A little taste of holiday cheer

Our guest blogger this week is Drew Smith, our Development Director.

When is the last time you went caroling? I highly recommend it this holiday season…it will warm your soul on a cold December evening. Whitney Kahn, our senior program director and I took a group of 8 high school kids caroling last night and it was awesome! All the kids are active members of our Leaders Club. I mentioned to Whitney that I wanted to take a group of Leaders who can carry a tune (Lord knows I can’t!) on a little trip around town to go caroling to some of our donors. So the kids enthusiastically embraced the idea, went to work on learning three different songs to sing (Silver Bells, Angels We Have Heard on High, and Deck the Halls).

So we ventured out and stopped at about a dozen homes and I only wish more folks were home. About half the folks we went to see were home, so I guess in baseball terms we were batting .500 which is a great number…but when you’re out there caroling, you want to sing to actual people.. But it really didn’t matter…and I wish everyone could have seen the huge smiles on the faces of these kids when they heard this right after their first carol of the night, “I haven’t been Christmas caroled in years! Thank you, thank you, you guys were great!”

Even when folks weren’t home they sang anyway…and maybe the neighbors got to hear the harmonized vocals of these 8 high school students donning their Santa hats with mini flashlights and cell phones in hand to illumine the sheet of lyrics in the darkness of the night.

What really struck me was how these teens just totally immersed themselves in this endeavor. They were loving it…really having fun…going from house to house singing carols, joking with each other, and counting down the minutes until the post-caroling pizza party. (By the way the pizza at Carmine’s in Eastgate was amazing). While they scarfed down the pizzas they were talking about doing it again next year! And we’ve already got some plans in place to make it bigger and better, so stay tuned.

So if we didn’t get to your house this year, keep a lookout for the YMCA Leaders Club carolers in 2010.

So when's the last time you went caroling? And what's your favorite Holiday Song? Share your favorite memories and we'll pick the best one for a great YMCA Prize in January!

Beating the Winter Blahs, YMCA Style

As I sat and watched the rain fall in the parking lot, it occurred to me that this time of year, as the days get shorter and the temperatures get colder, it becomes easier than usual to slip into a bit of a funk and let your spirit start to droop a bit. With the winter weather, the lack of sunshine, the hustle & bustle of the holidays, and stress that comes with life's daily grind, we often find ourselves deep in a rut of winter doldrums before we know it.

Then it occurred to me that the YMCA is the perfect place to discover new tools for fighting the winter "blechs." Here are some great ways you can "Beat the Blahs."

1. Try a new Fitness Class.

There's no better place to try a new class than the YMCA. Here there's no reason to worry about what people think of you or to be concerned about embarrassment. We're all about beginners (and intermediates and experts) so go ahead, Zumba away, even if you have no rhythm. Try that Yoga pose, because falling means you're trying, and sign up for Bellydancing, because everyone will look kind of silly (except for the instructor). Check out our fitness classes here.

2. Volunteer in a Youth Program.

Want a guaranteed laugh? Come and be a part of one of the YMCA Youth Programs. There isn't a funnier, more positive group of people on the planet than the kids in our youth programs. It doesn't take any special talents necessarily (although hidden talents are always a bonus). If you can do elementary math or help with geography homework, you're good to go. We'll guarantee at least a giggle every day you come to volunteer, plus you'll be making a difference in a kids life.

3. Find a Workout Buddy - at the Y.

Even for the most dedicated of us, time spent on your own on the treadmill can eventually become like running in circles on a human sized hamster wheel, no matter how great your "World's Best Workout" iPod playlist is. At the Y, we're about relationships, and what's so important to us is that you're in environment where you can feel comfortable discovering people here to build those new relationships with.

4. Go for a swim.

Nothing's better for thumbing your nose at Old Man Winter than taking a dip in the pool when it's freezing outside. Now I know, our pool is indoors and climate controlled, but it's still pretty cool to take a swim when most of the water outside is frozen solid. There's plenty of time for lap swim, recreational swim and aqua aerobics in our pool. Check it out on our pool schedule.

5. Just hang out here.

One of my favorite things about working at the Y is the never-ending treasure chest of fantastic life stories our members bring. From World War II veterans to Best Selling authors, Pioneering Educators to Amazing Athletes, the stories abound. Simply ask and you'll discover a sampling of what makes our town so interesting and fun to live in.

