You can hardly turn on the news without hearing about the preponderance of obesity in children. Luckily, it doesn't take an infomercial's worth of exercise equipment to begin making progress with your own family.
Here's a few quick ideas to get you started:
1). Walk As Much As You Can:
If you're only going a short way, save some gas and tack more healthy years onto your life by walking. Think about your typical day, it's easy to find times when you could skip your car and just walk or bike. Whether it's to the store, work, or even the gym! Of course, there are always times when this simply won't work so take some small steps by adding a bit of walking distance- even just parking further away will let you get a little more activity into your day and you won't have to jockey for a close parking spot either. Try racing with the kids to make it even more fun.
2). Be More Active Whenever You Can
Try to make a habit out of moving. It doesn't matter how mundane it sounds, small movements during the course of the day, whether it's playing with your kids, dancing while you cook, or even wiggling your feet while watching t.v. can actually increase calorie consumption by 20%. This is really great for kids, as they will naturally feel more tired and ready when it's time to take a nap or go to sleep for the night.
3). Be Active On Your Lunch Break
Weather permitting, it's a good idea to walk before or after your lunch break- maybe a nice walk to a local eatery or even a couple laps around the block before returning to work. If you already grab lunch off campus, why not try to cut it short and spend the rest of the time walking? Your focus will be increased when you return to work and productivity will naturally rise- not to mention you'll feel less stressed and will use up more calories.
4). Spend Time With Your Loved Ones Being Active
It's so easy to jump online and send emails and IM's to our friends these days. It might be nice to be able to stay in contact with those you love, but it does encourage a sedentary lifestyle. In fact, most modern smart phones do all of the above functions! That's fine and dandy if you're calling your grandmother across the country. But walking to visit friends and neighbors is a simple way to stay fit. If you have kids, it's even better to bring them along. They can take their bike, skateboard, or rollerblades over to their friends houses. This is a healthy way of getting kids to be more active.
5). Take the Stairs
If you aren't happy with your figure one easy way to incorporate exercise, taking the stairs is an easy and powerful way to get into shape. In fact, not only are you building muscle and toning your lower body, but using the stairs for 15 minutes can burn a whopping 145 calories! If you are in a rush and need to use the elevator, try and use it on the way down instead of up- you'll even save a little wear and tear on your knees this way.
6). Build a Strong Core
A strong core is vital, so flex your abdominals and hold for one minute when other types of physical activity are not practical.
7). Get Up and Dance
If you've ever watched your kids dance and noted how much fun they're having, why not participate? Dancing is a really fun and effective way to get in shape, especially when you do it with other people. Try dancing during everyday chores like laundry, cooking, or house cleaning.
There are plenty of other things you can do from planning (and cooking) healthy meals together to taking up a family sport together, but these tips are simple and manageable for even the most busy families.
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