Keeping Your Family Healthy
Obesity is one of the biggest problems in the United States
today and many families don't follow regular exercise programs.
It is often said that the family that plays together, stays
together. This couldn't be more true in the case of family
fitness. Getting your family off the sofa and encouraging them
to get moving can be a simple task.
Pay attention to what everyone in the family likes to do. If
your sons and your husband like football, suggest a weekend
excursion to the park for a game of flag football. If your
daughter is an avid jogger, head to the trails. Even if your
kids are more into video games than outside play, consider
looking "dance pad" games that can be used on popular game
consoles, which have been suggested to help in the weight loss
process. This brings a whole new meaning to playing video games,
and can actually be fun for you too. It's not exercise, it's
play!
Your family's fitness not only means exercise, but a change in
the kitchen as well. It is time to throw out the chips and
cookies and make healthy alternative choices. Snacks such as
carrot and celery sticks, apples, seedless grapes, pretzels, air
popped popcorn, and graham crackers make excellent choices. If
available, your children will grab these snacks without a second
thought. Fill your cabinets with these healthier snacks and you
might find yourself surprised that your family doesn't even
notice the difference! Replacing sodas with bottled water and
organic fruit juices while you're at it can help your cause.
Don't buy diet sodas - they're loaded with sodium!
Subtle changes in your family's eating habits can have long
lasting effects. It is never too late to make a healthy change
for you and your family. But be discreet! If you tell your
children that you're making a change to the family eating
habits, they are less likely to accept it, rather than not even
questioning the change when grabbing a snack.
Taking care of your family is important, and family fitness is
the way to do that. You are your children's greatest example. If
you follow a steady, healthy pattern, your children are just as
likely to continue this pattern once they are on their own. Just
don't forget to make the habit fun! Everyone is far more likely
to be eager and accepting of the change if it is fun.
Amanda Baker writes for http://tobeinformed.com - a website for
health, fitness and wellness information