Tuesday, November 29, 2011

11-11-11 Blue Mtn Hike

11-29-11: Finally getting a post about our hike up Blue Mountain we did on 11-11-11 at 11:11 AM. It was a total blast, great weather, and had over 30 people (and quite a few kids).

Check out the pictures in my Facebook album (you don't need to be on FB to see this album).

Thanks to Shelly and her mom, Joyce, for giving me the idea to do this in the first place! They made it up farther than they did last New Years, and plan to make it all the way to top this coming New Year's Sunrise hike!

For more info or to get on the New Year's Day Hike List, send me an e-mail at PAEvangelist@gmail.com and I'll be sure to add you to our list for future updates and notifications.

Next hike: New Year's Day Sunrise Hike, Jan. 1, 2012, meet at 5:30 AM at Palm and Honeyhill Dr., Grand Terrace.

Friday, November 18, 2011

1 in 3 teens overweight/obese!

11-18-11: A very sad study that just came out talks about how 1 in 3 kids are overweight or obese, none were eating all the recommended amounts of healthy foods, and less than half were getting the recommended amount of physical activity!
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You can read more about this story here.

Solutions? Here's my top 10 list. What do you think? What can you add?

1. Parental involvement and modeling
2. Use technology to our advantage, don't just bash it!
3. Exergaming
4. Mobile fitness apps based on game principles (like Mobile Adventure Walks)
5. Make it FUN!
6. Parent involvement/modeling!!!
7. Do a variety of things
8. Think outside of the box
9. Make it social
10. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT/MODELING

As you can see, if we're going to get a handle on this childhood obesity epidemic, PARENTS must be involved in the process!!! Not just by signing them up for soccer and then dropping them off or sitting on their butts on the sideline, but ACTIVELY getting involved with physical activity themselves!!! Participating WITH their kids.

A physical active lifestyle is caught, not taught, so the parents need to be passing this on to their kids if they want their kids to be active for a lifetime.

Problem is, the parents themselves are NOT physically active, so we need to find ways for the WHOLE FAMILY to be active. If you need help with that, contact me via e-mail or text and this PA Evangelist will do what he can to help you and your family.

Dr. Ernie Medina, Jr., DrPH
cell: 909-747-5935
xrgamer1@gmail.com

Monday, November 7, 2011

Adventure Walk does DC!!

11-7-11: American Public Health Assoc. blogger Teddi J. blogs about her experience with Mobile Adventure Walk. Read about her adventure in hhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifer blog post and how gamefication meets health behavior change!

Friday, November 4, 2011

New tips for post-marathon

11-4-11 Doing a marathon anytime soon? Here are some new tips fhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrom sport medicine experts that you can follow. They are good for even shorter distances like a half marathon as well!

New info on tanning

11-4-11: Seems that there might be a new mechanism of protection from dangerous UVA light. Check this out:http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

"The studies show that melanin production can be measured in human skin cells within an hour of UV exposure. That’s key because melanin doesn’t just make the skin darker. It also protects the skin by absorbing ultraviolet radiation and converting it to a less harmful energy in the form of heat.

“We hypothesize that the early melanin production triggered by rhodopsin activation provides a first line of defense against ultraviolet light-induced damage,” Oancea says. “If this is the case, then this pathway and its protective capacity should be taken into consideration in the design and use of broad-spectrum sunscreens.”

You can read more about it here.

Sedentarianism linked to cancer!

11-4-11: More proof that not only should we get our 50-60 mins. of moderate exercise per day, but we should decrease our sedentary time as welhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifl!

A new study that was presented today shows how being too inactive (sedentary) throughout the day is linked to increased cancer! You can read more about it here.

So think of how you can decrease your sedentary time. I have a pedalar I picked up at Wal-Mart for $25 and whenever I am reading or talking on the phone, I sit back and pedal on it. (My desk is not quite high enough for me to pedal while I'm typing on the computer--like right now, but am working on that).

Some people are able to set up a treadmill or stationary bike in their office and walk/pedal while they are surfing the Net or on their laptop/computer. I don't have that space in my office so do the next best thing.

Also taking breaks during every hour and going out for a quick walk or something is a good way to break up the sedentary time.

In summary, while exercising for 60 mins. is good, being sedentary the other 23 hours is a big risk factor, despite that hour of exercise!

So work on doing both and reduce your risk of cancer!!!