How to Help Your Kids Transition Successfully Back Home

July 25, 2008 By

If your child is about to arrive back home from fitness camp, you’re probably wondering what you can do to ensure that all of their hard work isn’t undone.  There are many factors to keep in mind.

1.  Make sure you understand exactly what your child has been doing at camp.  Obviously, this is something you probably explored when you chose the camp.  Now, make sure you communicate with your child to determine which parts of camp they really liked and which parts were possibly not their favorite.  For instance, they may have explored all sorts of new vegetables.  Find out which ones they really enjoyed and try to make sure that you have these on hand.  Make sure you find out which activities they enjoyed the most.  Maybe there’s a way they can continue this activity when they get home.

2.  Make sure you’ve done your homework.  Sometimes we think that we know a lot about proper nutrition and exercise, yet we’re inundated with so much incorrect information that we become confused.  Talk with your child’s counselors to make sure you have the right ideas about proper nutrition and exercise for your child.

3.  If your child has had a lot of success, chances are they might need some new clothes.  You know how great it feels to lose weight and buy a new outfit.  Your child is going to enjoy this as well.  Take them on a shopping trip a few days after they get back home.  This might even help you reinstill the inspiration to stay on a healthy path.

4.  If you have some bad food habits of your own, the best advice is to try to rid yourself of these habits; however, this is not always realistic.  At the very least, you’ll need to avoid eating these things in front of your child and keep them out of the pantry.  It’s okay for everyone to have a treat now and again.  As a matter of fact, denying yourself of the things you love too often could lead to binging in the future.  The same goes for your child. 

Following these tips will help ensure that the transition back home is successful.  Your child made some lifestyle changes at weight loss camp, now it is your responsibility as a parent to ensure that these changes are long-term.

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Nearing the End of Another Successful Summer

July 17, 2008 By

We’re wrapping up yet another successful summer here at Camp Pocono Trails….but don’t forget that we still have a few spaces open in our remaining sessions.  If you’re still considering spending some time this summer at our weight loss camp, we would still love to hear from you!

This summer has been full of fun, excitement, and healthy living.  The overwhelming consensus this year is that campers are leaving camp feeling better about themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally.  New friendships have been formed, new challenges have been overcome, and new experiences have been enjoyed.  We’re confident that the healthy living skills that this summer’s campers have learned will easily transition back to their home lives and we look forward to hearing about their ongoing success!

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What Causes Childhood Obesity?

July 2, 2008 By

Childhood obesity is a medical condition that is characterized by a weight well above the norm for their height and age. Doctors define obesity as having a body mass index well above average. Over 15% of American children are considered obese and the number is growing.

There are a number of factors that contribute to childhood obesity. I’d like to look a bit closer at a few.

Eating Habits

Childhood obesity can result from poor eating habits.  When looking at lunches that children bring to school, instead of being packed with a healthy, balanced meal, many are packed with junk food meal and snack items.  Eating out on a regular basis also contributes to weight gain in children.  Children that eat meals at home with the family (all sitting down to eat together) typically weigh less than children whose families eat out several times a week.

Physical Activity

Physical activity is a great factor when it comes to overweight children.  If a child sits around watching TV, playing video games and munching, they are more likely to be obese.  On the other hand when a child gets at least 30 minutes of exercise each day they will be less likely to be overweight.

Biological Factors

A child’s weight is also affected by genetics. Many overweight children have a mother and/or father that struggle to maintain a healthy weight.  Genetic factors such as metabolism may impact a child’s inability to lose weight, but frequently children of overweight parents gain weight simply because their parents are poor role models.  Many children look to their parents for the “right thing to do.”  If a child is raised in a house where healthy eating and exercise are not promoted, it should be no surprise if the child grows up eating unhealthy food and not getting enough exercise.

Lack of Sleep

Believe it or not, lack of sleep is another contributing factor in obese children. Previously this was believed in adults but recent studies have shown that this is also true in children as well. Infants and toddlers that get fewer than 12 hours of sleep are more likely to gain weight.

