Cleveland: Get Going... Get Fit
How to Avoid "becoming one with your living room furniture"

When is the last time you saw Barbie? Yes, Barbie, as in Ken and Barbie. I recently saw her in the buff. My 2-year-old munchkin discovered that Barbie "has parts." "What's that?" she asked. "Umm... do you want to get Barbie dressed?" I replied. As with most things in parenthood, redirection works well. "Just where is she going with this" you ask? Well, Barbie has a body that most of us will never see. Her dimensions aren't even realistic... but seeing Barbie au naturel reminded me of my annual New Year's resolution: to shed those last few baby pounds (albeit a few years later).

What about you? What about your kids? Let's face it, obesity has been in the news consistently... and it is bad news, especially for kids. Over the past few years, the focus on the rise and implications of being overweight has never been sharper and for good reason: It's not just about feeling like a sloth and wobbling like a bowl full of jelly... it's about the negative health implications and ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and so on. Given the cold Cleveland winters (which often last until late April!), it's easy to become inactive. But there is hope. You and your family can avoid becoming one with your living room furniture.

There are many awesome opportunities in the Cleveland area. Many of them are free or nearly free. Most programs are totally worth any cost associated with them. Consider it an investment in your health, in your kid’s health, and in your life. Okay, enough physical philosophy. It’s time to get going. Check out one or two (or all) of these outdoor adventures waiting to be explored in the area.

Even when it is cold in Cleveland, it is still a great time to bundle up the little ones and head out! The area metro parks offer diverse programming for kids (and those who are kids at heart). From movie nights to programs about specific animals (bats, owls and more), their offerings are vast and economical (many are free). In addition, the parks offer hiking, biking and rollerblading trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and wide-open spaces suitable for organized (or not-so-organized) sports and games. Don’t forget about tobogganing at The Chalet Run in the Mill Stream Reservation (a thrill for kids of ALL ages!). More information about Cleveland Metroparks is available at http://www.clemetparks.com or by calling 635-3200.

An indoor family outing that feels like the great outdoors is the Cleveland Botanical Garden located in University Circle. Open year round, the CBG's mission is “grounded in the belief that quality-of-life can be improved through a better understanding of the interdependence of plants, people and the environment.” A trip to the Botanical Garden invites you and your children to explore the glasshouse, which features two distinct ecosystems. And, if the weather is cooperating during your visit, be sure to also check out the 10 acres of display gardens including the Hershey Children's Garden, the first garden of its kind in the State of Ohio. The Garden also has great amenities such as onsite parking (for a fee) and the Garden Café, which features light snacks, lunches and refreshments. To find out more, visit http://www.cbgarden.org or call 721-1600.

When it warms up, don’t forget about that small body of water that sits just north of this fine city. Lake Erie is the 4th largest Great Lake by surface area, shallowest of the Great Lakes, and the 12th largest freshwater lake in the world. With these credentials comes plenty of family fun. Fishing, boating, swimming, or just skipping stones and building sandcastles, Lake Erie offers recreational opportunities that not many cities have to offer. Learn more by visiting http://www.ercnet.org.

Get out and get going... and have fun getting fit. Watch out Barbie, here I come.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Jeannie Fleming-Gifford, M.A. fleminggifford@yahoo.com
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