Today's assignment for parents: promote health and fitness and stay within the family budget. Inflation is hitting not only our wallets but our body size and weight as well. In the United States, two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese—a condition that alarms medical experts—and the numbers are rising.
 
Carole Carson—dubbed "An Apostle for Fitness" by the Wall Street Journal and the author of From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction—says that creative solutions can trim your family's budget while improving their fitness. Here are three back-to-school tips for getting FIT:
 
F = Focus on health: Forgo the school cafeteria and fill lunchboxes with fun, healthy foods that your children enjoy eating. Replace soft drinks and sports drinks with water or milk. Figure out how much screen time—the time your children spend sitting in front of a television, computer or video game—is appropriate and monitor schedules.
 
I = Improvise: Indulge your sense of play by creating outdoor games and participating with your children. If you own one of the popular video exergames, such as Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Fit, then encourage indoor physical activity when outdoor exercise isn't an option. Introducing your family to home-based exercise has the added advantage of eliminating expensive car trips.
 
T = Team Up: Transport yourself and your children on foot or on bicycles: you'll save gas while getting exercise. Tackle weight loss together by forming teams among family members and with neighbors. Encourage each other by measuring steps with inexpensive pedometers. Teach your children to take care of their bodies by setting an example.
 
Although you may need to trim your budget during these uncertain times, you can confidently splurge on your efforts to promote family fitness. The reward will be seeing good grades today and watching your children become healthy, active and productive adults tomorrow.
 
Visit online at www.fromfat2fit.com