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Planning a Family Exercise Routine That the Whole Family Will Appreciate

With obesity on the rise, creating a healthy lifestyle for your family grows more and more valuable every day. Fast food has become a routine for many families. Grabbing a fast food burger and fries to scarf down, while crashing on the couch, is more common than ever these days. And it's easy to see why with our schedules growing more hectic all the time. So while it's easy to fall into the fast food couch potato routine, it's important that you begin taking steps towards adding exercise into your family's routine.

It is often said that what one generation does in moderation, the next will do in excess. The same can be true of health and fitness among families. Show your kids that fitness is important by creating a family exercise routine. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Choose a day and time that is convenient for the entire family. If your children are involved in after-school activities, or if you have late days at the office, be sure to schedule your family exercise time around these days/times. After dinner, early Saturday mornings, or late Sunday evenings are great option for finding a time that works for all.

2. Choose exercises the entire family is able to perform. Families with younger children should incorporate less vigorous routines for children. You don’t want to discourage your children from exercising with a workout that isn’t kid-friendly. Engage in fun exercises with your children then create a separate workout schedule for you and your spouse.

3. Be creative. Your family exercise routine doesn’t have to be boring and dull. After all, most people quit exercising because their routines become mundane. You don’t have to do 50 push-ups and 75 sit-ups to have a good workout. Think fun. Incorporate scenic bike rides, walks in botanical parks, have a family dance off to funky music, create an obstacle cours, or plan a roller skating derby night. Create a fun and exciting family exercise routine and your entire family will look forward to it every time. Let your children teach you what kinds of physical activities they are learning in school. It could be as simple as a game of tag where kids don't even realize they are running around getting exercise and fresh air. There might be an activity that your kids are dying to try like rollerblading or kayaking but needed the support of their siblings and parents to overcome their initial fears. It can fun to try new adventures with the family. And it's a safe environment to learn something new.

4. Don’t overdo it. If your family doesn’t seem particularly enthused about your new exercise routine, don’t push it. No one likes to feel like they have to do something they don't like to do. Experts say it takes about 21 days to create a new habit, so don’t cancel your family exercise date. Instead, put a twist on it. Stop five minutes early. Take a water break. Reward your family with a healthy snack. Rent a new movie you’ve been dying to watch. Any little thing to mix it up and not feel like they are forced to do the same thing over and over.

Creating an exercise routine for your family is easier than it may seem and very rewarding for everyone. Getting proper exercise can improve attention span and help you sleep better. And enlisting the help and suggestions of the entire family will ensure that everyone has fun. Remember that you are setting an example for your children. Don't be afraid to try new things. Your children need to see that you can be flexible and try things that may be outside of your comfort zone. Make your family exercise routine fun and exciting and your family will be begging for more! And you just may discover a long lost passion for a certain sport or activity that you want to start making more time for.