So that's my list of great things to do at the Y to beat the winter blues. How about you? What's your favorite part of the YMCA during the winter?

Looking for more great lists? Check out this one by one of our newest CHCYMCA members Molly Buckley - 5 things to keep in mind over the holidays.

Connecting our community for the better.

This week our guest blogger is Drew Smith, our Financial Development Director:

Greetings and Happy Holidays! My name is Drew Smith and I’m the financial development director here at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA. What does that title mean? Well, I’m basically a connector. I connect investors to the CHCYMCA - a great nonprofit organization that is serving the community in so many ways on a daily basis. Did you know that we have a standing commitment to make sure that no one is turned away from the YMCA based on his or her financial resources? Anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of the CHCYMCA is welcome, regardless of ability to pay. You know, most people think of our community as affluent; with an abundance of highly educated people from all over the globe. That’s true, but it’s also true that there are people who live and work here who struggle each day to make ends meet.

By connecting investors with the YMCA, we have the funds available to award financial assistance to hundreds of people every year right here in our community. People who need afterschool care for their children, summer day camp for their elementary schoolchildren, or seniors who need a place to take water aerobics classes. Those are just a few examples of how a donor’s gift is invested.

This is arguably the worst economy since the great depression, but our YMCA has received a record number of annual donations totaling more than $132,000 as of this writing. Still, we’ll award approximately $250,000 worth of financial assistance to local children, families, and individuals…so you can see there are unmet needs.

During the holidays, many of us take time to give thanks for our blessings and reflect on how fortunate we are for health, happiness, and good fortune. But for some of our neighbors, the holidays might not seem as bright or cheery…there are financial woes, unemployment concerns, and a decision of whether to pay the rent, or buy groceries.

Looking to make an end of the year donation and want 100% of your gift to stay local without part of your donation going to administrative fees, etc.? Please consider a gift to the We Build People campaign. You can make a gift securely online through our website. Just click the Donate Now button on our home page. You can always send a check or use a credit card if you’d like.

I think this is a great time to be thankful for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA. Imagine what our community would look like without it? Imagine if the 250+ kids who attend afterschool at the Y had to find somewhere else? What about the dozens of children who learn the potentially life saving skill of swimming every year at the Y? I’m also very thankful for the hundreds of annual donors and volunteers who graciously donate their treasure, their time, and their expertise to help others. The YMCA is devoted to serving this community, and it’s awesome to see this community respond!

Another Great Run in the Woods.

This past Saturday, we held the 8th annual Pumpkin Run at the YMCA. This great annual event is held, with the great leadership of the YMCA and SeeJaneRun, a local women's running group headed up by Joan Nesbitt Mabe. For 8 solid years, this event has been a unique race in a town and area FULL of races all year long. It's not long. It's not super hard. It doesn't have a great big prize purse. But what it does have makes it special and fun and unlike any other race in Chapel Hill.

The race is really a celebration of the Carolina North Forest, which is managed by UNC Land Management division. If you haven't been there, do yourself a favor and go. Go by yourself, or take a friend, or take the whole family. It's maybe the single most delightful locale in Chapel Hill. I myself have disappeared for a couple of hours on the over 10 miles of single track trails located there.

There are many things that make this race so unique and special. I'd say the biggest thing is that at any time you may find yourself running next to a 6-year old or a 60-year old runner. Also, that runner may be attired in common runners garb or dressed as a pumpkin or a member of a Boy Band. You see, we encourage everyone to come out and run with us, in an effort to show that fitness can be fun, but also in hopes that over 300 people can celebrate the beauty of nature with us.

After the run, there's plenty of pumpkin pie and great dancing at the Post-Race Party back at the Y. For 8 years, local running group SeeJaneRun has worked tirelessly to make sure that every participant gets his or her fill of pie. Open Eye Cafe has always been generous and donated great coffee for the event. Chick-fil-A at University Mall makes sure that our volunteers get fed and so many local vendors donate supplies and prizes.

Now don't get me wrong - All this fun and enjoyment doesn't mean there aren't fast times. This year, John Hinton run the 4K even in 13:15(!!) I myself finished in 17:01 officially (I will mention that my Garmin said 16:55, but whose counting), and was neck and neck with a young man who appeared to be around 12 years old for the last 1/4 mile.

