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NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY ROUND UP

This February, Body Electric commemorated National Girls and Women in Sports Day "officially" for the first time. We kicked off the festivities in style, and created the framework for an annual celebration.
On February 4, as part of the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table luncheon, we awarded our fifth annual Body Electric Athletic Scholarship to a senior soccer player from Dos Pueblos High School -- Alexis Solovij. Alexis has been playing soccer for twelve years, and has captained both her varsity and club teams for the past few years. She is planning a career as a high school history teacher, and is considering attending San Diego State, Cal Poly SLO, San Francisco State, and Chico State. She is active in the community and a leader in her church youth group. On February 5, we held our first ever NGWSD Benefit Concert at SOhO Restaurant, where a group of dynamic and inspired musicians played to a standing-room-only crowd! We took the opportunity to educate the audience about the benefits of physical activity for women and girls and the gender equity issues still not resolved by Title IX. The benefit brought in $1,000 to help support Body Electric's programs.
On February 9, we partnered with Girls Incorporated of Carpinteria and Girl Scouts of Tres Condados to present a Girls' Sports Fair. Local athletes, including the UCSB Women's Volleyball and Soccer teams, led groups of girls in skills clinics and drills in volleyball, soccer, golf and basketball. The day was fast-paced and full of fun activities. The 55 girls who participated walked away with goodie bags and positive experiences of learning new skills. Our final event of the week featured the donation of magazine subscriptions to all seventeen public high schools, continuation schools and middle schools in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria and Goleta -- also known as our Women's Sports Book Project. REAL SPORTS, a cutting edge women's sports magazine, provided a significant discount to Body Electric to help implement the project. Through our annual NGWSD programming, we hope to reach out to the community with fun and entertaining opportunities to create awareness of gender equity issues and the value in physical activity. We are grateful to everyone who helped make our vision a reality! See "Support" page for a list of everyone who contributed.

Parents Set the Stage for an Active Lifestyle

Women participating in sports were an anomaly when I started playing soccer. As a result, my parents, particularly my mother, were my mentors.

While not an athlete herself, my mother encouraged me to run every day, coached two of my soccer teams, and with my dad, cheered me on at every game. She taught me good sportsmanship, to be gracious in victory and defeat, to respect my teammates and opponents, and to thank those who support me. My mom also consoled me when we lost and celebrated with me when we won.

With my parents' support, I developed such self-confidence that I felt that I could do anything. Their confidence in my abilities has enabled me not only to try different things but also to succeed beyond my expectations.

So, what's the point of all this? You don't have to be an athlete to mentor your daughter, sister, or friend. Your enthusiastic support towards her athletic endeavors is what really counts.

By Karen Kistler

SANDI, ANNEKE AND ALLIE: A MOTHER-DAUGHTER JOURNAL

Part two in a series, the following is an excerpt of the journal of Sandi, Anneke and Allie, a mother and two preteen daughters who are helping each other to start and maintain an exercise routine.

With our journal series we bring you the challenges and accomplishments of an average woman: someone who, like all of us, balances a life full of work, play, friends, family and occasional struggle.

We hope you find inspiration in their daily endeavors, and perhaps decide to try something new and challenging yourself!

January 2:It was great to be home for Christmas and New Year's. Unfortunately, with all of the traveling, there was a lot of sitting and not any exercise.

I did plan one morning to meet my old running partner at 6 a.m. for a run. I got all ready and then found that the car was blocked and I couldn't get out!

January 9:We got some snow, so I can't do any road running (our streets seem to shrink from the snow banks - it doesn't feel safe). I am eating well though, feeling energized from eating mostly plant-based foods. Ah, FIBER!

January 19:It was difficult, but between dentist and doctor appointments, work, kids, and LIFE I was able to complete three invigorating workouts this week.

Today I found a quiet road that winds around a nearby lake. I went on a 3.5-mile run and took in the snowy scenery and crisp winter air; it was just what I needed after a hectic week.

January 26:This winter is mild compared to last year but I still find it difficult to brave the cold for an early morning workout. The evenings seem to be working better, but there are time constraints.

I prefer to wait until Anneke and Allie have gone to bed, and be at the gym by 9:00. The gym closes at 10:00 so I really have to rush to do everything in one hour. I like to play sports with A & A but I also need to concentrate on getting in good workouts consistently.

February 7: (Anneke)A few weeks ago I started doing volleyball on Mondays and Thursdays. Then, I got an assignment in gym that said I had to do 15 to 60 minutes of cardiovascular exercise daily.
So today my mom, my sister, my friend and I went to the Bennett Center and we swam and we did step aerobics for about 15 minutes.

