Local fitness efforts seek to keep kids on track

ST. JOHNS - When Gateway North Elementary School third-grader Mason Rogers gets home from school, he does a few push-ups, jumping jacks and sit-ups in his living room. The St. Johns 8-year-old learned the techniques in his weekly gym class, where he and his classmates follow a sequence of exercise posters hung throughout the gym. "If it"s not gym day, then you can exercise at home," he said. "You can be active. It"s fun. " The Clinton Memorial Hospital Foundation in November installed indoor fitness trails at 12 elementary schools in Clinton County in an effort to combat child obesity, Director Peter Shannon said. Michigan"s youth obesity rate is 28. 9 percent, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide, the obesity rate for children ages 6 to 11 more than doubled in the past two decades, increasing from 6. 5 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in 2006, the Atlanta-based agency said. Among adolescents ages 12 to 19, the rate more than tripled from 5 percent to 17. 6 percent. "The idea is to give kids some good physical fitness stuff to do on these cold days that they"re kept indoors," Shannon said. "Kids need to get an hour or more of exercise a day, and it"s hard for the schools to do. " Third-grader Morgan Leavitt, 8, said exercise makes her feel more alert. "It gives you lots of energy, and it makes you stronger and it gets you healthy," she said. "If you weren"t healthy, you wouldn"t have very much energy. You"d always be lounging around, watching TV. " The foundation - in conjunction with the Mid-Michigan Health Department, Clinton County Healthy Community Coalition and local school districts - also runs monthly fitness activities for parents and kids and is organizing a family fitness expo in April. "With the obesity epidemic facing our society, we need to teach kids at a young age that movement and exercise are important so when they get older, they know how to incorporate it into their daily routine," St. Johns school nurse Karla Palmer said. "They learn that exercise is important and that exercise is just a part of life. " The foundation is funding the program with a $5,000 federal grant through the Michigan Rural Hospital Association and is seeking additional funding for the April event, Shannon said. "Many obese kids become obese adults. Our focus is to get to them while they"re in elementary school - address this while the kids are young," he said. "A lot of people don"t start to address this until a little later in life, but the time to get started with good habits is early. ".

Mel B To Become Host Of Reality TV Fitness Show Dance Your Ass Off

Hot and sexy Spice Girl, Mel B born Melanie Brown will be taking the place of TV host Marissa Jaret Winokur (Broadway musical Hairspray, Pamela Anderson sitcom Stacked, Moesha) on the fitness competition TV show Dance Your Ass Off for the second season which airs on Oxygen.

According to an Oxygen programming executive Amy Introcaso-Davis, the reason Mel B was the person of choice was because of her commitment to health and fitness. Mel B was also stated to be an inspiration to people that are around her and captures the aspects of the show Dance Your Ass Off.

The show Dance Your Ass Off is similar to Dancing with the Stars, but the difference is that it brings on overweight contestants struggling with their weight. The contestants work with professional dancers that train them for dance routines (hip hop, ballroom, etc.) to be performed in front of a live audience and that will be judged by a panel of judges (Danny Teeson, a lifestyle coach/dancing expert, actress Lisa Ann Walter, and professional dancer Mayte Garcia). The bonus for the show is that the contestants hope to lose weight during the process and this will determine if they stay on the show since it will be combined with their dance score for an overall score. Those who dont make the cut will get sent home each week.

As for Mel B, the singer says that shes excited about being the host for Dance Your Ass Off and is looking forward to working with Oxygen to cheer on the contestants looking to dance their pounds off.

The censored formed of the show is aired as Dance Your A** Off for television and promotional purposes.

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WITH FLU SHOT INFORMATION: Health amp; Fitness File, Jan. 13

City of Racine Health Department H1N1 FLU CLINIC: Free vaccinations are available by appointmentto all members of the general population. Do not make or attend anappointment if you have a fever, children younger than 18 must beaccompanied by an adult and have a consent form signed by theirparent or legal guardian, everyone must have a consent form, whichis available on the Web,

To schedule an appointment, call (262) 636-9431. City Hall, 730Washington Ave.

Caledonia/Mount Pleasant Health Department

H1N1 FLU CLINIC: The health department will have free H1N1vaccine clinics available to the residents of Caledonia, MountPleasant, Sturtevant and North Bay. Wednesdays, Jan. 13-27, 2-6p.m. Call the H1N1 hotline at (262) 835-6438 or visit the Web:

People should not attend if they have a fever.

Walgreens Drug Stores

H1N1 FLU CLINIC: The clinic has intranasal and injectablevaccines for the general public. The fee is $18 and will acceptMedicare Part B and some Medicare replacements, Medicaid (needsbilling verification), private insurance and private pay. Calllocation for hours.

