How to Create a Fitness Legacy in Your Family
Physical activity for the family is just as important as eating breakfast and brushing your teeth. Like passing on a cherished photo or a family tradition, love of fitness can be passed to your children. In caring for your family, it is important to impart a legacy of health that incorporates good nutrition and good fitness. We share our favorite family activities and fitness tips through our Families Fit Together™ program, because we believe families can stay fit and have fun by using simple tools to stay on track with good health. The important components are to keep it fun and engage everyone so that the entire family will value physical activity for life.
Incorporate weekly fitness activities into the family planning routine. If the entire family sits down on Sunday night to review the upcoming week’s schedule, make sure that fitness is just as important as chores and homework. Remember that some household chores, such as vacuuming and raking leaves, can be considered part of the fitness routine. Make a simple chart to track the family fitness activities; you can do this online with a fitness blog or in a central place at home. It’s easy to incorporate push-ups or sit-ups in the morning or evening routine. Create a goal each month with an incentive; for example, if the family adheres to the program for several consecutive months, the entire family can go on an adventure vacation, such as whitewater rafting or a biking trip. Take a fun photo of these exercise rituals and post them on your blog or around the family calendar.