Children learn from their parents: If you enjoy reading, they will read; if you eat junk food, they will eat junk food; and if you exercise, they will too. The best approach is to get the whole family engaged in fun activities. Remember to keep exercise simple and fun for everyone.
Physical activity can help protect your family from illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. Exercise is also a great stress reliever.
Ok, before you start the family fitness plan, make sure everyone has the 'ok' from the family doctor. Be sure to stretch and drink plenty of water. Start with easy activities and slowly add advanced activities.
Simple Activities For Getting Fit
Active Vacations: Plan family vacations that include hiking, swimming, or skiing.
Mall: The next time your family goes to the mall, park in one of the outer parking lots and use the long walk for exercise. Also, use the stairs, not the elevator.
Get A Pedometer: Get simple pedometers for the whole family and have a step contest to see who walks the most over the course of a day or week.
After Dinner Walk: Start a family tradition, walk after dinner or plan some other fun activity for the whole family, have a different family member pick the activity, that way everyone gets to do something they like.
Active Chores: Do active chores as a family, like gardening, raking leaves, shoveling snow, or washing the car.
Family Dance Off: Turn off the TV and turn on the ipod for one hour. Rock out with the family and see who has the best moves. This is a fun way to exercise and bond with the family.
Walk When Possible: Weather and time permitting, walk to the store, post office, bank or school.
Let Your Kids Pick The Activity: Let your kids participate in the family fitness plan. This helps build leadership.
Family Fitness Night: Each week a different person designs the family workout that you will do together. Weather its swimming, rollerblading, walking, Frisbee, golf, basketball – everyone gets to do something they enjoy, and your workout will never get dull.
Take A Class Together: Join a class together, like martial arts, dance, yoga, Zumba or EvoFit. The family that exercises together sweats together.
Most importantly, have fun!
*Jason Cofield has been featured in various multi-media outlets including Channel 12 News (Long Island), 20/20 (ABC Network), SELF Magazine, HAMPTONS Magazine, as well as dozens of other publications. He is a respected fitness professional, author, fitness center owner, and creator of the EvoFit Method. Cutting edge training information can be found at http://Evolutionhamptons.com and at Evolution Hamptons on Facebook. Got a question? Ask Jason@Evolutionhamptons.com. For daily fitness tips follow Jason on Twitter @Evohamptons.