If you didn't run it this year, be sure to mark your calendars for next year. The race is always the Saturday before Halloween, and it always fills up fast. If you did run it this year, thank you so much for making this race such a special event in Chapel Hill. And a special thanks goes to the volunteers who continue to amaze me with their skill, dedication and hard work.

In case you are wondering, proceeds for the race go to the Chapel Hill High School Cross Country Team, to efforts to keep the Carolina North Forest clean, and to the annual YMCA Strong Kids Scholarship Campaign.

Healthy Recipe of the Month: Takeout Fake Out: Sesame Chicken

As school activities ramp up, life can get more hectic and your time becomes more and more valuable, pulled between homework and soccer, science projects and dance, finding the time to a healthy dinner can be tough.  Here's a recipe from Fitness Magazine that's a take on a Chinese takeout favorite - Sesame Chicken.

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
1 tablespoon snipped parsley
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame seeds
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 1/2 cups carrots, cut into matchsticks
1 cup jicama, cut into matchsticks
1 package (6 ounces) frozen pea pods
2 cups cooked brown rice

Directions
1. Cut chicken into strips. Combine soy sauce, chicken broth, scallions, parsley, vinegar, sesame seeds, garlic, and ginger in bowl. Add chicken, stirring to coat; cover and chill for 1 hour.

2. Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Stir-fry carrots for 1 minute. Add jicama; stir-fry 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove veggies from wok.

3. Drain chicken, reserving marinade. Add chicken to wok; stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until no longer pink. Push chicken to outside edge of wok.

4. Add reserved marinade to center of wok. Heat until bubbly. Return vegetables to wok, adding frozen pea pods. Cook 1 minute more, or until heated through. Serve over brown rice.

Nutrition facts per serving: 309 calories, 25g protein, 35g carbohydrate, 6g fat (1g saturated), 4g fiber

Calorie Cutting Tips
Shake Salt
"Always use low-sodium soy sauce," says Sharon Richter, RD, a dietitian in New York City. "Two tablespoons of the regular kind contains almost a day's worth of sodium."

Chop To It
Swap your fork for chopsticks. You'll eat more slowly, because it's harder to shovel in food.

Oil Change
We swapped sesame oil for canola, which has less saturated fat and more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

The Perfect Cut
Carrots and jicama offer fresh flavor and crisp texture. Use a mandoline to cut them into perfect matchsticks.

Calorie Comparison
At a restaurant, this dish packs up to 1,000 calories. We ditched the deep fryer and used a wok to seal in flavor.

Cut Out Distractions - 5 Easy Steps to Better Focus

Ever had one of those days?  I'm talking about one of the days when you've got about a thousand things to do and it seems that everyone in the world knows it and is determined to keep you from your task(s).  Today was one of those days for me and it got me to thinking about ways to reduce distractions and give yourself an advantage when it comes to tackling the day's tasks.  We live in an age where communication is easier than ever and if you can't reach someone, you aren't trying.

But - sometimes this ease of communication turns into a roadblock for our productivity, preventing us from accomplishing the very thing that all of these tools are supposed to make easier.  I was having one of those days today when I stopped, pushed my chair back from my desk and tried to survey the scene and discover how I could overcome and cut out some of the distractions preventing me from being productive.  Here's what I came up with:

• Email Notifications - You know that little "ding" that comes from your computer every time you get a new email?  Turn it off.  It's in your outlook settings.  Just switch it off.  Hearing that bell every time you get an email is an incredible distraction.

• Keep a Schedule - Choose two times a day to check and respond to all emails, unless you are expecting an urgent one.  You'll give yourself more time to focus on the task at hand without the constant bells and whistles of your email.

• Become an Early Bird - No one likes to get to the office early.  Use that to your advantage.  Since no one else will be around, you'll get more done without phone calls, people stopping by, or an excuse to chat with your neighbor in the next office.

• Don't Be Afraid to Close Your Door - It seems that it is a universal sign of politeness to work with  your office door open, offering everyone the opportunity "come to me if you need anything."  That's sweet.  But the fact is, people are often distractions.  Regardless of what message you may be afraid it is sending, there are times when one of the best things you can i simply close the door.  Try it - you'll be surprised.

