Welcome to the category of my blog simply called ‘Healthy Tips.’ Many times, when I write articles for various publications, I need to find sources for the story as seen in Yahoo Shine (click here) or PBS (click here) about staying healthy. I was looking for experts and non-experts to chime in and give their favorite ‘tips’ to help kids and adults lead a healthy lifestyle.
The feedback for various stories was amazing. The sources had some fantastic points of view that could not be ignored, and I thought their opinions should be viewed on the Your Health Journal web site.
So, enjoy my new series, with some ‘great’ insight from some ‘great’ people giving exceptional and educational points of view.
The importance of families exercising together
Children learn their behavior from their families, and mainly their parents. They do as their parents do. The family is the primary role model.
Growing up in an obese family, I found myself engaging in the same limited and unhealthy lifestyle habits my family members had all their lives. The culmination of these habits led me to weighing 360 lbs by the time I was 17! I missed out on countless memories most children enjoy because of the limitations my health and unhealthy beliefs posed. I didn’t engage other children, became isolated, lonely and depressed. So many children can be spared that misery by learning good habits early on.
Also, when families are active together it strengthens the family bond. Riding bikes together, hiking together, playing sports in the backyard or at the local park or even raking leaves together is a great way to spend free time and creates great memories.
Suggestions / creative ideas to get families to exercise together
• Schedule time to be active together DAILY. Having a scheduled active time is a great idea because it means you won’t forget and it sets a habit, but why not go further? Add activity into any part of the day – it’s a great idea both for you and your kids. Walk or bike to and from school together, throw the ball around in the yard for a few minutes before dinner, dance to the radio in the kitchen! Race each other to the store … you can add activity to almost every part of your day.
• Swim together–water is a fun way to get exercise and totally forget you are in fact exercising!
• Play kickball, soccer, basketball and other games; when you’re playing a game the focus is on the competition and not on all the running, jumping, and moving that’s happening!
• Get a trampoline! It’s low impact and tons of fun!
• Go for a weekend hike and picnic, or to a local conservation area
• Go for a bike ride together, or if you have little ones you can walk while they ride their tricycles.
• Walk to the market on the weekend.
• Play in the park — run around chasing your kids (being a “monster” is great!), go on the playground equipment with them or even just go on the swings together and see who can go highest.
Being active together is fun!
Reasons why families are not exercising together as much in our modern day era
The biggest excuse I hear from the hundreds I counsel is lack of time, but we all have the same number of hours in a day.We accomplish the things we deem important. We pay our bills on time, take showers, get dressed, and brush our teeth. We take the time to watch our favorite TV shows, to spend hours on our iPhones and to stand in lineups at Starbucks.
The reality is that parents get tired and it’s easier to let your kids play video games or watch TV, or even tell them to go outside themselves while you do whatever it is you’ve decided to do. But it’s all a matter of setting priorities and getting into good habits.
When all is said and done, NOTHING is as important as your health, your family’s health and presence in your children’s lives. Is anything as enjoyable as spending time with your children? When you shift your focus to the impact of your behaviors over time and what you might miss out on – with your health and your relationships – you can MAKE time to be a good role model for your kids. Healthy eating and exercise needs to become as fundamental as hygiene again.
There are so many distractions – your BlackBerrys, iPhone, laptops, Xboxes –that we forget to get up and get the blood flowing. If technology is preventing you from moving, then use that technology to make exercise more fun! Download fitness-related apps. Use the Wii Fit to have some fun family competitions.
– Author of Think and Grow Thin and weight loss coach Charles D’Angelo weights in on family fitness. Check out his radio and tv appearances at http://www.youtube.com/user/charlesdangelo314. He has been endorsed by President Clinton, Tony Robbins and more.