Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. 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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Fitz, I'm sick of feeling sick at the end of Thanksgiving Day. I seem to eat all day, even when I'm not hungry. I literally feel like the clothes I put on that morning don't fit me anymore. I'm dreading it this week. What do I do? Alex

A. Gobble Gobble, Alex! I mean ... don't Gobble Gobble, Alex. (Bad joke, I know). Holidays, particularly Thanksgiving, often lead to really weird amounts of mindless eating. It doesn't help that this particular day is actually based on a feast. Darn Pilgrims! Why couldn't they show their gratitude with a running race? I can help you avoid this scenario, though. No one likes to unbutton their jeans to be able to sit down. It's uncomfortable, embarrassing and depressing. So let's get proactive, make a plan and stick with it.

Source

There's nothing wrong with incorporating a little fun into your workout. When you enjoy the activities you're participating in, you're much more likely to stick with it. So why not inject a little playtime in your workout?

If you have kids, you're likely a frequent visitor at the neighborhood park. While you could certainly lounge on a bench and watch your kids play, you'd probably have more fun if you got right in there and played with your kids. Try out the swings, zoom down a slide, and climb around the equipment to your heart's delight. You can also start a game of catch, tag, or have a relay race.

What's more, you can take the opportunity to do a little strength training. While you're there, take a few minutes to try these playground exercises. Gossip Girl actress Jessica Szohr shows us how each move is done. Check out her balance bends using a swing, hanging crunches, and lunges on a slide.

Source

Martha recently posted about whether or not parents should be notified if their children are overweight. A recent user question on Momtourage shows that some doctors are doing just that. ... and I think it's a good thing. The parent asking the question is wondering if they should even be concerned that their child is overweight because they feel that their child is active and happy.

Some children are clearly, unmistakably overweight. But for other kids, it isn't always easy to tell. After all, kids go through growth spurts and they grow at different rates. But if a medical professional expresses that your child is indeed overweight, it's time to take action.

As parents, there are many things you can do to help your child live a healthy lifestyle and maintain an appropriate weight.

Source

I adopted my son a little over a year ago. When he first moved home, he was 10-years-old and had spent quite a few years bouncing between family to family in foster care. Subsequently, he didn't have a very good grasp on a lot of basic principles, such as manners and appropriate boundaries. He honestly didn't know why it would be OK to ask for a drink of water, but why it isn't polite just to start rifling through a neighbor's kitchen cabinets.

While we worked on manners and boundaries at home, I decided it was best to set an outdoor-only rule when playing with neighborhood friends. I figured there were a lot fewer manner-glitches he could run into while playing outdoors. Besides, it was summer. Why should he be inside when there are bikes to be ridden and games of tag to be played?

A few of the other parents talked to me about the rule. They understood that he was learning new rules and needed stricter boundaries, but they didn't want him to feel different from the other kids in the neighborhood. In the end, they all supported my decision. And by the time winter's cold arrived, my son had a much better grasp on manners and could play inside friend's houses without unintentionally being rude.

Next week, from September 24th to 30th, parents in cities across North America are encouraged to get their kids out into the great outdoors. It's called 'Take a Child Outside' week, and it's happening with 250 organizations across the nation.

To be honest, at first I thought this was a joke -- because, really, do you need a special event to encourage parents to get their kids outdoors? But it is legit, and given the obesity epidemic, it's really not all that surprising. After all, we are living in a time where kids use treadmills.

If you ask me, every week should be 'Take a Child Outside' week. The only exception should be in cases of really extreme weather, and even then, your kids should be getting some sort of indoor physical activity. Your thoughts?

(via Calorie Lab)

Source

We all know the stereotype of a typical video game geek: pasty-skinned and overweight, never seeing the light of day, except for a brief glimpse when opening the door for the pizza delivery guy.

But according to recent research, the average 'gamer' isn't unhealthy -- in fact, gamers have lower BMIs than the average adult in the U.S.. The average BMI among gamers was 25 -- just on the border of normal and overweight. What's more, the average gamer engaged in physical activity once or twice a week. Gamers did, however, show larger instances mental health issues, including depression and substance abuse.

