Daily Intent

Roughly 100 Santa Barbarans came together this evening to celebrate 3 courageous individuals’ and 2 committed married couples’ 12 week journey to lose pounds, while raising money for the health of our future, Partners for Fit Youth (addresses the growing childhood obesity epidemic).

It was a joyous event put on by local fitness and health company Conditioning Specialists.  The overiding theme throughout: Transformation of body and self.  The individuals getting trained, Nancy Patterson, Li-At Ruttenberg, and Grant McKee, repeated many times over their thankfulness for the training they received (5 or 6 days per week), the encouragement on a daily basis via phone calls, text messages, and smiling trainer faces, and most importantly their NEW, Energetic, Motivated, Lighter Selves!  The trainers themselves proclaimed their unique, life changing experiences.   

I congratulate them all for what they have endured and what they have gained. 

Conscious Quotes #1: “I’m a bigger me!” - Li-At.  I don’t think she realized how profound this statement was when she pronounce it to the crowd while reflecting on her experience over the last 3 months.  She stood in front of us all having lost 12% of her body weight.  And she looked great! Her loss of pounds led to her gain of self.  Her spirit had grown.  Her belief in self had grown.  Her world of what is possible had grown.  Now she could consider a hike or bike ride without self doubt.          

Conscious Quote #2 Jessica St. John representative for Partners for Fit Youth: “In Santa Barbara County obesity plagues 11 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 11.  And 35% of children 12 - 18 yrs old!”  Santa Barbara!  A place of lifestyle, wellness, and beauty.  We are not immune.  One quick asterick: this has to be taken with a grain of salt, as this includes Santa Maria, a far different lifestyle and culture than Santa Barbara Proper.  Either way, rose color glasses need to be held in check by such statistics. 

This led me to do a quick internet search.  Nationwide: 18.8% of children 6 - 11 suffer from obesity while 17.4% of teens from 12 -19 years old suffer.  These statistics are TRIPLE what they were in 1980! 

My brief reaction to be expanded upon later:  Overiding theme - Lack of parental planning and prioritizing.  Parent’s aren’t taking their children’s diet seriously enough to allot time each week to plan out their meals.  Lack of creativity.  Parent’s aren’t getting creative with ways to feed their children healthily.  This goes back to allotting time to actually think about it, rather than being reactive.  Lack of funds.  It’s easy to buy cheap foods and requires less time.  You can fill your kid up at Carl’s Jr or Taco Bell for less than $5. 

Some quick links:  Use them to be inspired.  Read the participants blogs.  Learn about Childhood Obesity and what you can be doing to ensure your kids, students, and/or friends are living a healthy lifestyle. 

Key Words: Conditioning Specialists’ Lifestyle Transformation and Partners for Fit Youth

http://forum.sb-fitness.com/blogs/default.aspx?GroupID=20

Trainers involved in these individuals transformation: Jesse Brisendine, Stacey Cooper, Marisa Ericson and owner Doug Holt. 

s’Cool Food (The Orfalea Foundation): http://www.scoolfood.org/home/index.cfmCFID=1491003&CFTOKEN=69577560

Partners for Fit Youth Santa Barbara County: 963-8566 xt 221

 Is it your time for transformation?! 

Live and Be Well,

Jeff Bochsler