http://www.telegram.com/article/20100217/NEWS/2170407

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Making fitness fun

PROGRAM ENGAGES KIDS IN EXERCISE REGIMEN

By Jennifer Toland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

jtoland@telegram.com

WORCESTER — Twelve-year-old Grace Weber's heart was pumping, her cheeks were pink and she was smiling as she took a quick sip from her water bottle last Tuesday afternoon at World Gym.

In the gym's group fitness studio, Weber and her nine preteen after-school workout partners had just completed a cardio interval of sprints, high-kneed skipping and bear crawls, and she was ready for more.

"It's so fun," Weber said before rejoining the group for a set of pogo sticks — trainer Jen DiCandia's kid-friendly term for plyometric jump squats.

"We make it fun," DiCandia said. "That's what it's all about."

DiCandia, a Worcester resident and founder of NV Personal Training, started Group Youth Athletic Training and More last year, and the program, open to kids ages 8 to12, is starting to take off. The current six-week session — held on Tuesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. — sold out quickly, and DiCandia plans to expand the program this summer.

DiCandia grew up in Webster and earned her degree in health and nutrition from UMass. She is an NASM and ICYA Certified Personal Trainer and figure competitor and has owned NV for six years. This is her first foray into working with kids and, in a country fighting childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles, she saw a need for this type of program.

"Kids don't get enough exercise," DiCandia said. "They absolutely don't. It is so important. I can't stress it enough — not only for the immediate benefits, for their lives now, but it sets the groundwork for their lives in the future."

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled. Childhood obesity can result in diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma later in life.

Last week, first lady Michelle Obama launched "Let's Move," a campaign aimed at conquering childhood obesity and helping kids lead active, healthy lives. DiCandia is doing her part on the local level.

"We have some kids here for weight loss, some athletes looking to improve and some are just here for fun fitness," DiCandia said.

"Fun" is the key word in Group Youth Athletic Training and More — DiCandia usually starts each session with a special handshake and finishes with a game of dodge ball or hula hooping — but make no mistake, these kids get a 60-minute workout.

"They don't realize when they're playing Simon Says, 'Do a squat and a dumbbell row,' they're working," DiCandia said. "We make it fun so they love it."

The kids work on cardio endurance, strength, stability and coordination. They utilize light to moderate weights, agility ladders and step hurdles. There's also some good, old-fashioned running around.

"It's awesome because we get to do a lot of fun stuff," said 12-year-old Joseph Kapur of Worcester, who plays basketball in the St. Peter's league and enjoys skiing at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. "It helps us train for sports. The exercises made my legs stronger."

Joseph and his 10-year-old brother Patrick are finishing up their second session of Group Youth Athletic Training and More.

DiCandia is a terrific instructor with a sparkling personality and the kids respond to her. She keeps them busy — these are 8- to 12-year-olds — checks their form, reminds them to breathe, makes sure they take water breaks. When she tells them to put their weights away, they gather up their dumbbells and return them to the rack.

"An hour a week isn't enough," DiCandia said, "but it's a start. And it's a good complement to sports or other activities."

Heather Selvitelli's 8-year-old daughter Samantha has taken part since November.

"Samantha's always been active but we wanted to get her into exercise and she loves it," said Selvitelli, a Worcester resident. "She looks forward to coming every week. I wish it was more than once a week."

In addition to the physical benefits, exercise improves psychological and social well-being. DiCandia has noticed increased self-confidence and self-esteem in a number of the kids she's worked with and has received similar feedback from parents.

"It's rewarding," DiCandia said.

"They feel like they win every single week. They never leave here defeated. They leave here feeling excited to come back the next week, which is what I want them to feel."

There is some discussion of nutrition and healthy eating, "but I don't preach it," DiCandia said. "I may say, 'I had the best mango the other day.' It makes for good conversation."

As "Boom Boom Pow" played from the speakers above, 10 kids did jumping jacks in unison — "I want to hear your claps," DiCandia said — then went to the floor for push-ups. Later it was time for those sprints. "That's my favorite," Weber yelled before running full out to the other end of the room.