Are you more or less physically healthy than a gamer?

Source

Recent research shows that most parents overestimate the time their kids are engaging in physical activity. On average, parents estimated that their kids were active for two hours a day. Actually, their kids were active for less than 30 minutes a day.

If your child is school age and old enough to go play with friends in the neighborhood as my son does, it can be hard to gauge their physical activity. If they're out of your sight, how can you know for sure what amount of exercising they're doing?

You can use this activity chart with your kids to check their activity level. But the best possible way to verify your kids are getting at least one hour of exercise each day (at least!) is to be active with them. Play a game of basketball, go for a walk or bike ride, visit a local playground, or go swimming. Active games -- such as hide and seek or red light/green light -- are also great ways to get your kids moving.

Source

So what are your plans for Labor Day? Frankly, the holiday sneaked up on me this year. What with back-to-school and work deadlines and other things I have on my mind, I completely forgot about it. My son and I will find something fun to do, though. We'll probably visit with family and maybe go to the BMX track (my son's favorite activity).

When making your Labor Day plans, keep health in mind. Some ideas:

• When grilling for your Labor Day BBQ, choose leaner cuts of meat and grill plenty of vegetables. You can also grill some fruits (peaches, plums, pineapple) for dessert. Remember to keep grilling safety in mind, too.
  
• Skip the chips and mayo-laden salads. Instead offer more healthful choices like veggie trays, yummy mixed green salads, and fruit salad.
• Plan some active time with family and friends. You can set up a volleyball net in the backyard, hold a basketball competition, or swim. Kids would also enjoy relay races and active games like red light, green light.
  
• Go on a Labor Day outing. Hike along a nature trail, bike on a rail trail, or visit a nearby beach (and don't just lay around -- swim and be active).

A recent study found that kids who were less physically coordinated or less athletic are at a greater risk of obesity.

The long-term study, published in the British Medical Journal, involved more than 11,000 people. Teachers and medical personnel conducted tests to assess coordination. When those students reached age 33, their body mass index was recorded. In the case of kids whose coordination was deemed poor at age 7, the risk of obesity was doubled.

While researchers didn't venture a guess as to why the results were as they found, other experts surmise it's because less coordinated kids aren't as likely to join in team sports or other active play. If your kids are the most coordinated on the block, there's no need to force them into team sports or programs they don't enjoy. Just make a regular habit of going for walks with your kids, visit the playground frequently, encourage them to ride bikes, kick a soccer ball around the backyard ... the list of activities goes on an on. Just find something your kids enjoys and foster that interest.

Source

Prevention.com offers some great suggestions for folks who long for exciting physical fitness and have fond memories of childhood play. Check them out and see if they don't win out over your desires to exercise within the confines of four gym walls.

• If you liked 4-Square, try tennis or racquetball.
• If you liked climbing trees, try indoor or outdoor rock climbing.
• If you liked yard games, try golf without the cart.
• If you liked dodgeball, try volleyball.
• If you liked gymnastics or cheerleading, try aerobics classes.
• If you liked Red Rover, try martial arts.
• If you liked sledding, try showshoeing or cross-country skiing.
• If you liked tag, try joining a jogging, bicycling, or hiking group.
• If you liked jump rope or hopscotch, try aerobics on a mini-trampoline (called rebounding).
  
  

Now, there's no reason you still can't engage in your long-ago kid games. Jump rope, for example, is quite an adult thing to do, after all. And why not go sledding if the climate is right? Clearly, you've got options here. Just pick and chose. Just have fun, whatever you decide to do.

Source

If you're like me, you've spent many days in either the pool or an ocean this summer. When I hit the water with my family, my purpose is to have physical fun. We're not the type to loaf on a chair, hoping to earn a few extra wrinkles before we call it a day. Heck no! We move! We play, we swim, we chase and more. Having said that ... I have two teeny kiddies and that's what I'm supposed to be doing.