• Tell Everyone - Take the time to tell everyone your intentions.  No matter what plans you put in place, you'll want the support and cooperation of our co-workers and officemates if you want to be successful.  Visit each person that you interact with and take 15 minutes to explain your plans to them and your motives behind them.  You'll find that giving everyone the heads up will foster trust and earn you the space you need to be more productive.

Of course, don't forget exercise.  Keeping yourself fit and healthy all the time will help you focus more at key times.  And once you become more productive at work, you'll find yourself more calm, relaxed and centered at all times.  Now that's Spirt, Mind & Body.

There are tons of great sites with tips on how to work through distractions at work.  Here are a few:

The Blog of Tim Ferriss
Lifeclever
Life Organizers Blog
Studies of Office Escapology

Now, What did I miss?  What's your best trick to avoid office distractions?  How do you cope with the never-ending stream of information coming at us virtually minute-by-minute?  Share your tips, tricks and thoughts in the comments.

20 questions, or what I learned from our YMCA members

For about a year and a half now, we've been blogging here and trying to get the word out about the stuff going on at the YMCA. From post to post, our topics have ranged from updates about new programs to news about success stories and stories about lives we've touched. It's our hope that you've enjoyed the posts and that maybe you've learned a few things about your YMCA. However, we want more out of this post, and we want it to be even more useful to you.

Beginning today, we'll try to use the posts in this blog to engage you, our members and participants. We'll discuss topics and ask questions that we want you to answer. For over 150 years, the YMCA has been built on the idea of relationships, genuine and honest ones, with members and participants. Sure we have tons of programs and activities for kids and adults, and lots of opportunities for sports, fitness and service. But at the heart of it all, we're about relationships.

That's the reason we ask about grand kids or spouses. It's the reason we notice when you've been out for a couple of weeks. It's why we send flowers to new mothers or sick parents, and why we love celebrating birthdays.

With that in mind, going forward, I'm going to use this blog to pose questions to those of you who read it. The questions that I'll ask will sometimes be serious and sometimes be lighthearted, but they'll all have a purpose. As the Y moves forward we want to continue to be more connected to you, and so I want to find out things like:

-What you like most about what we're doing at the Y

-What's the most important part of your membership

-How we can do better to help you build a healthier spirit, mind and body

-What Y staff members are living our mission in their interactions with you

-When we're exceeding - and not living up to - your expectations

-Anything else you want to tell us

So as we go forward, let me invite you to come along, and help your Y reach it's full potential. We're prepared for honesty, as long as it's tempered with respect, and as long as it's focused on fairness and jives with our mission. We want to get better at what we do, and we need your help to get there.

With that in mind, let's start with an easy question, and you can leave your answers in the comments section or respond via email:

Q. What's the most important part of your YMCA membership? The part that brings you back, or that you couldn't live without? And why?

Thanks in advance for your honest, respectful answers and we'll get to work right not to make sure we learn from your answers.

-G

MVP

We recently concluded a full summer program here at the Y called FitTeens. We took a group of overweight teens with an interest in discovering the fun in a healthier lifestyle and took them through the gamut of activities offered here at the YMCA. In addition, we talked with them about healthy eating and the simple ways they can substitute items and reduce portion size to improve their health.

Through the running, zumba, cycling, weight training, step classes and hip hop, we lost some of our participants, but in the end, there was a core group of kids who stuck with it. Yesterday was the last day of the program and I got to watch our instructor walk with the kids up the stairs from the Fitness Center as they were headed home.

You know that look on the face of the guy who just got named MVP at the end of the Superbowl as he announces he's going to DisneyWorld? How he's covered in confetti and wearing that cap with the team logo and the tag still on it and he's grinning from ear to ear and holding his kid and almost in tears. You know the look right? Think Jerome Bettis when he finally won the Superbowl in Detroit. Think Boston Red Sox in a giant pile at the pitcher's mound after finally breaking the curse.

The look on the faces of the handful of kids in this program blew that away. Now these are kids that have never been exposed to exercise before. Before the class, they'd have sat at home eating nachos and watching television. Now they've had the door opened to all these new and fun ways to live a healthier lifestyle. And I think that's the key. It's our responsibility - not just the Y but ALL of us - to introduce kids to the idea that health doesn't have to mean dull, difficult monotonous minutes on a treadmill or elliptical machine. It can be dancing, hiking or swimming. And while we're at it, it can be fun for adults too.

