Childhood Obesity Rates in Arizona are Among the Highest in the Nation: How Did We Get Here?

 I am a mother of four as you no by now. I spend quite a lot of time worrying about my children and their health. With all of the research I have done lately regarding proper diet and nutrition I have become more aware of predatory marketing that is directly aimed at children. Yes. I said it. It is absolutely predatory! It is incredible what a marketing company will call "healthy" in the name of making a buck. I started looking around at the store, at my kids high school, everywhere. What I noticed was not only are we becoming heavier and heavier as adults, our children are becoming obese. I couldnt help but head straight to my laptop and start looking for information on the subject of childhood obesity.I found no shortage of info on the subject, but one article I found in the Arizona Republic really caught my eye. The article is titled " Arizona cannot afford to ignore chilhood obesity". Christopher J. Wells an Arizona native ,and public health specialist wrote this article. Wells states in this article that Arizona's childhood obesity rate is climbing at a rate faster than any other in the nation. He further states that if we as a collective do not do something to reverse this trend we will see an " explosion of diabetes and heart disease-and the financial toll associated with them" I am concerned. Children should not be in the same sentence as heart disease and diabetes, especially if it is brought on by poor eating habits. Mr. Wells also addressed the predatory marketing I had noticed myself. He stated " Last year, Yale University's Rudd Center for food Policy and Obesity found that such companies spent roughly 2 billion dollars on product marketing - and unfortunately for us, it worked." Wells goes on to say that yale's research shows that are children are exposed to at least 4,500 television adds a year! No wonder all those kids are screaming in the grocery store wanting this and that. Parent's wanting to oblige their children are buying these processed, unhealthy, full of sugar food items and our children are paying the ultimate price with their health. Something has to be done. I have chosen to start at home. Packing my kids school lunches, planning more healthful meals with their tastes in mind. I have started getting out and walking the nearby park with my kids and my dogs, the exercise is good for all of us. The added benefit is that it gives us a chance to talk and spend time together outside the house, with no distractions.I intend to research this subject further and share all I learn with anyone that will listen. I fear for my children, our children.Something must be done or we may see the first generation of children that do not outlive their parents.

Entry # 3 Arizona State University Mixes it Up With Shorter Semester Scheduling

Hello! Welcome back to my blog spot! While contemplating how busy my life has become, and trying to find time to get all my homework done, I was thinking I needed to find ways to make better use of my time. I have been wondering if I should take on line courses, or accelerated 8 week courses here at G.C.C. next semester. I did take an 8 week class last semester for Eng 101. On one hand it did go quickly, I would have to say it was over before I knew it. On the other hand it felt rushed, I wondered if I was retaining enough to prepare for Eng 102 this semester. I asked my son Zack who goes to Devry how he felt about his 8 week semester blocks and he said he liked the pace, the idea that he would be done with his bachelors degree in 2 years and 8 months rather than the traditional 4 years at a University. However Zack is a 19 year old young man with very little to worry about other than his education and trying to secure a part time job.He has the time to double up on his studies at schooll and at home. I on the other hand work 50 plus hours a week running my own buisness and taking care of all the responsibilities that come with being a single head of house. Clearly the time that we have for our educations is very different. I am glad that there are choices that fit and accomodate both of us. I was reading an article in the Arizona Republic that was in the paper on March 10th 2013. The article was titled "Arizona State to offer more short classes". The article stated that in January they will be adding more courses that can be completed in half the time. A.S.U Provost Betty Capaldi says " the goal is to be flexible for both students and faculty"and she added " that if a student wants to be very efficient they can finish a four year degree in three years". Sounds great if your life allows for that kind of intensity.Gary Grossman president of A.S.U.'s University senate says he has received hundreds of emails regarding this issue. He states that about a third are for it, another third against it, and the other third confused and questioning. I read on and found that the faculty has mixed feelings as well. Some are for it as that schedule would allow more time for researching commitments, others feel that faculty input on the matter was not taken into consideration and worry about some courses being accelerated. Clearly one size does not fit all for the student or the teacher. I personally don't feel that accelarated classes, or online classes would work well for me. I think I am more of a traditional 15 week face to face kind of girl.I think it is great that Universities offer these kinds of courses for those that have the ability to go at a faster more convenient rate for them. My only concern is that eventually all classes will end up this way. A.S.U. online is becoming more popular all the time, and it is fattening up the bottom line for the university. I can see where soon it would be easier and more profitable for an educational institution to conduct all classes in this way. I just hope this educational shift happens AFTER I am done with my educatinal experience. I think I might be just a little to " Old School" for all that! Ciao for now! Off and running!

Feel like i'm drinkin sunshine!

Greetings! I have been so busy! Feels like I'm constantly running! I am sure you have an idea of what that might be like.Sure you do!, we are all busy. I somehow managed to work in the time and prep to go on a 10 day juice fast.I will tell ya, it takes some plan and prep time but it seems to be paying off in spades!The first three days were kind of rough. Caffeine withdrawal was the worst part. Had quite the headache. Food cravings were pretty strong for the first three days as well.You may be asking yourself why would she do such a thing? I would tell you I did it to see if I could, and I'm glad I did. after those first three days everyday I feel a little bit better. I have a lot more energy, and mental clarity. My skin is looking pretty great and people say they can see a difference in me.Oh ya, my clothes are feeling just a little looser as well. Tomorrow will be my day ten.Yes I will start food back into my diet, but these ten days have given me lots of time to think about the way I want to eat from now on. I have received a great deal of inspiration from a website, and I would like to share it with you. The site ohsheglows is a website devoted to a vegan lifestle,  Angela caught my attention with her title and kept it with her content . I have tried a few of Angela's recipes and they were quite tasty! Even my pickiest child enjoyed them.I hope you check it out, even if you are only a little curious.