INDIVIDUAL HEALTH

Deirdre Newman

Marcus McAdams began working out at the 24 Hour Fitness Center in

Costa Mesa in August. His mom, Debi Yao, had signed up for personal

training and hadn’t used it yet. She realized it was about to expire

and asked her son if he wanted to go with her to the gym. He said yes

for the same reason many adults do.

“I just felt like I had a stomach and wanted to get rid of that

and wanted to get strength so I could do things,” Marcus said.

Marcus is among an increasing number of children who are forgoing

or supplementing traditional team sports, such as soccer and

baseball, with more individual pursuits like working out at the gym

and boxing.

These endeavors enable kids to get buff and de-stress on their own

schedule. It also gives them the self-confidence that team sports

typically provide, those who participate in them say.

“It makes you feel better about yourself, more empowered,”

14-year-old Marcus said.

As more attention focuses on the perils of obesity, the

Newport-Mesa Unified School District also is taking steps to

enlighten kids about nutrition. A seven-week after-school program at

College Park Elementary School in Costa Mesa recently focused on food

groups and culminated with a physically active game that reinforces

what the kids have learned.

GETTING TO THE GYM

Marcus started going to the gym three times a week during the

summer, but dropped down to twice a week when school started, he

said.

His personal trainer, Darrell Delgado, gives Marcus tips about

nutrition as well.

“I teach them about diet, nutrition -- I build it on a personal

basis and give them helpful tips they need to make the right

choices,” Delgado said.

Delgado varies the routine so Marcus gets to try different things

like the cardio machines and the stationary bike.

The workouts have been paying off, Marcus said.

“It was harder for me to run [before],” he said. “It’s easier on

my legs [now], like I’m gliding instead of struggling.”

His mom has noticed the difference as well.

“He’s a lot stronger, that’s for sure,” Yao said. “His posture’s

getting better too.”

INTO THE RING

Nine-year-old River Kapeller has the freckled-face, boyish

innocence of Tom Sawyer until he breaks out his jabs, hooks and

crosses. Then his pale skin takes on a ruddy tone and the intensity

burns in his eyes.

River has been taking boxing lessons at L.A. Boxing in Costa Mesa

for the past 10 months.

“My Dad told me it was really fun, so I came,” River said.

Scott Stern, a fifth-grader at Eastbluff Elementary School, got

hooked after his cousin, who is an instructor at the boxing gym,

introduced him to the sport. Boxing enables him to channel his

aggression in a more constructive way than at school, he said.

“It’s the one time where you get to beat up someone and you don’t

get in trouble for it,” he said.

An average class involves practicing punches; plyometrics --

exercises to enhance reflexes; and squats that strengthen the leg

muscles, the most important muscles in boxing, said boxing instructor

Steffan Lugo. On Fridays, the class spars in the ring.

ON THE PLAYGROUND

School district officials also are concerned enough about the

amount of physical activity kids get that they developed a program

that focuses on nutrition and health. Students at College Park

recently went through it, each week learning about a food group and

do a physical activity, said Geoffry Ianniello, nutrition services

operations manager for the district. They then prepared healthy food

and, of course, got to eat it.

The program is made possible by a state grant from the California

Nutrition Network.

“The whole purpose of our grant is to promote the increased

consumption of fruits and vegetables and increase the amount of

physical activity that our kids get because of the increase in

obesity and bad nutrition habits that are in our population now,”

Ianniello said.

At the end of the seven weeks, the kids played a find-the-food

game where they use the information they have learned to identity

foods from different groups in a physically active way.

As a souvenir of their experience, the kids got T-shirts that say,

“Eat 5 a day for better health and be active” and got to chow down in

a special nutritional food group buffet.

“It’s good,” said Jocelyn Carballo, 8. “I learned you’re not

allowed to eat too many sweets and you’re supposed to eat all the

good foods.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].