Below is an article about a coach I know in Oregon. While I don’t know all of the specifics, I can’t help but to think how many of our kids are exposed to this type of mentality on a regular basis. Who is training our kids, what are they asking these under-developed athletes to do and more importantly, who is watching over these programs to ensure something like this doesn’t happen here?

Please read the article below and give me your thoughts. Do you have a child that participates in a program that either requires them to practice/compete in excessive heat conditions (considered to be mid 90′s or above)? Are you concerned about the training your child is receiving or do you think that this is an isolated case and even though we live in a state with several 100+ degree days our coaches know what they are doing?

19 McMinnville High School football players treated at hospital

The Associated Press
August 23, 2010

McMINNVILLE — School officials, parents and players remained puzzled Sunday about what caused 19 members of a high school football team in to suffer muscle damage — three of whom required surgery — after a fall camp.

The 19 McMinnville High School players all had elevated levels of the enzyme creatine kinase, or CK, which is released by muscles when they’re injured, said Dr. Craig Winkler of Willamette Valley Medical Center. High CK levels can lead to kidney failure if not properly treated. Winkler called the epidemic “weird,” saying: “To have this number of athletes in one single community in one environment is very unusual.”

Three of the players also were diagnosed with a rare soft-tissue condition called “compartment syndrome,” which caused soreness and swelling in their triceps. They had surgery to relieve the pressure, Winkler said. Five of the athletes were treated in the emergency room and sent home. The other 11 were admitted to the hospital and given intravenous fluids to maintain adequate hydration and prevent kidney failure, he said.  Ten boys remained hospitalized Sunday, but they were in good condition and were expected to be released today.

Officials said the epidemic’s cause is still a mystery, but high CK levels can result from vigorous exercise or the use of certain medications or food supplements. Before their symptoms started this past week, the players were at an immersion camp organized by first-year coach Jeff Kearin. Winkler said the players worked out last Sunday at the high school’s wrestling room, where temperatures reached 115 degrees. He said the high temperature and dehydration may have played a role. He also said officials will look at water sources and what the students had to drink, including power mixes.

Winkler said blood test results expected Tuesday could show whether the athletes ingested creatine, which is found in legal high-powered protein supplements. He added officials are not testing for steroids because it would be unlikely for that many students to have access, and “creatine makes way more sense.” Two players said Sunday they weren’t sure what caused their injuries but supplements were not a factor.

Fullback and linebacker Jacob Montgomery, 17, one of the 10 still hospitalized, said he first experienced a tightness in his triceps and forearms Tuesday. “They swelled to the verge of popping,” he said in a telephone interview. “I thought it was just swelling from an intense workout.” Montgomery said he went to get checked out Wednesday after learning another player was taken to the hospital. He and fellow senior Josh Nice said neither they nor any of the other players have taken any supplements or performance enhancers. “They don’t know what’s behind this whole thing,” said Nice, a wide receiver hospitalized since Friday. He added he hopes to return to practice as soon as possible.

Winkler said the hospital and school began screening players for CK after the first few were brought to the hospital early last week. The normal range for CK is 35 to 232 units per liter, but some students showed levels as high as 42,000, putting them at risk of kidney injury, Winkler said. Those with levels in the 3,000 range were treated in the hospital’s emergency room and released, while those with levels above 10,000 were admitted. Superintendent Maryalice Russell told The Oregonian newspaper she doesn’t believe Kearin’s workout was excessive. She also said she has no evidence steroids or supplements were involved. “I don’t have any information at this time that would indicate that’s the case,” she said. “I’m continuing to look at additional information as it may come my way.”

Tom Welter, Oregon School Activities Association executive director, said the organization’s medical committee will investigate and make recommendations to the executive board after its next meeting in September. The OSAA oversees school sports in the state. “It’s a really bizarre situation,” said Nice’s mother, Margaret Nice, whose son Daniel also remains hospitalized. “But we’re all trying to hang in here and hope and pray that they can come up with the answer to what caused this.” Practices for all fall sports start today. “We just want our boys to get better, and they’re all anxious to get out on the field,” Margaret Nice said.

http://www.StatesmanJournal.com

When you test your resting metabolic rate, you must then multiply that number by an activity factor that usually ranges from 1.3 to 1.9, depending on how physically active you are every day in your job and also during exercise. Resting metabolic rate can also be estimated using a mathematical equation and can be calculated by some of the more sophisticated body fat scales that measure age, height, sex, weight, fat mass and lean body mass to come up with a fairly accurate estimate.

If you think you would find it helpful to know more precisely how many calories you should be consuming daily, you might want to consider testing your resting metabolic rate or getting a body composition analysis. Once you know this number, it is critical to pay close attention to the number of calories you consume to lose weight, since most people who are overweight underestimate caloric intake by up to 30 percent.
If you would like to know more or are interesting in finding out what your Resting Metabolic Rate is, schedule an appointment at the Hit Center to have yourself tested!!

Click here:Brandon does crazy obstacle course

Ingredients:

1 large can (16oz) diced tomatoes

1 large can (16oz) tomato sauce

3 cans (8 oz each) of any of these types of beans: black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, or chili beans. I would suggest using 1 can each of black, kidney, and chili beans, but it depends on your preference as well.

1 small can (6 oz) tomato paste

1 pound extra-lean, ground meat (may use beef, turkey, or chicken, depending on preference)

1 small can (1 or 2 oz) diced green chili’s

Chili powder, amount dependent on preference

Additional add-ins (optional)

1 can (8oz) corn

1 small jalapeño, diced

Cooking directions:

In a separate skillet, cook ground meat.  In a separate large cooking pot, or crock pot, add all other ingredients (drain all cans of beans prior to combining in cooking pot). Add cooked meat to the rest of the chili. If cooking stovetop, cook on medium heat for 30-40minutes. If cooking in a crockpot, leave on medium heat for 2-3 hours. When finished cooking, let cool and serve with a tablespoon of melted cheddar or mozzarella cheese on top. Enjoy with a side salad, baked potato, and fresh fruit for a complete meal. Feeds 6-7 people.

Nutritional value per 2 cup serving (approximate):

300 calories, 27g protein, 37g carbohydrates, 5g fat

That’s a great place to start, but now you need to set some short term goals that will help you reach your long term goal.

First, decide on how many pounds you want to lose each week. I would say one pound per week is a great place to start.

Now you need to set down how you are going to lose that pound per week.

Some examples: not eating after dinner, exercising for 30 minutes every other day, eating only fruit for snacks or even just drinking more water throughout the day.

The key is to make realistic goals that you can stick with! Start with some smaller goals and once you start losing weight that will motivate you to challenge yourself with more goals.

Small changes make a big difference so start thinking about what you can easily change in your lifestyle… and don’t keep putting it off… just do it

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,597183,00.html

How do you feel about this?  Are the schools overstepping their bounds?  Should body fat levels be part of students official record or stay should this type of thing be between the Dr. and the family?  We would love to hear your comments – just post them below.