight gain and feel down about themselves. They notice a drop in pounds and their spirits magically lift.

Basing happiness on the scale can be physically and emotionally draining. Take this advice from Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. -- Don't weigh your self-esteem. It's what's inside that counts.

Now is the time to ensure that what you put inside really matters. Commit to power foods that both nourish your body and make you feel good. Here are a few.

• Fish and chicken
• Lean beef
• Fruits and veggies
• Whole-grain breads and cereals
• Milk, yogurt, and cheese
  
  

Why these five groupings? Check out the gallery below to find out.

Source

Watching my kids' milestones warms my heart. When they first walked, talked, fed themselves, brushed their own teeth, I was one proud mama. Today, I'm bursting at the seams with pride, all because my six-year-old hopped on his bike -- he's only been riding for few months -- and accompanied me on a six-mile trek.

With aching legs and labored breathing, we rode over flat terrain, and up hill, and down hill, and when we arrived at our half-way destination -- my sister's house -- we took a break. Then it was back on the bike for the return trip home. Joey said mid-way home, and mid-incline too, that he wished his Daddy would arrive -- Daddy has a truck, and Joey thought he needed rescuing. He didn't, though. He muscled his way through our journey and even announced at one point, "Can you believe a little guy is riding all this way?" I could believe it. I was witness to it. And it was grand.

Riding his bike this morning was so good for Joey. It was physically good, and mother-and-son good, and most of all, it was self-esteem good. Joey is proud, amazed even, that he accomplished such a task today. It makes me want to ride with him again, after he recovers from this fitness feat. When I told him, "Joey, I think we should do this every weekend," he replied with pure fatigue, "No! How about every 10 weeks?"

Every weekend, every 10 weeks. It doesn't matter to me. I'm game either way.

Introducing kids to sports is a wise idea. It's steers them away from television and video games, channels their boundless energy, teaches lessons in cooperation and determination and well, it's just good for the body. Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, herself a life-long athlete, says sports are particularly good for girls.

"If you're a mother of daughters, encouraging them to participate in sports is the best gift you can give them," Roberts says. "Playing sports, feeling the competitive drive, winning and losing -- these experiences build self-esteem and character."

Roberts says even grown women become timid because they get stuck feeling they have to be liked by everyone. Sports shakes that out of you, she says. It's the best training ground for adult life.

Source

If anything is critical to success in the physical health and fitness area of your life it's being healthy and fit spiritually -- especially in the self-esteem department. You have to love and accept yourself the way you are, and then if you choose to make changes they're for you, and not for anybody else. And although it's true that our identities and self-esteem are largely established as children when we have little control, as an adult you have more power than you realize to change your outlook and thoughts about yourself. Praising yourself and being flexible in your thinking is the key! Do you catch yourself nagging or being negative in your thoughts? Change that, and you'll change a lot.

Source

While most people struggle with even having enough self-esteem, there are some people out there who actually have too much of it. It may seem hard to believe that it's even possible to like yourself too much, but it is. Appreciating your own good qualities and self-worth is one thing, but thinking that you're absolutely "perfect" is something else altogether. Too much self-esteem can lead to negative traits such as self-tolerance, entitlement, victimhood and narcissism -- and the attitude that others are simply there to give.

According to the article on eDiets healthy self-esteem comes not from loving yourself, but from genuinely loving others. Do you agree?

Source

Are you one of the many people who, for whatever reason, seem to lack confidence in your abilities? Whether in respect to social skills, intellectual prowess, career aptitude or a host of other personal or professional capabilities, some people just don't trust, or don't know, their true abilities.

It's pretty natural to be unsure of yourself but if you feel that the reservations you have about your own abilities are holding you back in some way, maybe it's time to make a change. The good news for those of you who would like to build up your self-esteem is that the confidence that some seem to exude naturally, is actually a learned behavior. So while it's totally normal to worry about certain situations, you can teach yourself to deal with your nerves and fears using some of the tips listed here.

The article describes eight common areas where people tend to let a lack of confidence hold them back, and offers simple solutions to help. Whether you worry too much about what others think, get freaked out when trying a new activity or just can't seem to think of yourself as a success, there are ways to modify your behavior and thought processes that will help you become more self-assured in a number of situations.

Source