Staying in good health can be challenging when you’ve only got yourself to worry about, but trying to keep your whole family fit might seem impossible. Just because it’s important doesn’t mean that it’s easy. Not to worry, though. We’ve compiled a few tips that could help you and your family meet your fitness goals in no time. Read on to find out!
Play Sports
Team-based sports can be a fun way for your family to bond with each other while also getting some exercise into your day. Many sports can be easily played right in your backyard or, if necessary, at a local park.
Take badminton or volleyball; it doesn’t take much room to set up a net. Basketball hoops can usually fit in your driveway. Soccer and football can be played using just about anything as markers for goal and touchdown zones. It might be a good idea to keep a compression sleeve for arm pain for each member handy (if you start to feel any, by chance). You don’t need a big, professional team-you just need each other and a few pieces of equipment.
Compete for Bragging Rights
Hold contests to see who can run the most miles within a given week or who can do the most push-ups. The stakes don’t have to be anything extraordinary; something simple like letting the winner decide on a movie for the family to see together at the theater would be fine. A little friendly competition can be an enjoyable way to push each other to improve.
Hit the Gym
If your kids are old enough, getting family gym memberships could be a fun and educational activity for everyone. It’s not recommended to start kids in weight training until they’re at least seven or eight years old, and even then, their weights should be kept light, with repetitions high. Truthfully, it might be best to wait until they’re preteens or teens.
You may want to incorporate family weighing scales into the process to track weight and create family goals. However, this is probably a better idea for the adults. Young, impressionable children may get the wrong idea and become weight-conscious at a young age which could prove detrimental down the road.
Go on Adventures
Short bike rides or treks around the city can be memorable on their own. For those of you with some vacation time on your hands, however, you might find it worthwhile to take your family on a rock-climbing expedition, a ski trip, or a hike up a mountain. You might need to train outside your vacation hours to participate in these activities, so it won’t be intermittent exercise.
As long as it’s exciting and ends in a sense of accomplishment, adventures are fantastic fitness endeavors for the whole family.