My workout buddy this week is 13-year-old Payton Carlson. She's a teenager who wants to be healthy and is using an app called Kurbo to get the information and guidance she needs to meet her goals.
While Payton and I walked at The J at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kan., she told me that she likes using Kurbo because it gives her some control and independence.
Payton's Kurbo coach calls her once a week and the program is set-up for three months of coaching.
"I'm able to talk with my coach and that way my mom doesn't have to constantly tell me what to do," explained Payton.
Payton's mom, Romy Carlson, also likes the idea of letting her daughter learn on her own.
"I don't have to be the food police," said Romy Carlson.
The entire family is encouraged to participate, and Payton has even given her mom a list of foods to get at the grocery store recommended by her Kurbo coach.
Here's how the Kurbo explains their program:
Kurbo is unlike adult fitness apps, which focus solely on food tracking and calorie counting. Instead, it offers games, in-app chats and video sessions with a personalized coach, and an easy "traffic light system" breaking down food categories into three easily identifiable colors.
Payton told me that she has learned that foods she previously thought were healthy are not healthy. I think she's well on the way to adopting healthy lifestyles as a child that will give her good health as an adult!
Go Payton and thanks for being my workout buddy!
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Cynthia Newsome can be reached at cynthia.newsome@kshb.com.
