It was reported today that a new magnet school opened in Spartanburg, SC. Some might say it’s not a big deal, but The Academy of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine magnet program is like no other magnet - ever. What makes this school different? While most middle school students take PE for nine weeks of the year, these students will have it every day, for 45 minutes, for the entire school year.

 It makes  sense that a school devote itself to  the academic wellbeing of their kids as well as  their health and wellness. Administrators will tell you that the test scores for children in the higher BMI ranges (Body Mass Index) are systematically low or below average. Kids who are overweight are less likely to succeed in school, less likely to go to college, have a family or lose the weight.
 
 If we don’t treat the kids most affected by the skyrocketing incidence of adolescent obesity, we’ll pay for them later. I can tell you that after 7 years in the business of providing treatment to kids, we have learned that having engaged adults available to these kids is crucial. I look to one kid specifically in our Fit Club program that Louie’s Kids introduced this past summer at Mitchell Elementary. Her Mom, Dad and Grandmother are all supporting her – they’ve made their house a fat-free zone, they’ve encouraged her to wear her pedometer, asked her if she’s journaling as required, and the results are in –she’s lost 22 lbs since June 3.

Let’s join with Spartanburg and recognize programs like Fit Club, the Lean Team or Junior Doctors in Health as opportunities to turn around failing schools and support children’s health and their overall wellbeing.
 
Louis Yuhasz 

Charleston Magazine’s Giving Back Awards announced, Friday, Sept 5, 2008index.html

So the 2008 5th annual yoga marathon is coming together in Marion Square. Right now the line up of teachers looks like Kari Kim, Beth Thomas and Michelle Scarafile from Blue Turtle, Cameron Gunter from Phoebe Pember House, Andrew, Allison and B from Jivumukti, Brenton and John from From Seed to Tree and Lynn Tally.

We are still looking for the City’s most popular yogi’s to call sun salutations that day -give us a shout if you’re interested.

You can download a sponsor form and get started raising money for us here on the site. Scroll down on our blog and click on the link to the sponsor form and the poster -and pssst “tell your friends!”

Thanks for checking in!
Louis 

Piggly Wiggly helps Louie’s Kids families make the best grocery store choices!

“The support that Rita Postell and the folks at Piggly Wiggly Carolina continue to give Louie’s Kids Fit Club at Mitchell Elementary downtown and the message we are delivering to these Title-1 school children and their families is just amazing” says Louis Yuhasz of Louie’s Kids. “Their assistance with some tuitions, the snack throughout the first program and the additional gifts of healthy foods and this tour are just so much help to us in this first launch,” “kids begin learning about food choices at the table!” he adds.

This past Saturday the folks at the Piggly Wiggly Carolina teamed up with Louie’s Kids Fit Club to host a complete grocery store tour with their on-staff Registered Dietician and some of the children and their families who are working so hard to lose weight in the program this summer and fall at Mitchell Elementary in downtown Charleston.
The one-hour tour highlighted the most nutritious foods that are low-fat, high fiber as taught in the Fit Club model fashioned after one of the best weight loss programs for kids in the country.

“We’re extremely grateful to the folks at Piggly Wiggly Carolina for embracing our idea of empowering these children and their families to make healthier choices in this 4 month program at Mitchell,” said Yuhasz. “Since we started in June we have a combined weight loss of over 75 pounds, but even more significant is the fact that we have a 94% attendance record –that’s because of the people like the Pig who have rallied around our cause from the start,” adds Yuhasz.

Rita Postell of Piggly Wiggly Carolina said they enthusiastically embraced this cause from the start. “Between Eileen, our Registered Dietician and Louis’s ‘no nonsense’ approach to food shopping when it comes to price and healthfulness, there was no way the families participating in this tour were left without many healthier choices. We see so many kids who need the help Louie’s Kids and Piggly Wiggly can provide, and we’re very excited about supporting an initiative that is helping children right here in the Charleston community,” she said.
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Yoga Devotees “Salute the Sun” for Kids’ Health

“It’s our fifth year doing Yoga Marathons and it just keeps getting better,” says Louis Yuhasz of Louieskids.org. “

Charleston’s most popular yoga instructors will lead the way in the 5th Annual yoga-thon on Sat. Oct. 11th from 12-2pm to benefit Louie’s Kids, a non-profit organization assisting children suffering from obesity.

Participants in the yoga-thon will complete up to 108 “Sun Salutations  or up to 108 minutes of yoga, with sponsors donating money for each Sun Salutation or minute of yoga completed.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Department for embracing our idea of possibly 200 people practicing a peaceful yoga practice right in the center of Marion Square on a Saturday during the farmer’s market,” said Louis Yuhasz, founder of Louie’s Kids. “You can’t pick up a newspaper these days without hearing about the epidemic of childhood obesity. And we’re excited that all of the studios will participate in an effort to help kids who need to make a dramatic change in their lifestyle to avoid a lifetime of health problems.”

