Family Fitness
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Stacy's Story, Macaroni Mama!
All You Need is Family! And Sneakers!
By: Stacy Alves
I can remember as a young girl always battling with my weight and wanting nothing more then to be skinny (while eating my chicken nuggets too!!) After having my second child in 2006, after years of all kinds of yo-yo dieting, I topped the scale at 220lbs. It was that year that I talked my dad into training for the 2007 KDF mini-marathon in hopes of getting us both more active. My dad use to run this race when I was a kid and I thought it would be a neat experience to finish the race together.
In 2007, we both finished the race and were also joined by two of my aunts and two uncles. The next year, my dad ran his first marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon. Since then, he has became a running machine and has won several grandmaster awards, age group awards, and runs several marathons a year.
I am now down to 148lbs, have completed eight half-marathons, and am now training for my second full marathon this fall. For the past several years, I've loved being an encourager/leader for our church's mini-marathon team and helping others to accomplish their goals of living a more active lifestyle.
This year, Blake, my eight year-old asked me about running with my group. Being that he had done a couple 5k's already, I figured he could come for a couple training runs. I could tell his confidence was growing through his ability to run and he asked me "can I run the mini?". I laughed and told him that if he stuck with the training, he could run the race (not thinking he would!) He completed the triple crown races and the mini often times before me! He is now training for his second half-marathon and hopes to one day run with Wesley Korir and Ryan Hall!!
Now my six year-old, Emma, is wanting to train for a 5k herself!! In America, we see the average life span decrease and the number one killer being heart disease. It is so important that we teach are kids a healthy lifestyle by being active, eating healthy, and learning moderation. It's so much easier to learn a healthy way of living as a child than it is to teach ourselves as adults. By then, we may be diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, or some other health condition.
Being healthy and active doesn't need to cost a fortune or pull the family apart trying to get to practices and games all over town. All you need is some athletic shoes! You and your family can go for a walk, run, hike or even use the active video games. Maybe grow a garden or try new fruits and vegetables together. Don't just tell our kids to be healthy, instead, let's do it together! Let's help our children learn to live a healthy life style by making it a family thing!
In 2007, we both finished the race and were also joined by two of my aunts and two uncles. The next year, my dad ran his first marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon. Since then, he has became a running machine and has won several grandmaster awards, age group awards, and runs several marathons a year.
I am now down to 148lbs, have completed eight half-marathons, and am now training for my second full marathon this fall. For the past several years, I've loved being an encourager/leader for our church's mini-marathon team and helping others to accomplish their goals of living a more active lifestyle.
This year, Blake, my eight year-old asked me about running with my group. Being that he had done a couple 5k's already, I figured he could come for a couple training runs. I could tell his confidence was growing through his ability to run and he asked me "can I run the mini?". I laughed and told him that if he stuck with the training, he could run the race (not thinking he would!) He completed the triple crown races and the mini often times before me! He is now training for his second half-marathon and hopes to one day run with Wesley Korir and Ryan Hall!!
Now my six year-old, Emma, is wanting to train for a 5k herself!! In America, we see the average life span decrease and the number one killer being heart disease. It is so important that we teach are kids a healthy lifestyle by being active, eating healthy, and learning moderation. It's so much easier to learn a healthy way of living as a child than it is to teach ourselves as adults. By then, we may be diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, or some other health condition.
Being healthy and active doesn't need to cost a fortune or pull the family apart trying to get to practices and games all over town. All you need is some athletic shoes! You and your family can go for a walk, run, hike or even use the active video games. Maybe grow a garden or try new fruits and vegetables together. Don't just tell our kids to be healthy, instead, let's do it together! Let's help our children learn to live a healthy life style by making it a family thing!
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