Let's Move Like Kids and Eat Like Adults!

Another post for the simple not easy archives!  With an exorbitant amount of information concerning diet and exercise, it's easy to be confused/frustrated/apathetic/etc.  We're here to simplify things for you.  Here we go:

Move like Kids!

When did you move the most in your life?  When did you enjoy moving the most in your life?  For most of us, these questions conjure up fond memories of recess, making forts or obstacle courses, or playing until the street lights came on.  For some reason we get away from that.  Let's go back!  Kids are the best movers around and they don't even think about it!  They move fluidly, intuitively, and often.  Let's be like them!

• Use our surroundings to create a workout.  Even better, let's not think of it as a workout, let's just move and challenge our bodies for a while.  Great natural exercise equipment includes: rocks and logs for lifting and carrying, hills and trees for climbing, fallen trees for balancing, small bushes or low fences for hurdling, soft grass or sand for crawling or tumbling.

• Move naturally.  I loathe the term "functional training." Doing unilateral-hyper-reverse-power-lunges on a bosu ball may be impressive but what function does it serve?  Kids just run, crawl, climb, jump, etc.  Let's try to match them!  Notice their posture, tempo, and how they use gravity and momentum to their advantage.

• Play outside.  We simply feel better after moving outside.  The air's fresh.  The sunlight warms our skin (and is much quieter than fluorescent bulbs).  Wind provides natural resistance.  Terrain with rocks, roots, ups and downs require more skill and awareness than the belt of a treadmill.  Think you're fit?  Try to keep up with a kid on a playground for 30 minutes!

• Do it with friends.  Kids are masters at making up games and ad hoc rules.  Let's emulate them, or have them design the workout!  Plus friends act as accountability partners.

Eat like Adults!

Usually I'm against "growing up" but in this case it's called for.  We all know food is the most significant factor in our overall health, yet so many of us eat like we're still in the elementary school cafeteria.  We don't have a 9 year old's metabolism and by now our digestive system has some wear and tear.  Let's do as we say kids should do:

• Eat vegetables and some fruit - preferably local, seasonal, and organic whenever possible.
• Properly prepare nuts/seeds/grains/etc. by soaking or fermenting them.  It's easier than you think!
• Don't fear the fat!  High quality olive oil, coconut oil, and real butter contain important fat-soluble vitamins.  Terms such as "cold-pressed", "extra virgin", and "unrefined" are typically good.  Avoid products that are "hydrogenated", "hydrolyzed", "refined", or sound like it took a serious science project to process them.  
• Do your homework.  Choose products from happy animals.  Back in the day you probably just bought "eggs".  Now you have to figure out whether you want "free range", "cage free", "vegetarian fed", "omega-3", etc.  Unfortunately "natural" doesn't really mean anything these days.  Look for "organic", "pastured", "grass fed (and finished)", etc.
• Indulge sensibly.  Except for the holidays, Superbowl, and maybe Halloween, choose treats that contain some beneficial health properties (e.g. red wine, dark chocolate, 1-2 beers, whiskey, high quality cheese, etc.).
• Or simply put, eat food that contains LIFE!  It requires some preparation, cooking, and explaining to people who eat "normal", but it's worth it!