Today childhood obesity is a major concern among parents and the medical community. This generation of kids is less active and more obese than any generation before.

Wouldn't it be great if your kids naturally enjoyed exercise? If this were the case then childhood obesity wouldn't be the looming problem that it is.

As adults we exercise to improve health, stay fit, and control weight. But what motivates a child to be physically active? Fun. Ultimately, if children and adults enjoy an activity, they're more likely to stick with it.

As you know, an inactive child has a greater chance of becoming an inactive adult if healthy habits aren't instilled early in life. And it's never too early to start.

What better way to get your kids moving than to find a fun exercise activity your whole family can enjoy together? Your family will not only be healthier and trimmer, but will spend quality time connecting and set habits that may last a lifetime.

Just remember that exercising as a family won't look like your typical workout. Here are some fun, creative ways to incorporate exercise into the life of your family.

Make Chore Time Fun Time
Let's face it: chores and kids don't mix. Not willingly at least. Chores and fun don't usually mix, either. How can you combine chores with fitness while making it fun at the same time?

Turn up your family's favorite tunes and sing and dance while cleaning the house. Let the kids take turns choosing the music. All ages can be involved. The youngest can pick up toys or sweep the floors. The older kids can vacuum, dust, and help with laundry.

While you're at it, turn chores into a competition. Who can clean his or her room the fastest? (Without stuffing everything in the closet.)

Dance Party
Want a little more wiggle in your family exercise routine? Invite the kids' friends over for a dance party. Move the furniture out of the way, turn down the lights, and turn up the tunes! Then get moving.

Kids will have a great time with this. If you have a Wii dance game, take turns in dance competition.

Family Fitness Nights
Family fun night is often spent sitting around watching a movie or playing a board game. How can you turn family nights into fitness nights?

Go on a bike ride together. Head to a nearby trail in the woods and go on a hike. Invite another family to join you and organize a soccer game, whiffleball tournament, or relay races. Set up a badminton net in the backyard.

If there's snow on the ground, get out the sleds and head to a nearby hill. What about roller-skating as a family? Now there's a fun family workout! Let each family member take turns choosing which activity to do on family nights, but keep the nights focused on fun fitness.

Hire a Personal Trainer
Each person has different fitness needs and goals. Call or email me today to design a workout program for each family member.

Track Progress
A great way to stay motivated as a family to keep exercising is to track individual progress. If one family member needs to lose weight and another is trying to bench press heavier weight, track both of their progress and encourage them along the way.

You can also have all family members wear a pedometer and reward the person with the most steps, or choose an exercise of the month. Good choices are squats, lunges, sit-ups, push-ups, or jump rope. At the beginning of the month, each family member must perform his or her maximum number of repetitions. After a month of training, the person with the highest percentage of improvement gets a small reward.

And keep progress at the forefront with a chart on your refrigerator to track your family's fitness goals.

A Way of Life
When fitness is incorporated into everyday life, it won't become a drag or another thing to fit into your already busy schedule. Set aside just an hour two to three times a week to get moving as a family. Your kids will have fun and learn valuable life lessons.

Call or email today and I will schedule a time to meet with you one-on-one to strategize the quickest and most effective route to meeting your family's fitness goals.

It's not too late for YOU to join the next Bootcamp session that started TODAY! www.norwalkbootcamp.com

If you don't eat right, neither will your children.

As much as you'd like to see the kids enthusiastically eating a pile of green veggies, you'll need to be the first one to dig in. The easiest way to model healthy eating habits is to eat most of your meals at home.

When you eat out, the kid's menus options are mainly fried and carbohydrate-filled, and most come with a sugary beverage. When you make your own meals at home center the meal around a lean protein, such as chicken or fish, and then add in lots of colorful veggies. Start with the recipe for Blackberry Chicken below.