After we got home, I went online with my mom and we found out what my target zone is for my heart rate. I found out that it was between 104 and 179, and I felt good because during the step aerobics, my heart rate was 160. I likedbeing able to listen to the music I like and work out at the same time.

February 18:I read that to create a lifestyle of fitness, each day you should ask yourself, "Where is my opportunity for exercise today?" It really is important to have this outlook and to be purposeful in taking advantage of every opportunity. After finding five opportune times to get to the gym this week, I am feeling great. Not only have I shed a few pounds, I am more alert and clear-minded.

As a very busy mom and working woman, there are some days where there is absolutely no opportunity to get to the gym or take to the road, and that is okay.

February 19:(Allie) I usually exercise about three times a week, not counting gym class at school. I enjoy it even though I get tired. Last week I swam three days in a row. On Sunday and Monday, I felt proud of myself for swimming freestyle across the Olympic-size pool without stopping once. After that, I felt really tired, and I rested in the shallow end for a while.

Another time I recently felt proud of my efforts was after ballet class when my teacher told my mom that I was a talented dancer. Ballet is fun, and good exercise, too!

P.E. to the Rescue: Get Our Children Back in Shape!

Children and adolescents in the United States are being diagnosed as overweight at alarming rates. Even more youth are reportedly out of shape. A recent report from the California Department of Education stated that nearly 80 percent of adolescents in the state are out of shape. Results specific to Santa Barbara are even more discouraging.

While school officials are expressing surprise and questioning the methods of the tests, state health officials are not. As stated in a recent News-Press article by Meghan Hennelly, state health officials believe that the increasing popularity of television and computers leads to inactivity in youth, resulting in poor fitness and obesity.

California is one of only two states to require the fitness tests in its schools. (Missouri is the other.) The tests assess fitness in six areas: aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension strength, upper body strength and flexibility. Students must pass all six areas to be considered fit.

Regardless of the specifics of the tests or the exact percentage of California youth that are 'not fit', the fact remains that there is a problem. The numbers of children and adolescents who are overweight and who do not get a sufficient amount of exercise is on the rise nationwide.

One result for overweight, out-of-shape children is health problems, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and a higher likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes. There are also possible psychological results, including poor self-esteem and depression.

The Surgeon General suggests that the number of children and adolescents who are overweight and not fit is due to a combination of lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, genetics and lifestyle. In addition, children tend to become less active as they move through adolescence. This decrease in activity is especially true for females.

The Surgeon General emphasizes the importance of supporting, accepting and encouraging youth who may be out of shape or overweight. It is not helpful to focus on a child's weight or make her feel as if she has a problem.

Overweight children need support, acceptance, and encouragement from parents and others in their lives.

Focus on a child's health and positive qualities and be a good role model regarding eating and exercise. The Surgeon General does not recommend putting kids on restrictive diets. Rather, it is encouraged to give them choices, but provide options that are healthy and low in fat and calories. It is also important to encourage kids to eat when hungry and to eat slowly.

Just like adults, youth feel better when they are healthy - eating well and exercising. And also like adults, it's not always easy to do this. One system that should be in place in our schools to encourage children and adolescents to be physically active is what we all know as "physical education," or P.E.

I don't remember having P.E. in elementary school. However, I do remember having P.E. in middle school and high school. In fact, it was in a middle school P.E. class that I developed a love for running that continues today. And it was in a high school P.E. class that I first played tennis, which is also a sport I still participate in and enjoy today. I have experienced how P.E. can be beneficial and lead to a more physically active lifestyle. However, this often does not happen in our P.E. classes, if the classes are even offered.

The thing about P.E. is that it needs to be 'real' P.E., not recess or free time or time for those who want to play kickball to play kickball. It also shouldn't be a time for those who want to opt out to go to the library. Of course, reading is important. So is exercise.

There must be skill development in P.E. classes. It's much easier for a student in middle school to play basketball if he/she has actually learned basketball skills. If not, she may never get in the game. Some kids have the advantage of growing up playing on community sports teams or in special leagues. Many children do not have this opportunity. Their opportunity to learn skills and to develop a love of exercise and sports may only be in P.E.

We have a problem and we can all do something about it. It may start with taking your niece hiking or supporting your friend's son at his soccer game. It may start with writing a letter to the appropriate source citing the importance of having quality physical education programs in our schools. It may start with eating healthier at home and encouraging your kids to do the same. Whatever we choose, let's just start.

For more information regarding physical education in schools, check out P.E. for Life: http://www.pe4life.com

By Brenda Britsch, Ph.D., Body Electric Co-Founder