Encouraging the entire family to monitor their health has always been a struggle. We came up with 5 easy ways that you can get fit as a family.
As studies have proven, one third of children in the US are currently overweight or obese, and this number only rises for adults. Besides combating obesity, children also need physical activity to build strength, coordination, and confidence. Adults, on the other hand, need exercise to improve blood circulation, bone density, and avoid most diseases that they become prone to as they age.
Fortunately, many of these diseases can be prevented with lifestyle changes — particularly, exercise. Of course, there’s no better way to do it than to exercise as a family. Not only does it build accountability, it makes working out feel a little less like a chore. Here are five easy ways to get fit as a family.
5 Easy Ways to Get Fit as a Family
Swimming
Swimming is the ideal exercise for all ages – it has all the benefits of a full aerobic workout, without putting any pressure on the joints. You can leave everyone to run laps, splash around, or play some pool games like water tag and starfish to keep everyone moving. It’s a fantastic way to get fit while creating positive memories that will last a lifetime.
Road Trips
When planning a road trip, make sure to stop at fields, play areas, and parks. Not only will you be able to introduce your children to new places and the surrounding wildlife but the brisk walk will give you all a good cardiovascular workout. Just be sure to budget your expenses properly with the help of travel budget apps like GasBuddy to help you allocate enough money for any other activities you wish to try.
Nature Walks
Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best. Research by the University of Sydney shows how walking not only strengthens your bones and muscles, but also improves stamina and your quality of life. When your kids get too tired, taking a stroller along for the ride can help, as well as provide adults the extra workout they need. If have more than one child, then the double pushchairs from iCandy allow you to carry two children at the same time. Additionally, by pushing two children around a park for around 30 minutes, it will see you burn close to 200 calories. This figure can vary depending on your weight.
Camping
The best way to encourage your kids to enjoy some outdoor fun is by going camping. Camping is the perfect excuse to plan big outdoor activities that you wouldn’t be able to do in your backyard like hiking, flag football, frisbee, or games like Duck Duck Goose around the campfire. Focus on activities that require little to no equipment so you don’t have to pack additional things.
Dancing
Dancing is a full body workout. It forces your heart to beat faster, and your limbs to move. If you want a little incentive, add some healthy competition to the mix. If you have gaming consoles like Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, then go for popular dancing titles such as Just Dance and Dance Central, which not only make dancing fun and engaging, they also record your scores so that the whole family can compete against each other.
Keeping everyone healthy and in tip-top shape should be a common goal. Besides, exercising together not only improves health, but helps build everlasting bonds.