You know what else was cool - that same smile was spread across the face of our instructor. She talked about the experience for another 20 minutes after the kids left. So in showing these kids a new way, her spirit was fed too.

And now writing about it, I'm smiling too. Come to think of it, at the end of the game, the whole team was celebrating.

Play with a Purpose

When's the last time you played? I mean just played with reckless abandon? I'm not talking about team sports, or a round of golf, or a musical instrument. I'm talking about wide open, silly, laugh out loud, ridiculous play.

So often, when I'm wearing my "YMCA Hat" I focus on play as one more way to promote physical well-being. And it can be. Countless studies have shown that families that play together tend to be more physically fit. Kids who take part in regular physical activities are shown to be less likely to be obese and run less of a chance to develop diabetes and other physical illnesses.

However, I recently found a great presentation on TED.com given by Stuart Brown. My friend @Zannieg pointed to it in a Tweet and I'm a sucker for a good TED talk, so I started watching. It was really enlightening. Brown discusses play and its importance in normal human development. He goes on to say that play is more than just an opportunity to rehearse and mimic actions we'll use as adults - more importantly, it's essential to and deeply involved with human development and intelligence.

I could talk about the presentation at length, and how I think it's a great insight into the importance of play, even as adults, and how this is one more way the YMCA is striving in its programs, and relationships and mission to better serve you - we're huge fans of Play! Instead, I'll invite you to watch the video below, and then when you're done, I'll challenge you to a game of freeze tag. I'll even be "it" first.

YMCA - We are Not a Health Club

On almost a weekly basis, I field calls here at the Y that are from prospective new members. One of the first exchanges I have with a prospective member is almost always in the form of questions about how we compare to area health clubs. Sometimes it's a simple "Do you have the same equipment as Health Club X?" Sometimes, it's more direct, such as "Health Club X is offering a free month of membership. Are you running any specials?"

The caller at the other end of the phone line is usually pretty surprised when my response is "We are Not a Health Club."

This statement sounds a bit odd, but it lies at the core of who the YMCA is and what makes us different, and so important to the community. It's true that we have a fitness center with treadmills, eliptical machines and weight equipment. We also have fitness classes ranging from Yoga to Kickboxing. We offer aqua aerobics and even personal training. But for the YMCA, these are just a means to helping our members and the community lead a healthier life in spirit, mind, and body. It's one of the tools that we use, and that we offer in a uniquely YMCA way, to make our mission become reality.

There's so much more going on here that you won't see at a health club. Every day, dozens of children are learning to swim. Each week, kids are getting after school care. Seniors are taking part in programs specifically designed to meet their needs. Teens who've been short-term suspended are getting the chance to rediscover their strengths and learn to succeed in our Boomerang program. But even more importantly than that, every day, we're developing relationships with our members. We're discovering who they are and how we can better serve them in ways that health clubs don't do. I watch groups of men play racquetball and then go out to lunch together each week. The same goes for our aqua aerobics ladies groups.

This year, the Chapel HIll - Carrboro YMCA will give out over $200,000 in scholarships to individuals, kids and families who otherwise couldn't afford to take part in YMCA programs or memberships. One of the most important pieces of the YMCAs core beliefs is that no one will be turned away from our services based on their ability to pay full price. It's just one more way we're different than a health club.

Let me stop here and say that differentiating ourselves from a health club doesn't mean that we don't like or are "against" health clubs. There are some great health clubs out there and they offer great programs and services for their members. We applaud the work that health clubs do to improve the physical fitness of their members.

I once heard the YMCA described as a movement. I really like that description in that we don't measure our successes in analytical terms. For us it's not about pounds lost or games won or how fast the next lap is sum. For us, we measure our success by the impact we have in people's lives: A single parent is able to keep his or her job because of our after school care program. A child makes new friends because he's on a soccer team. A senior discovers a new hobby through a relationship developed in our Walking Club. These things are what make all the work we do worthwhile.

So if you're a Y member and someone asks you what gym you go to, be sure to tell them that you don't belong to a gym, but you are a part of the YMCA. Tell them about the great stuff that's going on here. And if you want to find out more about what we do, contact me . I'd love to share.

This is not the end of the line.

