Recently I have had an increase in the number of teenagers I am training. I applaud their parents for acknowledging the importance of proper nutrition and exercise and finding a way to get it in.
I know, not everyone can afford a personal trainer. Here are just a few things you can do to implement the same beneficial effects.
1. Go for a walk after dinner.
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Walk at a regular pace for 2 minutes and then speed walk (not run) for 1 minute. Make a game of the speed walk part by seeing who can walk the fastest without laughing. Speed walking is funny to watch so this could be a hard task :)
2. Learn to do crunches, push ups, pullups and squats.
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These are some of the most integral exercises a person should learn. Look it up on line or at the library and learn it together. Most young adults don’t like being told what to do and how to do it, so let them read the description and tell you how to do it. Reverse psychology at its best :)
3. Have an exercise calendar for the entire family to write on.
This calendar is used only for your activity log. Set a goal and a reward at the beginning of each week. For example: We will get 30 minutes of exercise 5 days this week and if we succeed we will go to the movies, go swimming, play a game together, etc. Every time you exercise mark the time and type of activity you did. If you skip a day mark it with a giant X. Too many X’s on the calendar will remind you to get out and get moving. Try to find a pattern of the activities you like best and do them more often :)
These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. Post your family's way of staying fit. It may help a family to get started.
Lisa Lovejoy is the owner of Inside Out Fitness on Wise Avenue.
E-mail Coregoodness@aol.com for more information.