Have you dreamed of attending a premiere weight loss camp? Here’s your chance!

We are so excited to announce our 6th annual essay contest, “Imagine Me! I’m Up for the Challenge,” allowing kids to win a 9-week-long campership for summer 2013. The contest, announced in a press release on Feb. 13, has a deadline of June 1, 2013.

The essay contest is designed to give kids who strive for a healthier lifestyle a chance to attend Camp Pocono Trails during the summer of 2013.

Why enter? Because the winners will have a chance to lose weight in a fun environment, learn the fundamentals of leading a healthy lifestyle and spend 9 weeks in 350 acres of nature.

Each essay must be original, no more than 500 words, typed and double-spaced, and given the title “Imagine Me! I’m Up for the Challenge at New Image Camp.” For more details and to make an entry, click here.

So share the news and make sure to submit your entry for the “Imagine Me! I’m Up for the Challenge:” 6th Annual New Image Camp Essay Contest!

The term “fat camp” has been tossed around for generations to refer to a place that children go, typically during the summer months, to lose weight. Over the years, fat camps got a bad wrap for being punitive and extreme in their methods. The truth is that today’s fat camps are a far cry from the camps of yesterday. Additionally, the social stigma associated with being an overweight child has also changed…although not necessarily for the good.

Not too long ago, overweight children faced a lot of scrutiny from classmates, peers and society in general. They were frequently taunted on playgrounds and this treatment was often overlooked by teachers and administrators. Overweight children used to stand out, and like any member of a group that stands out from the “norm,” their weight problems were often questioned and looked down on, often resulting in unfair treatment towards the kids.

Today, there has been such a dramatic increase in childhood obesity rates that nearly half the kids on the playgrounds are overweight. In fact, if you were to go visit today’s playground, you would be hard pressed to define the “average” sized child and chances are good that today’s “average” child is a bit larger than the “average” child of yesterday.

Why does this matter? First, it’s important to note that today’s overweight children are much more “accepted” and likely don’t face as much ridicule and isolation that they may have faced 20 years ago. On the other hand, parents should also understand that there may be so much “comfort in numbers” among today’s overweight kids that there is no motivation to live a healthier life.

So, this all boils down to our need, as a society, to take a healthier and more self-empowering approach to battling childhood obesity. With the help of an accredited fitness camp, you can teach your child how to live a healthier lifestyle and shed some of those extra pounds. Giving children some power in this process can be beneficial to their self-esteem as well. They will learn to make healthier decisions and will also become more comfortable thinking for themselves instead of letting the “cool kids” make that decision for them.

We should take comfort in the fact that our overweight kids may not be subjected to the same treatment that we may have been 20 years ago, but we should also be aware of the threat that this presents. After all, we’re most concerned about their health, right? Whether or not they’re popular at school should be secondary.

If you’re confused about where to start, you may want to consider one of the great weight loss camps out there that can definitely help your child learn how to live healthier. Today’s camps focus on a holistic approach to helping kids. The days of strenuous exercise and minimal eating are gone and have been replaced with programs that emphasize teaching kids how to make the right, and healthy, choices in their life.

Camp Pocono Trails is NOT a fat camp for kids. Our mission is simple: self esteem, weight loss and LOTS of fun! To show you what life is like at Camp Pocono Trails we’ve put together an amazing 20 minute video to show you the ins and outs of camp life. The sneak preview is below but you can view the whole video here.

When your child becomes a teen, some things change when it comes to their obesity. Since they are a teen now, they are closer to being an overweight adult, so the problem is more serious. Second, teens are generally less interested in cooperating. That means it will be more difficult in getting them to see this as an issue that needs attention. It also means that you may face more difficulty in getting them to live a healthier lifestyle. While a change in diet and exercise can usually solve weight problems, you may also need to consider something like a weight loss camp to get the process “jump started.”

Frequently, when a teen gets home from school they usually have a snack then play video games or watch TV until dinner. After dinner (when they eat again) they may watch more TV or do homework and then go to bed. You may have noticed that this is a lot of eating and no time exercising. This lack of exercise has become a habit. Sometimes we will find that teenage girls sit around and eat just because they have nothing better to do.

When your child with a weight problem becomes a teen with a weight problem you have to take a different approach to getting them to lose weight. You won’t get very far unless your teen is willing to help themselves.

Start with a little education. Take some time for the both of you to research obesity and see what the side effects are. Additionally, spend as much time or more researching what benefits a healthy lifestyle can have. This may open their eyes and they will be willing to try to lose weight.

If you are willing to make the sacrifice for your teen’s health, and decide to lose the weight together, that may make a difference with your teen. If you can keep them motivated and hold them accountable, then they can do the same for you. You will be a team and have better success. You can make a competition out of it and see who can meet certain goals first. You can even offer a special incentive for the one that does, such as a spa treatment.

Beware of ads that say things like ‘lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks with no diet and no exercise.’ These ads are usually placed to get you to try products that most likely won’t work anyway. Some of them may contain ingredients that are even damaging to your overall health.

Always remember that your teen is not the only teen in the world to be overweight. If you are not sure what to do, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are professionals that are trained to help people that are overweight that can guide you in the right direction. They may recommend anything from a family diet to having your teen go to a weight loss camp.

No matter which of these tips you choose to follow the important thing is to do something. Teens that are overweight soon will be adults that are overweight. Getting them to understand exactly the seriousness of the issue they are dealing with is the first step to helping them get back the life they deserve.

Weight loss camps can be some of the most effective places for kids and teens to lose the weight they need to in a safe and healthy way. Many kids can lose a large amount of excess weight when they attend these quality camps where they learn how to eat healthfully and to exercise to lead a healthful lifestyle.

Reaching Out to Other Kids

Many children and teenagers gain weight in the first place because they feel isolated and lonely. They may use food as a crutch for their emotions. If they are lacking friends in their town or at their school, they may revert right back to these behaviors when they return home from weight loss camp. One way that they can reach out and gain more friends is by participating in clubs at school or joining a youth group at their local church. Finding other kids that enjoy similar hobbies can help them to connect with others and avoid those isolating behaviors.

Avoid Liquid Calories

Many kids also gain weight after summer fitness camps because they start drinking sugary sodas or milkshakes that can pack on the pounds quickly. They may think that they are following their diets but not realize the amount of calories that are contained within these high fructose corn syrup laden beverages. Teenagers and kids of all ages should continue to drink plenty of water after they have returned home from New Image Camp so that they can stay properly hydrated and keep those extra pounds at bay.

Encouragement and Support Are Important

Another key for any child or teenager after they return home from weight loss camp is continued support and love. Parents and other family members need to be encouraging to their child, congratulating them on their success. If teenagers and kids feel like their family members are not proud of them, they may simply give up. Family is important to helping children sustain their weight loss and staying healthy for life.