Noele Pace, an owner of Serenity Now Yoga, said that the yoga community in the Lowcountry would enthusiastically embrace this cause. “Part of living your yoga is to give back to the community, so I know our students will enjoy participating in a yoga marathon for such a terrific cause. There are so many children who need the help Louie’s Kids can provide, and we’re very excited about raising money to help children right here in the Charleston community,” she said.

When & Where:            Saturday, Oct. 11th from 12:00 to 2 p.m. in Marion Square, Downtown

Sponsorship:            Supported By:  Charleston Magazine, Center For Therapeutic Massage, Down To Earth, MUSC Children’s Hospital, Natural Awakenings, NBC News 4, Snyder Party Rental, The Sprout, The Square Onion, and Whole Foods Market

Click here to see poster!

Click here to download sponsor form and get started winning airline tickets!

So we had our second Level award ceremony last week. The kids participating in Fit Club move through “levels” as a way to track success in their programs. 3 Kids moved to Level III and 5 kids moved to Level II!!! That’s amazing and we are so wowed by the kids continued successes. Auja, one of our shining stars has lost a considerable amount of weight but even more than that -she keeps coming, she keeps believing in herself and she continues to inspire us and the other kids in the program.

Each time the kids move through the level system, or to a next level, they are treated to a reward. The reward this time was a day trip with Barrier Eco Island Tours. Shane Zigler and his amazing crew, Captain Robbie and his great first mate Jenny, took us and some others out to Capers this past Friday. We swam (oh boy did we all swim) we ate a healthy lunch on the beach and then on the return trip we got a first hand education on the crabs, turtles, dolphin and so much more of the wildlife that surrounds the barrier islands off of Charleston. It was truly an amazing day.

We have a lot to be thankful for at Fit Club -I am really just so grateful and thankful that the kids keep coming -that they believe in us and that they are willing to share their very personal journey’s of weight loss and continued challenges. The picture below is A GREAT one with Mario getting a lesson on the tom-foolery of a stone crab -watch those claws!!!

Keep the comments coming and thanks for the support!!!
Louis 

Bucky Buchanan, our amazing program director, took 8 fit club members to the pool on Saturday -we meet as scheduled every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6  —we use Saturday’s as another day for physical activity and this past Saturday the kids got to go with Bucky (who by the way was a College of Charleston Star swimmer!!!)

Bucky reported that not only did the kids come, they did great and are really learning how to swim and embrace all types of exercise! Way to go Fit Club-er’s!

Keep coming to Fit CLub -and keep those check and letters coming to support programs like Fit Club in other neighborhoods!
Cheers!
Louis 

Okay, a lot of you have asked for that recipe from last Thursday’s Lowcountry Live when I went out to The Blood Drive with the beautiful Ryan Nelson -this is such a scrumptious recipe -hope you enjoy it!

5 c. fresh blueberries
1 (9″) reduced fat graham cracker crust
3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
3 Tbs. all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. grated lemon rind
1 (8 oz.) carton low fat sour cream
1/4 c. dry bread crumbs
1 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 Tbs. margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 375F. Place blueberries on crust. Combine brown sugar and next 4 ingredients in a bowl; stir well. Spread mixture over blueberries. Combine bread crumbs, granulated sugar and margarine in a small bowl; stir well. Sprinkle over sour cream mixture. Bake at 375F for 40 minutes or until set and crumbs are lightly browned. Let cool 1 hour on wire rack. Each serving = 6 POINTS

Per serving: Calories 312 (24% from fat); Protein 3.2 g; Fat 8.4g (sat 2.5g); Carbohydrate 56.5g; Fiber 4.3; Cholesterol 11mg; Iron 1.3mg; Sodium 166mg; Calcium 61mg  

Not sure if anyone noticed the Piggly Wiggly sales flyer in today’s Post & Courier but the Piggly Wiggly mentioned their support of Fit Club at Mitchell -we are all ecstatic! The Piggly Wiggly has given money, product and support to us this summer and it’s been huge! We are so grateful to Rita Postell, David Schools and the entire team at the Piggly Wiggly -we’ll work incredibly hard for their continued support of our program.

On another note, we are trying to kick off the 2008 5th annual Yoga Marathon on October 11th 12-2 in Marion Square. It’s not easy trying to get all those yogi’s in one place, in fact -it’s like herding kitties!

We had a weigh in yesterday at fit club and we have a combined weight loss of over 61 lbs!!! 

This is incredible and Bucky, Shavonna and Laura -can’t forget Eliza, all have worked so hard with these kids and their families. We continue to move forward and are blessed with the kids participation and excitement.

Next week the Rock Wall comes to Fit Club! For two hours on Tuesday, August 5th we’ll have the rock wall at the school and the kids, families, counselors and school will have a chance to climb all over the place -come join us!

Oh and tomorrow Lowcountry Live from Northwoods Mall! I’ll be on Lowcountry Live with the beautiful Ryan Nelson 10 a.m. WCIV ABC News 4 -tune in and tell your pals!
Cheers!
Louis