Michelle Obama is in Nevada at the  Redrock National conservation Area  promoting the administrations new get the fat off our kids by outdoor activities. When I was a kid it was called play…”go outside and play with your friends until dinner”.  The idea is a good one… but we as a nation, as a community, as families have got to change our ways. It is all about healthy living, which is a lifestyle change for all too many Americans.
RMLT Family outing on trail with dogs, kids on bikes & stroller 2010 jeh
We didn’t have TV’s or iPods, cell phones, commuter games, DVD’s …Cd’s etc.etc. We had friends and played outdoors….we rode bikes, go-carts, we played “Cowboys & Indians”…we played army & G.I Joe. We even had P.E. and recess at school.  But now the local school district did away with recess, to save money and time; P.E. is no longer required in Junior High or High School but an elective. Kids all (too many) have cell phones, iPhones, iPods, etc. and they text all day.  No wonder they are getting fat…no physical activity. I won’t even start on fast food & energy drinks…..Who to blame??? Just look in the mirror and we have our answers.  I keep having these images of how science fiction movies depict ‘aliens’….beings with big heads small pale weak bodies….hmmmm.all brain power and no physical exercise….is this what we are to become if we don’t change our ways???
What is the answer??? “LET’S MOVE…” is a good start. Get off the couch…turn off the TV/Computer etc. open the door and go for a walk…take the kids…take the dog. Better yet head for a local park, a local trail.   Hey, kids….you can use the River Mountains Loop Trail and pretend you are early settlers moving into Las Vegas “The Meadows” via a wagon train. Look for sources of water, shelter, food, etc. Try it, you’ll like it.
For me the best day on the trail is to see a family outing using the trail….small children on little bikes with helmets and mom & dad maybe pushing a stroller or walking the family dog on a leash, of course. These are good days and ones to promote over and over again. Happy Trails means Happy days and better living…. so Let’s Move…
