Anyone who has a family at home and is trying to live a healthy life probably knows that the people around you in your home probably influence your life and your choices more than any other factor in your life. Many individuals who struggle with weight management (over 66% of our population) are likely to have children that struggle with weight issues at some point. Or if your spouse eats unhealthy food or doesn’t exercise, it may be hard for you to maintain healthy habits.
The best way you can encourage your partner or children to be healthy is to work as a family toward your fitness. Finding ways to be physically active together, like going for family walks, playing volleyball or soccer in the yard or joining group sports together. Another thing you can do is schedule a group session with a personal trainer to learn some exercises that you can do together. You could also participate in things like indoor wall climbing, 5K walks/runs, WII sports, or take a Zumba class together.
Some of the things that we do together is go to the gym to train together whenever we can and we box together in our yard (he holds the pads and I practice my hits and we do bag work together). With our thirteen year old we both help with the soccer team that she plays on, we all play volleyball in the yard and have even made up games with racquets hitting tennis balls or other objects around the yard. We are planning to do a 5K together in May as a family.
Not only is staying physically active good for your whole family’s health, it is good for maintaining healthy relationships within your family.
If you are looking for ways to implement fitness into your family, please feel free to send me an e-mail and I’d be happy to make some suggestions.
Liz Jones is the Wellness Coordinator for the City of Mesquite and a wellness professional in Rockwall, Mesquite, Wylie and surrounding areas. She is a writer, certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and wellness coach. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, with a graduate certificate in Ethics and Leadership. Her undergraduate studies included communication, business, writing, art, fitness, and dance. Liz Jones can be reached at: [email protected].