We teach about health and nutrition and how important physical fitness is, but then many of us do not practice what we preach.

It is the whole “Do as I Say and Not as I Do” situation.

And doesn’t that make hypocrites out of teachers that are out of shape? We have all known a teacher that stays in their chair most of the day and continually eats junk food for lunch as they preach to the students about the food pyramid and calories.

It is time for everyone to put their money where their mouth is.

Follow these tips on how to stay in tip top condition so you can walk the walk and talk the talk in the classroom. Educators are public figures in the community they teach in.

Whatever they do is setting an example for all students they encounter.

With that said, keep in mind that teachers are human as well, so they are facing their own struggles.

Unfortunately, one of these struggles is a common one across the board for many teachers.

More and more teachers seem to be overweight or actually obese.

The worst part is that they seem to be fine with it and just accept it as a sign of getting older. Cut Out Soda There is no nutritional value in soda.

It is full of sugary calories that will make anyone obese if they drink enough of it.

And don’t even start saying that you are fine because you only drink diet soda.

Diet soda is actually worse for you than regular soda.

Remember the days as a child when having a soda meant it was a very special occasion? Now we drink more of it than ever.

Set a good example for your students by not having it in the classroom anymore.

Replace it with something healthy like water, milk, or green tea.

The students will notice this and they will start to emulate you after awhile. Vitamins and Minerals We often don’t receive the correct daily allowance of vitamins and minerals just from our diet alone.

Start taking supplements that will provide you with what you need.

Learn about the benefits of zinc, calcium, magnesium, and, of course, your vitamins A through K.

Combine this knowledge with Science lessons for your students.

And don’t worry if there is nothing about vitamins and minerals in the textbook, you can create much better lessons on your own. Up Your Protein Protein builds muscle when combined with a training regimen.

Plus, it leaves you feeling full much longer than sugar and fat.

There is a reason that eating meat fills you up quickly, but you can eat a bag of Doritos and then a package of Oreos and still be hungry.

Try taking in a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight most days.

This will leave you feeling satisfied and you won’t have any room to eat the junk food.

Add one or two protein shakes to your diet if needed. Climb Out of that Chair There is no reason to be sitting down in a classroom while teaching unless you are suffering from two broken legs.

Standing alone burns many more calories than sitting.

Once you get home after a tough day of teaching, hit the gym and relieve some of your frustration.

It will be difficult at first, and you might need to join an exercise class just so you don’t cancel on your workouts, but in no time it will all become part of your routine.

You can even combine it in with your classroom instruction.

Challenge the kids to a push-up contest where if anyone can do more push-ups than the teacher, they get a bit more recess time at the end of the week.

Physical fitness is not just for the PE teacher to educate kids. Take Pride in Your Appearance If you think that nobody else is noticing about your physical fitness then you are only kidding yourself.

Kids are very observant and parents tend to gossip.

Don’t be a dinnertime conversation for your students.

Eat right, watch your fat intake, and get on an exercise routine.

You will no longer have to feel ashamed in lecturing the kids about physical fitness once you are out of the category of being overweight.

If you can’t do it alone, hire a personal trainer to workout with a couple of times a week.

You will feel so much better about yourself in the long run.