There are a lot of things that contribute to childhood obesity.  At Camp Pocono Trails, we do our part to provide as many chances as possible to live a healthy lifestyle.  You may have seen us on MTV’s "Return to Fat Camp" where we demonstrated our commitment to help overweight children learn how to eat healthy, be more active, and feel better about themselves.

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Summer Weight Loss Camp Starts Soon – Register Now!

June 20, 2008 By

The summer is here! At Camp Pocono Trails, we’re gearing up for another exciting summer full of building new images and teaching healthy living habits. Our first Summer Sessions start on June 28th, and we are excited about having campers here for two, three, four or more weeks.

Still on the fence? Our sessions are filling up fast, but there are still spots open. Our goal at Camp Pocono Trails is to provide the finest weight loss camp experience in the country. We believe that the key to success is activity….and we do our best to ensure that we offer the most exciting activities in the nation.

Click here to see a full schedule for this summer.

We hope you’re as excited about this coming summer as we are. We’re looking forward to seeing you all soon!

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Teen Keeps Losing after Weight Loss Camp

June 12, 2008 By

Long Island high school student, Nicole Caroll, lost over 40 lbs. at a weight loss camp last summer and continues to make progress toward her ultimate goal. Playing goalie for the Bayside High School soccer team, Nicole’s increased energy, improved self esteem, and reduced cholesterol is due to hard work and a healthy attitude and is apparent in all aspects of her life. Her family, coach, and teammates all say she is an inspiration.

Nicole’s story is just one of many success stories from kids and teens that start losing weight at a summer fitness camp and continue to meet their long term goals at home. At Camp Pocono Trails, our goal is to have fun, lose weight, and gain self esteem to positively influence lifetime attitudes about health.

Read more about Nicole’s story at NY1 News: http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=19&aid=82524

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See How Weight Loss Camp Changed My Life

May 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Essay for Camp Pocono Trails

By Sarah Sobel

Simply stated: Camp Pocono Trails weight loss camp changed my life!

I know that line sounds very cliché… but it’s so true. I do not even know where I would be right now if it was not for camp. I am now 16 in 11th grade. I have had weight problems all my life. It never really affected my life though, until about 8th grade. Although I had a lot of friends, I still didn’t really feel that I was “one of them.” The guys didn’t talk to me, and I wasn’t invited to parties. I knew it was because of my weight. 9th grade came, and it was the same story. I was in high school, expecting to have a blast and have a boyfriend, it didn’t happen. I knew it was because of my weight. I would sit in my seat in school, and feel like the biggest person in the class. I hated that feeling every day, but I never did anything about it. Then 10th grade rolled around, which was probably the hardest year of my life. At the end of 10th grade, the scale hit the highest number I had ever seen, 236lbs. Looking at that number, it didn’t really hit me that I was obese. While I knew I had to lose weight, it didn’t really faze me that I needed to lose over 80lbs. Every day I would go into school and wear the same clothes… a black shirt and stretchy black pants… and the outfit needed some color, so I brightened it up by wearing a colored tank top underneath the black shirt. Every day was a struggle. Just walking up the stairs to get to class was hard. By the top of the steps I was out of breath. Even after making my bed in the morning, I was out of breath. When the temperature was below freezing, I would sweat as if it was 100 degrees outside. Not even those physical problems, but the worst was going shopping. I could not fit into a pair of jeans if my life depended on it. I tried on a size 12, nope. 14, nope. 16, nope. I really didn’t want to try on an 18… I just could not take that reality that I was a size 18… So I never wore jeans. It was ok not wearing jeans… I didn’t need them. Until at the end of the year, I needed to wear jeans for a concert. Uh oh. This was a problem. No jeans fit me. So I decided to secretly order a pair of size 18 jeans online and have it shipped to my house. I made sure that I would be the one to get the package when it came. A few weeks after they were ordered, a package came to my door with the size 18 jeans. So I go to try them on… and THEY DID NOT FIT. They zippered, but they didn’t exactly flatter me in any way… and I couldn’t really breath in them too well. Talk about muffin top. What was I going to do… I was NEVER going to buy a pair of size 20 jeans… I could not do that and I had to wear them for this concert… so I just sucked in and dealt with it.


