How to Get More Active with the Whole Family

Hey guys,

 Today I'm excited that Carolyn Fallon, from Full-On Fit! contacted me to share with my readers on a topic that I'm becoming more and more passionate about, living a healthy life style as a family.

With the year rolling by, a lot of people are noticing that their resolutions for losing weight and getting healthier are beginning to be a thing of the past. Many people start to give up up on their New Year's resolutions because they do not have the motivation they need to keep going. It can be very difficult to begin living a healthier lifestyle, especially if you have a family and a full-time job, but getting healthy doesn’t mean you have to train like a professional athlete! 

By making it a habit to workout and eat healthier as a family, it will be a lot easier for everyone to stick to their new plan. After all, when other people around you are doing something, it gives you the incentive to join in. It is also nice to know that health can be promoted as a family so that everyone can live productive and long lives. You and your loved ones' health should be addressed all year long, but there’s no time like the present to get started!

Activities That Can Be Done as a Family

Exercising together as a family is a great way to motivate one another and make regular exercise a priority. When you exercise alone, it is easy to just avoid working out and go on with your day. Getting more active also does not always mean setting aside one hour every day to specifically workout. You can incorporate daily activities that you can all do together that will promote better health and more physical fitness.

Source: wholeliving.com via Eva on Pinterest

Running and Walking

Whether you choose to go running with your family or you'd rather just walk at a brisk pace, make sure that you exercise in a stimulating environment. You might find that running laps around the local park is enough to create a wonderfully memorable family fun day. Taking a brisk walk down the block a few times every night after dinner is another way to spend time with the family and get healthier.

Source: Uploaded by user via Jennifer on Pinterest

Yoga Classes

Think about taking a yoga class together as a family. See if there are any yoga classes being held in your area and consider joining one that is specifically meant for families – or, rent some DVD’s and try it right from the comfort of your own home! It’s a great activity for all family members – according to orthopedic surgeons from St. Joseph’s Orthopedic Center, yoga can increase flexibility, balance, overall strength, and bone and joint health, all of which are great benefits for all members of your family!

Wash the Family Car Regularly

Even though this may sound mundane, washing the car as a family every single week is a great way to promote more physical activity. Washing a car is a lot of work because of all the scrubbing and bucket-carrying. Have the whole family join in so that no one is left out of the fun.

Going on a walk with our dog, Sophie

Walk Your Dogs

Instead of always letting the dogs out in the backyard, think about walking them a few times each day as a family. Not only will you be exercising your beloved family pets, but your spouse and kids will also benefit from the added activity. This particular activity can be done in the early morning or in the evening before sunset.

Bike Riding

Bike riding is yet another activity that your family is going to love doing together. Buying bikes can be easy and fun because everyone can pick out the style and colors they want. Like walking and running, you can either choose to ride bikes in the local park, around the neighborhood, or even find some fun trails in the area.

View from one of our fun mountain hikes. :)

Hiking

During the spring and summer months, hiking is just one of those amazing activities that your entire family will fall in love with. Just find a local trail in your area, pack healthy snacks and plenty of water and enjoy all that nature has to offer. Hiking and climbing rock formations is also very good for joint and bone health.

Healthy Fueling Recipe for Active Families

One thing about becoming more active is that you need to fuel your body before and after a workout. Whatever activity you decide to do, your body needs extra energy to keep it going throughout your workout.

Pre-Workout Snack

Your pre-workout snack can include a banana that has been sliced in half and topped with about 2 tablespoons of organic and raw peanut butter. Bananas are full of potassium that will help to fuel your body and improve energy levels. Peanut butter is a great source of protein, which is ideal for fueling the body and helping to keep hunger at bay.

After-Workout Snack

After your workout, it’s important that you fuel your body with proper nutrition. One of the best things you can consume after exercising would be a healthy fruit smoothie. Just take any and all fruits that you love and put them into a blender with some Greek yogurt and ice. Blend until you get a smoothie mixture and drink up!

Staying active with the whole family can be very easy if you set a schedule when you'll be working out. If you are unsure of how a workout plan will work for the family, just think of ways to promote more activity in your daily life. Being healthy takes work, but it can be easier when done as a family J

Carolyn is a 20-something year old with a passion for life, fitness and overall well-being. She is an avid cycler, golfer and has been known to bust some serious moves on the dance floor. Check out Carolyn’s blog at http://fullonfit.blogspot.com/!