3825 Durand Ave., call (262) 554-8686.В

6125 Durand Ave., Mount Pleasant, call (262) 554-6116.

4901 Spring St., call (262) 886-9643.

819 N. Memorial Drive, call (262) 637-4900.

4810 Washington Ave., call (262) 635-0181.

Aurora Health Care

Knee Replacement Made for you: If medication and exercise havenot helped your knee osteoarthritis, learn about total kneereplacement during this program presented by Dr. William Lutes.6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 21. Free. Registration required, call (800)499-5736. It will be held in the large conference room at the northbranch of the Kenosha Public Library, 1500 27th Ave., Kenosha.

Fitness File is published every Wednesday and includesnotices of nonprofit fitness and health-related programs. Thedeadline to submit an announcement is seven days before the desiredpublication date. Mail information to Fitness File, c/o DianeCollins, 212 Fourth St., Racine, WI 53403; fax to (262) 631-1780;or submit it via the Web, andclick on the "Health" category.

Light a fire under your fitness goals

Let the Olympic torch relay ignite your own dreams for a healthier, active body, says local fitness guru Marjorie O"Connor.

To set a goal and then achieve it is as exhilarating for the average person who exercises as it is for an Olympic athlete, says O"Connor, one of 50 chosen to carry the flame along a 14-kilometre route through the city Wednesday. (She starts about 5:24 p. m. at the yellow fire hydrant on 87th Avenue and finishes at the McDonald"s on 109th Street. )

"Sometimes, we watch the Olympics and we"re so inspired by the personal achievements," she observes.

So why not take that inspiration, get off the couch and start moving, by thinking and training like an elite athlete, says O"Connor, who owns Fit International, a fitness training and consulting business in Edmonton.

"Not only are there physical benefits (to becoming active) -- lower heart rate, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, increased bone density, improved balance and the stamina to stay on the hill all day during a ski holiday -- there is also the mental, emotional and spiritual importance of honouring your body. "

Decide that this is the year you"ll run your first 10-km race, for example, walk briskly three times a week, or be able to do 30 pushups a session after six weeks of training.

If you find it hard to motivate yourself,

it helps to chart your progress by keeping a journal, wearing a pedometer, clocking 15,000 steps, or exercising with a friend.

Remember what you enjoyed doing as a kid: was it playing on a team? Playing badminton? There are so many ways to rekindle that romance, O"Connor says.

Try something that takes you out of your comfort zone. Throw yourself into an activity with reckless abandon, the way kids do.

You might find an untapped passion for biking by taking a spin class, for example.

Find a place that allows you to tap into your inner strength and passion for movement.

We"re a winter city; embrace it and head outdoors, she suggests, or seek out a quiet studio, a climbing wall, curling rink or running track.

"Sometimes we forget that there"s not just the gym. "

Some recreational athletes exercise 365 days a year, but even Olympic athletes take regular breaks in their training, O"Connor notes.

Balance hardcore training with scheduled rest phases she calls "active rest," to recuperate, recover and rebuild your body. You"re less likely to burn out or hurt yourself.

Try eating smaller meals more often throughout the day to keep your energy level high and prevent ravenous hunger, which can trigger overeating.

Or something like it. There are all kinds of fitness equipment -- hand weights, rubber tubing -- that make exercise more challenging, while adding variety and fun.

Find a league or sport team that has a competitive feel, but without winning as the main focus; one that allows you to get into the game, play hard and improve your skills.

Get them away from TV and gaming by signing them and yourself up for an exercise class, or work out with them at home.

"Inspire them to believe their bodies are meant to move. "

If your inner voice is making you take this fitness thing a tad too seriously, take a dance-style class and get your groove back!

czdeb@thejournal. canwest. com

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Fontana official issues fitness challenge

FONTANA - Councilwoman Acquanetta Warren is losing it. And she wants others to lose it too.

In leading a public challenge to the community to lose weight and get in shape, Warren is calling on 2,010 people to start a fitness regimen and join her during the Family Fun Day and 5K at Auto Club Speedway on March 27.

Warren competed in a weight-loss challenge among city employees a couple of years ago. She said she wants to finish her goal and drop another 45 pounds.

"One thing that residents love to see is health," Warren said. "I probably don"t look the thinnest, but I am so much healthier than I"ve been in years. But I need to lose that last 45 pounds."

Those who want to take the challenge can register at

. The Web site enables folks to track their diet, physical activity and weight loss.

Those who register receive points for tracking their progress. The points go to toward quarterly drawings for prizes. The first drawing will take place at the Family Fun Day.

Warren said during upcoming City Council meetings she will honor those participants who tackle the challenge and perform well.

She was inspired by her son"s loss of more than 90 pounds in order to join and graduate the police academy.

Warren said a recent visit to the doctor brought home the high cost of health care. She believes exercise and a good diet is a preventative measure that

can help residents save on health costs and put some extra money in their wallets during a tough economy.

The health cost of obesity in the United States could be as high as $147 billion annually, based on a study released last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.