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Fun-tastic Family Fitness
4 Fabulous Ways to Exercise Together
By C.J. Johnson
For families with children who are too small to participate in an extreme fitness experience, there are ways for Mom and Dad to create a little fitness adventure of their own. Leisa Hart, creator of FitMama & Me Postnatal Exercise Video, suggests something she calls "Stroller Boogie."
"As you and baby roll along, you can get awesome upper body toning with the band and a lower body workout with every step," she says.
To get started, parents need a stroller and an exercise band. Don't forget comfortable shoes. To utilize the exercise band, wrap it around the stroller handle until 5 to 6 inches of the band remains on each end. From this position, Mom or Dad can perform bicep curls to work the front of the arm and tricep presses to work the back of the arm. The bands will even accommodate lateral raises to work the shoulder muscles.
In January, the Good family joined a local spa. As a group, they go to the gym several nights a week and workout. Mother and Daughter have come to treasure their time together on side-by-side treadmills. "We decided to do this together," Good says. "Brittney helps me stay motivated, and I help her. With the time we spend at the gym, we get to have the conversations about friends, boys and family."
In addition to growing closer, Mother and Daughter are losing weight and feeling fit, and have a much stronger self-image. The men in the family were fit to begin with, but they, too, enjoy the time they spend together lifting weights and catching up.
There is a feeling of accomplishment when the Good family leaves the gym each night. They have become closer, and they have come to understand the importance of staying fit – together.
