quick clicks

iparenting fitness articles

iparenting fitness q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Expert Q&A

	By Kelli Calabrese Exercise Physiologist

Are there exercises with weights that we can do as a family?

Try the following exercises for the whole family. Start the exercises without resistance and slowly add resistance such as dumbbells, machines or fitness tubing.

Squats – Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, bend your hips and knees as if you were going to lower your bottom onto a chair. Pause for a second and return to the standing position.

Leg Extension – Balance on one foot and lift the other leg straight out in front of you. Bend and extend from the knee.

Dead Lift – Standing up tall, bend forward from the hips, lowering your hands toward your feet.

Calf Raises – Stand with the balls of your feet on the edge of a step, slowly lower your heels toward the floor until you get a good stretch, pause and lift up onto the balls of your feet.

One Arm Row – In a push-up position, lift one hand up toward the shoulder as you balance on the other hand and feet. Then alternate sides.

Lateral Raise – Standing tall, lift arms up from the hips out to the side until they reach shoulder height. Lower down slowly and repeat.

Bicep Curl – Standing tall, alternate curling one arm up at a time raising your fist toward your shoulder.

Ankle Wiggles – Lying on your back with your knees bent, place your hands by your sides on the floor. Lift the head and shoulders off of the floor and with your right hand, reach for your right ankle then return to the center and repeat on the left.

View more Q&A by this Expert