We made time for jogging

September 20th, 2006

A study on the eating habits of children by Dr Olds, professor at the University of South Australia could not have come at a more opportune moment than when I was getting nervous over my inability to take my seven year old daughter out to the playground.

The study, among other things, points out that parents worldwide are too busy to spend time with their children out in the parks; the lack of physical activity being the main cause of rising incidence of obesity among children.

My daughter has had a bit of paunch which has reduced quite a bit over few months of yoga practice with me. But more than her physical health what bothered me was her increasing tendency to stay indoors – ours or at other children’s where she often goes to spend time in the evening. I knew very well that my inability to spend time out with her in the park was taking toll of her outgoing and healthy disposition.

After having posted a blog here on the Dr Olds’ study, I decided to make a few resolutions with my daughter – not using our car for short distance travel and to go out jogging early in the morning; I promised her the latter will soon be replaced by a few rounds of badminton.

Last Sunday was the first day when we walked five kilometers to and from a market near our home. We had a good time shopping and window shopping, and got back home tired and perspiring. The next morning was our first day at the park. While I jogged around it three times, my daughter gave up after one, promising to do better next day, which she did.

While nutrition has its important place in our lives and more so in the life of our children, physical activity prepares us to take imbalances and deficiencies in our diet in our stride.

As we perspired while jogging, my daughter did not like the sweat beads going down her forehead. I had to explain to her that sweating flushed out excess salts from our body which are bad for our health. She stopped complaining about the sweat straight away!

Entry Filed under: Healthy Lifestyles