Before Camp

All of these things plus many more added up to me deciding that I needed to change this. I could not live like this any more. I heard from a friend about Camp Pocono Trails weight loss camp. I decided to give it a shot. At this point, between just the way I felt about myself, oh and what the doctor said (basically, I was going to get diabetes if I didn’t do something about this) … I signed up. Let’s keep in mind that I had never been to sleep away camp before, and I have never even been away from my home for more than 5 days at a time.

So I packed my bags and got to the camp. The first day of camp was probably the hardest thing I ever did. The kids and the counselors in my bunk were extremely nice and welcoming. Even though I knew it would be fine, and I was in a very safe and warm environment, I just couldn’t believe I was going to be away from home for 8 weeks. After only a couple of days however, I got used to the atmosphere and I loved it. While it was hard work, I knew that my job was to lose weight and come back a healthier and happier person. Every week, I lost around 4 or 5 lbs, which was amazing. Every week I would call my mom and tell her my good news about the weigh in, and I have never heard a happier response from her. It was just so exciting every day to have more energy and just know that I was headed in the right direction. By the end of the summer, my life was completely changed. For one thing, I made some of the most amazing friends anyone could ever ask for. Everyone is just so supportive of each other, and you really will not find that at any other camp. Surprisingly, I was chosen as the general during color war. This leadership role really opened my eyes to so many things I never knew I could do. It really helped me so much to build strength and character, and show me how to be a leader and to believe more in myself. The last and most important accomplishment was that I lost a total of 37lbs by the end of the summer! I could not believe what a great achievement this was for being away for one summer.


After!

Then the hardest part came. Coming home. What was I going to do? Going from all structure to absolutely no structure at all. That was going to be my greatest challenge. However, with the support from Weight Watchers, who would have known that I would be sitting here today having lost over 65lbs. I now weight 169lbs. How you might ask how?  Well, lots of exercise, and a lot of celery…. just kidding. Truthfully, Camp Pocono Trails taught me that you can really eat anything that you want. As long as it’s in moderation and you make smart decisions. I have made it my routine every day to go to the gym. I learned that no matter how hard you try, you really can’t lose weight without exercising. All of my hard work has really been paying off, and every single day I wake up to a new, better me.

When beginning this whole journey, I never ever thought that I could have an impact on others. I really never believed that I could influence and affect so many people. Everyday people tell me how proud they are of me and my accomplishments. What a feeling that is to have people I never thought even look at me, compliment me. I have influenced my friends and family to lose weight, which is the greatest gift of all. It is so important to keep a healthy lifestyle… and I am so happy that I was able to affect others so greatly as to help them become healthier too.

I really do not know where I would be today if I did not go to Camp Pocono Trails. Who would have thought that just one summer could change my entire life and help me become an entirely different, healthier, happier, and more successful person.

If you have any questions about my experiences at New Image’s Camp Pocono Trails, you can register and comment on our blog or you can send me an email: xosobes91ox @ gmail dot com or my facebook page

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Welcome to Camp Pocono Trails!

April 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Our commitment to helping kids and teens lose weight takes another big step at Camp Pocono Trails. We have created a blog to share success of stories of past campers, information about our summer weight loss camp, and healthy diet and fitness tips that can be used year round.

You may have seen our camp featured on MTV’s hit ‘Return to Fat Camp’. We had a blast working with MTV but the kids are the reason we’re in business. The show may have labeled us as a fat camp but we consider ourselves a healthy fitness camp where kids have fun, lose weight, and gain self esteem.

Our on-site director, Tony Sparber, founded New Image Camps with his wife, Dale, in 1991. Tony’s combination of discipline and compassion has helped thousands of kids and teens fight the battle against obesity. Helping kids achieve their potential by learning healthy lifestyle choices and gaining self esteem is Tony’s lifelong commitment.

Stay tuned for valuable tips, camp information, and guest blog posts from some of our past guests and Tony himself!

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