About Heather Camlot
A freelance writer, crafts junkie and mom of two, Heather Camlot is constantly on the lookout for that elusive work-life balance she hears so much about. Read about Heather's never ending search for five minutes to herself while trying to meet deadlines, make the school bus and raise two fantastic children.
I know I just wrote about health last week, but I thought it was important to pass on the results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey released just after I had finished my previous blog.
In case you missed it, the Statistics Canada survey says we’re way less fit now than we were in 1981 – you know, before our 500-channel universe, the internet, and the video-game craze.
The most explosive findings likely to affect MySweetBaby readers:
- 37% of adults are overweight and 24% are obese.
- The percentage of women between age 20 and 39 with a waist circumference that puts them at a high risk of heart problems is up from 6% to 31%. This group, along with men of the same age, also have the most pronounced decrease in physical activity.
- About 3% of adults have undiagnosed high blood pressure.
- About 17% of children (from age 6 and up) and youth are overweight, while 9% are obese.
If you’re like me, you’re great at signing up your kids for fitness classes, like swim or soccer. And if you’re kids are like mine, they love it. So where did our love for physical activity go?
Maybe it’s not the love that’s disappeared but the time – the time to an enjoyable class or sport, the time to attend that enjoyable class or sport. But if we look at the aforementioned, now’s time to invest in ourselves. We have to find an activity to get moving and find a system to watch what we eat.
Interestingly enough, at the same time as the study was released, I came across MySweetBaby contributor Lianne Phillipson-Webb’s new meal plans. Lianne, a registered nutritionist and founder of Sprout Right, is offering a seven-day meal plan for moms (and others) to follow. Although the program started last weekend, it’s not too late to join. And of course, MySweetBaby has great tips from fitness expert Dara-Duff Bergeron to follow at any stage of motherhood.
How you decide to get in shape is up to you. But do try. We need to be positive role models for our children. And if we show them that exercise and healthy eating are important to us, they will be important to them. And maybe, just maybe, we can tip those Statistics Canada results from dismal to delightful.
Thought that was sweet? You'll enjoy:
Image: Elena Buetler, stock.xchng
