Tyson Gay joins AAPHERD to tell kids, "Let's Move!'

October 25, 2012

There is a growing pool of research showing the correlation between exercise and academic performance, including better scores on standardized tests and higher GPA's. Tomorrow, kids in Washington DC will join Ask, Listen, Learn superstar Tyson Gay and The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at Turner Elementary to promote physical activity in school.

Rebecca Soni and Tyson Gay fight childhood obesity

September 28, 2012

This Saturday marked the first official day of Fall!  Before we dive into October and everything autumn we wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone that September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.  Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in our country affecting an alarming percentage of our nation's youth. We couldn't think of a way to better raise awareness than have our superstar athletes talk to students about the benefits of staying active! This week the amazing Rebecca Soni and Tyson Gay encouraged kids at schools in DC and Philadelphia to say NO to underage drinking, but also talked to kids about the benefits of staying active and eating healthy! Our athletes train hard for their sport but love finding fun activities that get you moving and healthy food to keep their bodies fueled! In our interview with Rebecca Soni, she revealed a love for yoga, hiking, biking and long walks with her dog Kody. Tyson Gay discussed how he's constantly fueling his body with lots of water and nutrient rich food (he eats up to six healthy meals a day!)

Organizations all across the country are working to promote healthy eating and youth fitness and we're proud to support the cause alongside groups like the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign (check out our video from the JAM World Record yesterday!) and our partner program Together Counts just to name a few!

This week, kids at Paul Public Charter School in DC and Abigail Vare in Philadelphia learned from our superstars to say no to underage drinking but also to stay active, eat right and say YES to a healthy lifestyle!  

Tyson Gay: Use the Summer Games to talk to your kids about underage drinking

July 16, 2012

The Summer Games are coming fast.  I see this as a great opportunity for parents to speak with their kids about living a healthy lifestyle. I can assure you that athletes in London, like myself, have had to make hard decisions.  For the most part, I and other top athletes I compete against have been lucky enough to make good decisions about underage drinking and living healthy.   

I have a daughter, Trinity, and she is in Ask, Listen, Learn's  target age group. I always tell her that I have always had to make sure to live healthy and make positive decisions so that I could continue to accomplish the goals I set for myself. I constantly point out to her that I have to take great care of my body in order to do my best, and that is true no matter what it is she wants to do when she grows up.

As parents, we have to remember that everything we do and everything we say is being watched by our kids and other young people who look up to us. It's important for me to remember the healthy decisions I had to make in order for me to reach my dreams and accomplish my goals so that I may use those stories as evidence of a formula toward a happy life for Trinity.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to use my track success as a teaching tool, and I encourage you to do the same.  So as you sit down with your kids this summer to watch the Games or any other sporting event, use these tips on to start the conversation with them about saying “NO” to underage drinking:

• Point out that athletes reached this level of competition by making smart decisions that are helpful and not harmful for their body.


• Tell your kids how important it is to overcome setbacks and bad days and bounce back from a tough race or a step backward in school. I attribute my ability to bounce back from my injuries as perhaps my biggest strength.  This applies to all areas of life.


• Encourage and help your kids explore their favorite things. I found my passion on the track, but some kids prefer the classroom or helping out in their community. Whatever they enjoy, help them set goals to become better at that each day and show them what steps they should (and shouldn't) take along the way in order to be their best.


• Use the positive atmosphere surrounding the next few weeks of action in London to sit down with your kids, discuss their goals, and take the healthy lifestyle pledge at www.asklistenlearn.com/pledge today.

Please take advantage of the this great chance to chat with your kids about the importance of saying “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking.

Wish me luck!
-Tyson
Be sure to show your support for Tyson during the Games by following him at @TysonLGay!

Tyson Gay: Alcohol Awareness Month

April 3, 2012

Helping kids say 'YES' to a healthy lifestyle and 'NO' to underage drinking is really important. This morning I was invited to Al Roker's morning show “Wake Up With Al.” We spoke about April being Alcohol Awareness Month and also about my work with Ask, Listen, Learn and visiting middle schools across the country.

The Ask, Listen, Learn program is personal for me. My daughter Trinity is in the target demographic of Ask, Listen, Learn. She's already a successful young girl in so many ways and I don't want her to get involved in drinking underage because it would take away her ability to function at 100%. The more kids I can talk to the more hopeful I am they will steer clear of alcohol and be able to excel in school and life.