FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 12, 2014) -- Football season is over, basketball is ongoing and NASCAR and baseball seasons are right around the bend.
There is always some sort of sport ongoing, beginning or ending for those who want to sit on the couch and watch.
During football season, I seldom move off of the couch on the weekend, but because I enjoy football more than other sports, I have plenty of time to recover and get myself back in shape during the offseason.
Personal fitness for sports fans is essential.
For one, it's hard to sit on the couch and scream at your favorite players to run faster, jump higher or throw farther when it's difficult for you to get off the couch and get your own glass of tea or bag of chips.
I've been known to fix myself a sandwich, get my favorite drink and take the garbage out -- all during a commercial break -- even without proper footwear.
Talk about the epitome of fitness for a sports fan, that's me.
But, that is just during football season.
All kidding aside, if that is what your children see, then you are not setting the best example you can.
Childhood obesity has become a problem in the U.S. The degree of the problem depends on where your information comes from.
According to a report from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children ages 6--11 in the U.S. who were obese increased from 7 percent in 1980 to nearly 18 percent in 2010. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12--19 years who were obese increased from 5 percent to 18 percent over the same period.
Eighteen percent is an awful amount of our youth who are obese.
If you have children, get involved in fitness, if not for you but for your children.
Don't let them become a statistic -- better yet, become a good example of fitness -- even if only in the offseason.
Racing them to the refrigerator isn't considered exercise, nor are video games.
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