In big bold type on the cover of Health magazine is the statement, "Lose 12 pounds this month. Fast! Safe! For good!" News flash -- it is not healthy for everyone to lose 12 pounds of weight. Obviously, I strongly believe everyone should exercise, but exercise should not be synonymous with weight loss.

On January 1 I decided to make some major changes to my family's nutrition and physical activity. I began to think of our five young children, all the proper body weights--but with a frequent propensity to eating desserts and exercising too rarely. They also learned by example, and noticed when I would snack.

About a week ago I decided I needed to try something new to help get myself out of my fitness rut. I went to a boxing class. It did the trick. It put a giant smile on my face. After the class I felt energized and accomplished (as I always do post workout). More importantly, I had fun.

How many times have you heard this expression: No pain = no gain? This isn't necessarily true. You can still get great results from a decent workout without killing yourself. Don't believe me? Take a look at fit people. They have don't kill themselves in order to be fit. They just workout regularly.

This year I resolved to get my family more healthy and active, by employing 10 simply strategies. I had taken inventory of my family's daily nutrition, and realized that there was room for improvement in both the quality and quantity of food that my family consumed. So here are the 10 simple strategies.

By Dennis Thompson Jr.; Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD The rate at which you burn calories depends on the specific physical fitness a...

Jacob Schwartz is a lucky 15-year-old boy. Though he was diagnosed at birth with Canavan disease, a usually fatal illness that targets the central nervous system virtually robbing its victims of most basic human functions such as sight, speech, cognitive abilities and mobility, Jacob is still a lucky boy.