Spending endless hours perched on an exercise bike at the gym is no fun. You can even switch things up and try your patience on the treadmill or one of those stepping machines that simulate the steps you have in your own home. Whichever machine you choose to disappoint with your meager efforts, you might take comfort in the fact that you won’t be the only one to make a mess of your gym session today. The problem is that gyms are places of science. This isn’t really talked about, but targeted diets, sleep, hydration, time of day, and mixed workout routines are just some of the main factors that are taken into account and mapped out as part of fitness regimes adhered to by those who take things seriously and get results. Eating a banana for lunch and hitting the rowing machine for 14 minutes isn’t going to cut it.
Family fitness is something we all must take seriously. No matter your age, staying active can deter a raft of illnesses. Finding ways to keep the whole family burning off those extra calories in a way that’s fun can be difficult – never more so than if your child has a birth injury such as cerebral palsy (get more info from an Ann Arbor Cerebral Palsy lawyer). The obvious benefits of exercise to both mental and physical health are nevertheless apparent. Let’s take a look at how to keep the whole family active.
The outdoors – low impact wins
One of the most popular ways to get started with improving the fitness of the whole family is simply to experience the outdoors and take walks along walking routes through forested areas and other rural zones. Adults who are out of shape need low impact ways to get back into fitness, especially where they worry that their low fitness levels are going to be center stage in front of their children. The kids will love to run along the pathways and play in the greenery around them, all while you build up your stamina, slowly building the distances you are able to walk with each outing.
Make it hard to cancel
The reason diets don’t last is because they are too easy to start and quit. By making your chosen fitness routines more difficult to quit, you will be more likely to keep it up. This could include joining a club with the children (e.g. astronomy club that involves hiking up hills, zoo membership, karate club) or buying a puppy that needs to be taken on regular walks.
Where the children expect you to keep your promise to take them to a club, or where the puppy is relying on the family for walks, weekly fitness times become etched in stone. You could even learn to cook together, spending your weekends visiting farmers’ markets and other local vendors of fresh produce as a way to collect fresh ingredients and use your legs to build up a healthy appetite for healthy foods!