My name is Monica and I grew up in the world of sports. I played soccer, I swam every summer for a local swim team, I figure skated, I played tennis (albeit not very well), but my underlying passion fell with dance and gymnastics. I loved competing and I loved training as hard as I could to get that next skill.
My mom was a total health nut, she went to the gym six days a week and raised me on balanced meals (really....my school lunches looked like the food pyramid laid out). I played outside, and I was never really a lazy kid. I loved watching TV, but that was always done at home, after dinner, and homework was done, right before bed.
I have always liked being healthy. I still love working out. I coach dance, gymnastics and tumbling, and my athletes know I am always up to work out with them. I also like eating healthy. But, being raised in gymnastics, eating disorders festered like the common cold. I was lucky to have supportive coaches who didn't focus on how we looked, but instead on the athletes we were, but I had friends who weren't as lucky. And I have had friends growing up over the years who have suffered from low self-esteem who have fallen into the trap of disordered eating and eating disorders.
I also know that kids today don't like playing outside anymore. When I first started babysitting, I asked the two young girls who I babysat for if they wanted to play outside one day before dinner. They acted horrified at the idea. They only wanted to watch TV and read. Now, I love to read, but playing outside is an integral part of being a little kid! These girls also didn't play any sports! I was so surprised, but I just let it go.
Fast-forward to today-I love working with my athletes and students that I teach (I am and English Education major, student teaching right now). And I always stress to them about living a balanced life style. It doesn't just mean eating healthy, or going outside once a week, it is doing it all in a good balance. It means sticking to it! Adolescent health is important because that is where it begins. If adolescents learns how to live a balanced lifestyle, then they will be more inclined to follow with it in the future.
That is why I wanted to write this blog. I want people to know that living a balanced lifestyle is the most important thing.
I want this to be a resource for people of all ages;
- Parents to find fun recipes to make with their kids, and ways to get their kids up off the couch and moving around outside and engaging in activities
- Young adults/Teens-learn how to cook for yourself and eat healthy, as well as get out and exercise, while balancing the crazy schedules we all have.
Bye for Now!
Stay Balance :)
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