Often when people ask me about programs I’m particularly proud of or that seem to be really unique at our YMCA, I have to take a moment to think through all of the dozens of great programs that touch and change lives here each day. One of the programs that is unique and different, and that I am always impressed by is called Boomerang. Boomerang was created to provide short-term suspended middle and high school students with a supervised, positive environment during their time away from school.

Boomerang is resiliency-based. Resiliency is a strength-focused concept that aims to increase a student’s protective factors. This attitude involves searching for, nurturing and reinforcing the gifts and strengths in every student. It strives to provide students with a sense of self, goals, spirituality and other factors so that these students can be the best people they can be.

Boomerang has translated this research into programming that values interpersonal connections with the students they serve. Students who come to Boomerang are offered a fresh start and an opportunity to use the time to reflect on their lives: what choices are working well and which people, both in their families and at school, are supporting them.

Simply stated, from what I’ve seen, this program takes kids who may have been left with the idea that they’ve reached the end of their road, and helps them to discover their strengths, and see that making a mistake doesn’t mean that there’s no hope. Below is a first-hand account of one teen’s experience at Boomerang.

My Experience at Boomerang

Kent

While I have been at boomerang, I learned so much. Before I was suspended from East Chapel Hill, I was smoking marijuana daily and drinking every weekend, but going to boomerang and talking with the staff made me realize how I needed to structure my life.

When you first enter the program, the staff shows you that you are not as alone as you think. Everyone who is in the program is going through the same thing as you are. So you can relate to what everyone is talking about. In the mornings there is food provided if you didn’t eat breakfast and everyone just talks and gets to know one another. The point of boomerang, as explained to me by the staff, is not to punish you but to show you what your strengths are, and how to use those strengths to further yourself in life.

There are several activities done throughout the day that show you what your strengths are. One such activity is to draw a tree. This might sound insignificant and childish, but it is structured in a way that shows what your obstacles in life are and what you can use to your advantage. While in the program you also construct a timeline of your life. This timeline is meant to show you how you ended up in boomerang and maybe how to avoid getting back into boomerang in the future.

During the duration of time your in boomerang, you will get 1 on 1 time with several staff members, who talk with you and try to help you. They ask you several questions about your family and friends. They also teach you to avoid risky situations. There is a specific schedule you follow everyday.

At the end of the day there might be a guest speaker who comes in to talk about a wide variety of things such as dating, drugs and violence. When everyone in the room participates in the activities you really find yourself in deep and engaging conversations that you learn a lot from.

I learned so much while in boomerang. It really showed me what I was doing wrong, and how to fix it in a fun and constructive way. I feel like everyone no matter what they do should spend a week in boomerang, because it teaches you how to get your life on track. I feel like if I hadn’t gone to boomerang when I did, I wouldn’t have been able to get my life together until it was too late.

For more information on the Boomerang program, visit http://www.boomerangnc.org or email Julie Wells at jwells@chcymca.org

the little things.

You've probably seen me mention the YMCA's core values a time or two in this blog or in conversation. Our four core values, Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility, are the building blocks for all that we do. Often I find myself thinking of these values in a grand fashion, with a hope that something we're doing here at the YMCA will miraculously change the world overnight. Now I'm not saying we shouldn't think on a grand scale. Surely some of the most successful entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders and great accomplishers have thought on a scale and scope that is bigger and grander than some of us can even begin to comprehend (me included!).

The thing that I forget about though, and by working here at the Y, am often reminded, is that you can witness really great things in the small acts, or in what can be perceived as something simple. Our Assistant Youth Director, Jeff Lloyd, is quite a well-known at our YMCA. He has for the past few years, been the director at Camp Clearwater, and can be seen with our afterschool kids on a daily basis, among other things. He's a great asset to our Y and to the community. Jeff has the unique opportunity to spend lots of time with our kids in programs here and occasionally will share a story from his experiences. Some are cute, some are hilarious, but they're all entertaining. Recently he shared this one with me:

Our Core Values are taught to our YMCA After School participants each day through a devotion time. Our counselors use quotes and stories to give the children examples of how to implement Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility in their lives. Just when I start to wonder if the kids are catching on, if they're listening to the lessons we teach, they up and surprise me. Several weeks ago, as I walked six kindergarten children to the playground so that they could get a drink of water from our cooler, I noticed that there were cups and snack wrappers on the ground, so I started picking up some trash without saying anything to the kids. I noticed that each child was drinking their cup of water when they started seeing what I was doing. As I was picking up the trash on the ground, some of the children began to talk about “Mother Nature” if she were an actual person. One child said, “Mother Nature is so disappointed in us right now, we are harming her.” They all started giving real, honest statements about “Mother Nature.” At this point, I was hooked. They had my heart. The children then began walking around and picking up trash, without me asking. I told them that I was so proud of them and that they were displaying the responsibility core value and I walked them back to their group. This brightened my day, and reminded me of why we do what we do.

Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility. For some people, these are simply words. But at the YMCA, they are the core values we teach and practice each day. Not just a way of thinking, but an integral part of who we are - as natural as opening our eyes each morning to greet the day.

To find out more about the YMCA, who we are, and what we do, visit our website or stop in for a visit.

Answers to an infamous question

This week's guest blogger is Abby Dennis, Health Enhancement Director at the Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA. On any given day Abby can be found teaching aqua aerobics, an indoor cycling class or a step aerobics class. She might even be in her office building a new fitness program or simply giving advice to a member about his or her fitness training. Stop by the fitness center and say hello to Abby, or email her at adennis@chcymca.org.

About this time of year I usually get the infamous phrase, “I work out all of the time and I’m not seeing any results. What do I do”? My first initial reaction is to always ask “Do you ever change your workout”?

For the most part, many of us are creatures of habit. We fall into our own comfort zone expecting to see changes. If you’re not toning up, trimming down or feeling any fitter, you probably need to make some changes in your exercise routine. Below are just a few examples of what could be sabotaging your workouts in the gym, at home or outside.

1. Diet: All the miles you put in on the treadmill, yoga classes you endure, and 6am Spin classes you wake up for won’t matter if you don’t put the right ingredients into your body. It comes down to eating healthy meals and drinking plenty of water. Think of it as fueling your body for the work that it is about to partake in each day. A healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner are key with healthy snacks in between.
2. You only focus on cardio to shed pounds: Adding resistance training twice a week for every major muscle group will increase metabolism which in turn allows you to burn more calories at rest. Resistance training increases bone mass and creates a longer/leaner/stronger you.
3. You speed through your reps: Your weights are either too light or they are too heavy (and you’re using momentum or gravity to help you through the movement). Regardless, your muscles aren’t being used efficiently. The second to last and last rep of each set should be challenging. If they aren’t, you need to increase slightly. Always focus on correct form. If you notice that your form is slacking, go back to a lighter weight and work up.
4. You stick to the elliptical machine for all your cardio needs: Change your routine up. It’s that simple. Swim on Monday, Tuesday take a Spin class, Wednesday go for a hike outside and Friday come to my 8am Step class. Variety is your best friend!
5. Your workouts are strictly endurance based: If you do the same thing day in and day out, STOP! Switch your cardio up with sprints, hills, high resistance, low resistance, circuit routines, etc. Anything you can do to ‘shock’ your body and mind will shake you in to ‘calorie burning’ mode.

There are a few more techniques that could make a difference, but these are the most common. Try focusing on changing just ONE and see what results you get!

Cheers,
Abby

Abby can be reached by calling 919.442.YMCA or via email at adennis@chcymca.org.

This is what we do:

I've had a few people ask me recently what the "Strong Kids Campaign" is all about. While many of our members and friends know about all of the sports, fitness and aquatics programs, fewer are aware of the great work the Y does making sure that no one is turned away from our programs based on his or her financial means. Here's a story of what we do, and how it works:

In the spring of 2008, as Summer Camp season approached, our assistant youth director, Jeff, was busy planning camps and checking camp rosters, and he noticed one name that had been on camp lists for quite a few years was conspicuously missing. "Sarah" was enrolled in the Y Afterschool program and had been a faithful summer camp attendant for a few years running. But this year, she wasn't signed up for any weeks of camp. Jeff made a few phone calls, including contacting the parents of the child, and the story he heard was heartbreaking:

Seems that within a few weeks, the child's family had dealt with more than one challenge. First, Sarah's father had been diagnosed with cancer. The subsequent medial treatments and planning had put an increased financial burden on the family and required Sarah's mom to work even more hours. That would be enough for any family to handle, but shortly after that, Sarah's grandmother was forced to move in with her when the grandmother's house was lost in a fire. Once again, increased burden for a family. Sarah's mother was left with no choice but to determine where the family could cut costs. She was trying to determine whether or not Sarah could go to camp when Jeff called.

