When I called my sister on Thanksgiving morning I caught her just as she was heading out for a run. She told me my 7 year old nephew would ride next to her on his bike. They went out for about 3 miles.
The next day my sister invited me to come by the house and bring my workout clothes. We’ll do one of the “shred” workouts by Jillian Michaels she told me. Sounded “fun” and different and off I went. A chance to get some exercise while visiting with my family.
As we worked our way through the 25 minute fitness routine, having my sister by my side silently motivated me. No way would I give up! We grunted and laughed together, as my 5 year old niece looked on saying, “Wow, you guys are really sweating!” I couldn’t help but smile.
Have you ever made excuses for skipping your exercise routine because of family obligations? Have you ever considered making fitness a family affair? Spending time with loved ones and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are often pain points for many people. Why not kill two birds with one stone and get active as a family!
Below is a short list of family friendly fitness options to get you started:
- Get out side and take a walk, a hike or a scavenger hunt (pack a lunch and make a day of it!)
- Put on some music and dance
- Play ball in the backyard
- Download a fitness video from the internet
I know a lot of people who enjoy fitness as a solo activity – to clear their head and get some alone time. I’m one of them. Yet sometimes making fitness and wellness a family affair can be a lot of fun and get you out of excuse making mode.
When you get the kids or younger generation involved, everyone wins. If America truly wants to tackle the obesity and health care problem, physical activity has to be part of the plan – for kids and for adults – so why not make it a fun family activity.
Fitness as a family affair is good for you physically, emotionally and your inner spirit. You’re taking care of you, your kids, and spending quality time as a family while working towards maintaining everyone’s health. You become a positive role model to your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren. And all of that combined, my friends, is feel good living.
Do you make fitness a family affair? How? Share your ideas below.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Stacey,
Way cool!! That’s great that you were out there with your sister, doing this! And that she gets her kids involved with her when she is out there!
I definitely try to be active with my kids. In fact, I ran in a 5K race with two of them on Thanksgiving day! Chilly fun! And backyard sports games are a regular thing. Another thing we’ve done to make hiking more “fun” is to do geocaching – which make the destination so much more exciting for everyone. And then…they don’t even realize how much they really are enjoying the whole journey to get to that prized destination! And another fun thing for us is to go for a walk. Sometimes, though, that just doesn’t sound so exciting to a kid…if there’s a destination, though, different story (especially if that destination involves ice cream!). I could go on and on here!! Fun topic!
Feel good living is a great way to live!!
My wife and I love to workout together. During the nice-weather months we also take our little baby girl on our walks or runs. I’m excited to be able to run/bike/swim/play with her when she’s older
Fantastic points Stacey – I totally agree even though I don’t have any kids (yet). But if I did, that would be just normal to get active with the whole family.
Even right now many, if not most of the physical activities we do with my husband together – it keeps us both healthy and we get to spend even more time together
Thanks for this Stacey — I know I was inspired to exercise regularly by the aerobics I always saw my mom doing. I even bought a VHS to use those old Jane Fonda aerobics tapes. Okay, I didn’t, but their spirit lives on.
What’s fun is getting into a tandem kayak and share an afternoon paddling around a local pond or harbor. talk about quality time. It’s great to paddle hard for a while through some waves then relax in a quite spot and have a picnic. Maybe we can try it sometime together.
I love when I have an opportunity to share fitness activities with my family. We’re all so independent so it doesn’t happen often, but there are times when my brother and I can run together and I always enjoy myself.
A college boyfriend of mine came from a family who frequently did family fitness outings: cross country skiing on Christmas day, snow-shoeing, ice skating, etc.
Another friend of mine goes for three-hour hikes with her family when they visit – usually just in a nearby set of woods or park.
I love those ideas, and look forward to many more.
By the way, great point about getting our youth involved at a young age – it’s more likely to become a habit they keep for a lifetime.
Lance – ice cream is very “feel good”. We stopped last night after yoga! I’ve heard of geocaching and it sounds fun.
Blake – My husband and I go hiking and biking a lot, it’s great quality time. Taking the little one when no longer so little will be amazing, I’m sure!
Evita – we don’t have kids either, I love going out with my niece and nephew though. Like I said to Blake – doing these things together is great quality time.
Chris – I remember sitting in the child care area when my mom would go to Gloria Stevens (Not sure if you are familiar with that chain). I think Jane Fonda followed…the spirit will always live on!
JMS – I think we’ve tried that…talk to me in the spring
Megan – There is so much available, a lot of people don’t even realize. And it is incredibly important to our health and well-being to get moving and stay active. Thanks for sharing all of those ideas!
Hi Stacey,
My siblings and I and the neighbors always ice skated together on Christmas Eve! Every winter we’d head to the basement to haul out the crate of ice skates to see what pair fit who this year.
Then it would be so stinkin’ cold my dad would wrap our toes in newspaper for insulation before putting on our skates. Then we’d head out to the pond and my dad would take buckets of water from the creek and throw it on the ice to make it smooth and slick.
We’re going to Vegas to watch my daughter Kristy from Atlanta and her new boyfriend (we’ll meet him for the first time) and Kristy’s girlfrined from Chicago do the Rock n Roll marathon.
Kristy likes to tell everyone she began running to get a piece of her mom. She is one of the twins (youngest) and would put on her tennis shoes and follow me to get her one X one time! I guess it turned out to be a good thing.
I couldn’t find those “shredded” workouts, which are they? I need to do some shredding;)
Oh and every time I see that photo I think what a gorgeous couple!
Great point. I’m a solo exerciser as well. I use it as a spiritual connection, not just exercise. I need to include my family in this process, starting tonight.
It’s amazing how a friend can motivate me. When I do exercise with my wife we push each other just a little farther.
Hi Stacey!
We have Ed, The Wonder Dog – and often, I’ll encourage my hubs to take Ed for a walk with me. In the winter, we’ll grab the snow shoes right after a good storm and head to a nearby trail…Ed LOVES jumping through the snow drifts…and hubs and I get a great workout.
Recently, my bonus son as asked me if he can practice yoga with me…alrighty dude! I’m all over that one
And hubs told me the other day that he “was considering it…” (he’s married to a yoga teacher and he’s considering it…there’s a giggle for ya!)
And…my son-in-law goes to Thai Kickboxing with me…how cool is that?
Thanks for this Stacey — I know I was inspired to exercise regularly by the aerobics I always saw my mom doing. I even bought a VHS to use those old Jane Fonda aerobics tapes. Okay, I didn’t, but their spirit lives on.