This recipe makes a wonderfully healthy family meal. Use organic berries and chicken to get the most from your meal nutritionally and flavor-wise. Serve your chicken on a bed of steamed veggies or on a dark leafy green salad. Servings: 4

Here's what you need:

For the Chicken:

• 1.5 pounds organic, skinless, boneless chicken tenders
• 1 cup organic blackberries
• 1/4 cup coconut aminos (or soy sauce)
• 1/4 cup plum vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/8 cup yellow onion, minced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 packet Stevia

1. Rinse the chicken tenders and pat dry. Place in a large ziplock bag.
2. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth.
3. *optional* Strain the seeds from marinade (If you don't mind the crunch, then leave the seeds in!)
4. Pour the marinade into the bag of chicken, seal and place in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place the marinated chicken in a baking pan and bake for 30 minutes.
6. Remove from oven, drain off excess marinade, then place under high broil for 4 minutes, watching closely. Remove when golden.

For the Blackberry Sauce:

• 1 TBL coconut oil
• 1 cup organic blackberries
• 1 packet Stevia
• 1 Tbl plum vinegar

1. In a skillet over medium low heat, combine all of the ingredients and bring to a simmer.
2. Simmer, stirring often, until the blackberries become bright and the sauce reaches desired consistency.
3. If you wish to thicken the sauce more, add 1/2 teaspoon of arrowroot powder.
4. *optional* Strain the seeds from the sauce (If you don't mind the crunch, then leave the seeds in!)
5. Serve over the cooked chicken.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 287 calories, 7g fat, 655mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate, 5g fiber, and 36g protein

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You are crazy not to experience BootCamp! As a fitness drop-out I was facing my '60's looking like the typical out of shape American. What to do to jump start my way back to being healthy? Bootcamp with Laura! The classes are personalized, you never feel abandoned, and all levels are carefully watched by Laura ALL THE TIME. She knows what everyone is doing, pays attention to everyone's little bumps in the road and expertly increases the level of training with every session. I 100% recommend training with Laura. She lives what she believes.
Roseanne Shegirian

I began working out with Laura's bootcamp in October 2010. Over a year later, I can't believe how far i have come and can't imagine quitting. I've never been very athletic, and it is a stunning experience to discover my "inner athlete" in my mid-40s! Despite problems with my knees and occasional shoulder issues, Laura never fails to adapt the day's workout to accommodate my problems and give me a great workout. Not once have i left a workout feeling demoralized or thinking, "I'll never do that again." The other campers are non-judgemental and always encouraging. Beyond the incredible changes I've seen in my body, are the changes I've experienced in my mind - I am more confident, happier, calmer, and sleep better, too. Thank You Laura!
Mary Majewski

I have been going to the 5:30 Monday/Wednesday/Friday Bootcamp for over two years. Bootcamp has given me a confidence that I never had before. While I have always loved working out, I have found a love for doing so outdoors. I love the challenges that Laura gives me each time. She is so encouraging and motivating. Whatever the weather it is so worth it. There is such a feeling of accomplishment to finish a Bootcamp session in the rain, cold, and sometimes even snow! I believe because of bootcamp I was able to become a fit strong athlete that has run in 2 half marathons and even the New York Marathon last November. I can't say enough good things about Bootcamp and Laura.
Mary Britto

I started bootcamp about two years ago. I have tried gyms, walking and exercise classes and would go a few times and then stop. That was not the case with bootcamp. It is always different and nothing compares to working out outside. I am not a morning person but have no problem getting up at 5 am three days per week. I feel more energetic on bootcamp days. Laura is a fantastic trainer. No matter what level you are, she adapts the program to fit your needs.
Melissa Mednick

Here is the best thing about Boot Camp with Laura...she really cares about you as an individual. She is able to seamlessly tailor an individual's work out based on ability level and physical condition/situation. She pushes all of us as hard as we can ("kicks our butts!") without allowing any of us to overdo it. For those women who have been doing the camp for awhile and are very fit she sees to it that they are "burning." However, when a member is nursing an injury in a particular area she finds other approaches to give them a good workout without endangering their health. When a new member joins us she is careful to see that they are challenged without being overwhelmed. No one is ever made to feel that they are "not up to par" - either by Laura or the other ladies in the group. Individual progress is noted and applauded. I am new to the group and so not at the level of many of the others. But I feel welcome and comfortable and encouraged by seeing other camp members who started where I did and are now fit and strong. I hope to be able to be there one day myself.
Terry Williams

FOR MORE TESTIMONIALS, PLEASE CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE! www.norwalkbootcamp.com