It only took moments for Jeff to know what to do. He immediately contacted the appropriate directors and secured funding from our Open Doors scholarship program so that Sarah could go to camp. He contacted Sarah's mom and told her that there was no reason Sarah would need to change her summer plans, and that the Y was going to make sure she got to attend Camp Clearwater. Through the generosity of our members and the community, the YMCA was able to help Sarah and her family when they needed it most.

That's what we do. It's often said that the Y is here to be what you need when you need it. I get to watch these things happen every day right here in our building, and it's a privilege that constantly reminds me to be thankful for blessings. For more information on what the Y does, or to be a part of it, you can contact me at glee@chcymca.org.

The funding for our Open Doors scholarship program comes from donations from our members and community. Each year, those funds are used to help hundreds of kids right here in our community take part in afterschool, summer camps and programs. It also helps adults, seniors and families. To learn more or to make a contribution to the Strong Kids Campaign, visit our website.

Exercise - a Family Affair

There are a couple of families who come into the Y that I notice and sometimes stop and watch when I'm walking through the building. Whether it is their intention or not, they impress me with the way they seem to purposely play together as a family. Watching them play together, and as a result, take part in a healthier lifestyle, it strikes me that we are fortunate to be in a community with so many opportunities for families.

Whether you and I realize it or not, kids are looking to us as role models, even from the perspective of a healthy lifestyle. Liz Neporent, personal trainer and fitness consultant, talks about the importance of setting an example to our families in the way we approach fitness. "If you spend most of your time plopped on the couch and rarely exercise, you can expect more of your clan to do the same. So pack up the kids, leash the pooch and make exercise a family affair," says Neporent.

Some suggestions she makes:

• Always make exercise fun and enjoyable for everyone. Try activities that will raise heart rates, such as a game of family touch football or sack races. Even consider taking a family cycle around the neighborhood.

• Take a family stroll around the neighborhood. Empower your kids by letting a different child choose the route each time. Consider choosing a theme for each walk, like pointing out wildlife.

• Once a week, go to the park for a family affair. Play games, swing on the jungle gym and explore trails. If you go with several other families you can play team activities such as kids vs. adults to promote teamwork and make friends.
  
  Neporent's last comment got me thinking about how great a community we live in and how many (FREE!) opportunities we have to take advantage of as families. There are so many options within a short drive that I dare say it would take weeks to duplicate any trip.
  
  Here are a few of my favorites: (All titles are links to more information)
  
  
• The Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area: Located off Cole Mill Road in Durham, this park features the highest point in Orange County at 867 feet. It covers 190 acres and has nearly 3 miles of trails, including a few high bluffs that provide great views of Hillsborough during the winter when leaves don't impede the vista.
• The Trails of Carolina North: Covering over 750 acres, this land is also known as the Horace Williams Tract. It's rich in historical and archaeological significance. UNC Chapel Hill's Grounds Services Department does a great job of maintaining the land and there are miles of trails, some wide enough for groups, some designed for single track running, biking and hiking. This is also the home of the YMCAs annual Pumpkin Run.
• The Coker Arboretum: The UNC Arboretum was first developed in i1903 by Dr. William Chambers Coker as an outdoor classroom for the study of native North Carolina fauna. It covers 5 acres and is abundant in learning opportunities.
• Umstead Park: Though a bit further away, Umstead Park is a true treasure. It covers nearly 5,600 acres and offers the opportunity to disappear into wilderness. The park offers 20 miles (!) of trails and range from short strolls to extensive hikes. There's also camping, boating and educational events.
• Last but certainly, not least, there's your very own Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA! We work every day to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. We offer open family gym time, recreational swim, family strengthening programs like YGuides & Princesses and you can even volunteer to coach your kids soccer, basketball or Tball team.

Regardless of what you choose to do, go ahead and get out as a family. Play, explore, learn and have fun! There's so much to do, and so much of it is free, which in this economic climate, is an added bonus.

What's your favorite local family adventure? Share it with us here. And as always, thanks for stopping by!