Adults however, are entitled to play, chase, and move near or in the water too! Why the heck not? A warm summer breeze offers a great opportunity to feel strong, energized, and in good touch with our bodies. Women's Health magazine offers a bunch of cool yoga exercises to do at the beach. I like them, I really do. And as your adoring online Fitzness Trainer, I recommend you give them a try.

Source

In my expert opinion, yes! Disney World is the healthiest place on earth. I just returned from a five-night, six-day vacation with my husband and two children and was blown away by the amount of physical activity both offered and required of ourselves in order to indulge in the full Disney experience.

We pushed our double-stroller miles through two theme parks, climbed thousands of stairs and jumped an equal amount of waves at two water-parks, danced our tushies off to live bands at various Disney resorts, and played game after game with our children as we giggled, oohed and ahhed at all the Disney magic. As a fitness trainer, one of my biggest obstacles is convincing my clients not to trash their fitness efforts when they head out on vacation. Disney offers the perfect opportunity to not only maintain one's fitness level, but improve it.

The physical adventures are endless, and Disney World has made a deliberate effort to increase the availability of legitimately nutritious, low fat, and lower sugar foods. Fruit stands have popped up all over the theme parks, and children's dining has switched from burgers and fries to grilled chicken with carrots and grapes offered as side dishes. Soda has been dumped for low fat milk! I can't get food that "clean" in my own neighborhood, unless I cook it myself! Of course, the old junkie favorites like popcorn, fries, and ice cream are still available, but if you do care about your health and want to maintain it on vacation ... Disney makes it easy.

There's no stopping the hands of time. We're all going to age, and there's not a thing we can do to stop the process.

I don't know about you, but I'm happy to get older. The older I get, the better, in fact – because right now, I'm not too fond of the alternative.

If, like me, you want to keep tacking on the years, try these five Woman's Day magazine secrets for aging long into the future.

• Don't smoke. And avoid secondhand smoke. These two practices will help prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung disease.

• Do play. Working too much can increase your risk of high blood pressure and heart attack, so take a breather from work-related fatigue and stress whenever you can. Start this weekend.

• Don't eat fried foods or drink soda. Too much fast food and soda contributes to weight gain and can cause chronic inflammation, which prompts the entire body to age.

• Wear sunglasses and a hat. Protecting your eyes from the sun's UV rays will cut your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration -- it's the leading cause of blindness by about 45 percent.

• Get important health screenings. Get checked for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugars. Get screened for cancers of the skin, breast, cervix, colon, prostate, and more. Catch any of these conditions early, and you have a good chance of surviving them.

Source

So, I admit to faltering big time on workouts lately. By the end of winter, facing the gym or even another day in the cold just gets to me. But now, spring is here! And the neighbors' trampoline is open for business!

It often happens on nice days. All the neighbor kids get off the bus and the siblings come out to greet them and everyone ends up staying outside romping around and enjoying the sun and air. In our neighborhood, the kids invariably end up piling into the trampoline in the back yard of one of our neighbors. They got it as a big family Christmas gift a couple of years ago. And boy has it gotten some use since then.

Every so often, the parents join in at their own risk. Jump. Kick. Twist. Turn. Fall. Laugh. We're rewarded for the courage by burning a few calories while we spend some good old fashioned quality time with our kids. And it almost feels like we've found a little fountain of youth. Almost.

If you must allow your kids to watch TV, better to tune them into sports events than questionable programming. Even better? Turn off the boob tube and get them in the game.

Eighty percent of kids ages six to 18 surveyed by Weekly Reader said they'd rather play sports than watch them on television. This means you simply must offer your children the chance to join a team or league.

Here's what else these sports fans had to say:

• 50 percent said their parents urge them to play a team sport.

• 43 percent of six to nine-year-olds said they play their sport because they love it. Just 32 percent of 13 to 18-year olds said the same.

• 10 percent of 13 to 18-year old girls quit playing sports because a coach told them they weren't good enough.

• Girls attend practice in greater numbers than boys.

Source