Family Fitness All Summer!
Now that kids are out of school and the weather has shifted to warmer, longer days, you’d think you’d have all the time in the world to workout and get in great shape. But summer can often lead many astray with their fitness ambitions.
Sleeping in and technology such as video games, TV and smart phones can turn families into couch potatoes resulting in less physical activity in the summer rather than more. To keep yourself, your kids and your entire family active all summer, you need a game plan!
Summer Camps:
A variety of programs exists that allow kids to participate in sports and seasonal activities throughout the summer. Decide on a few camps that spark your child’s interest and work within your budget. They will enjoy some incredible experiences and you will have the time to stay on your track with your fitness goals too.
Active Vacations:
Choose destinations where swimming, biking, rowing, kayaking, dancing, walking, running, hiking, and active adventures are available.
Schedule Play Dates That Focus on Play:
Plan play dates with friends that involve tag, hopscotch, basketball, biking, balls, kites, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk…and don’t allow any screen time during these play dates. Kick them outside!
The Park Becomes Your Gym:
Head to the park with your kids and use the jungle gym and benches to perform step ups, pull ups, lunges, pushups and dips while they play. If you lead an active lifestyle, you kids are more likely to do the same.
Play With Your Kids:
A game of tag, Frisbee, tennis or pick-up basketball can be some fun -and free – quality time with your kids and a great workout too! Show your kids that exercise doesn’t have to be a chore!
Walking, Hiking and Biking Adventures:
Explore with your kids and get them outdoors hiking and biking to maintain some great activity each day and set a great example of a healthy and active lifestyle. Model the behavior you seek – if you incorporate active living, it will just become natural to them.
Walk It Out:
Increase your walking as a family. Walk to do errands, walk around your neighborhood after dinner and walk your community to explore and enjoy a STAY-cation.
Look For Programs That Include The Kids and Mom & Dad:
Many businesses understand that the struggle is real and will schedule programs simultaneously for parents and kids. For example, there might be a CrossFit for Kids at the same time as an Adult Bootcamp and you can enroll the entire family. Or perhaps, there’s a swim program scheduled for the kids while Mom takes Zumba or maybe there’s a Football Clinic at a park where Dad can jog the loop around the park.
Workout Early In The Morning:
Depending on when your kids typically wake up, set your alarm an hour earlier so you can get your workouts done before they even get out of bed. You’ll stay consistent, feel great each day and have a ton of energy to keep up with the kids once they hit the ground running.
Trade Off:
You probably have some friends who are dealing with the same struggle. Make a deal that you’ll host the play dates 2-3x per week and they will do the same so you each enjoy some uninterrupted workout time.
School’s out and the possibilities for an active family summer are endless! Many people feel forced to take a two month sabbatical and get back on track in the fall because they can’t seem to find the time to focus on their workouts. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Why let all your fitness go to waste over the summer and have to start from scratch in the fall?! Start planning now to assure you have a strategy in place to stick to your routine and stay in great shape all summer.
Yours in health & fitness,
Sherri McMillan
Note: As an avid Columbian reader, you can redeem a 2 week pass at her world-class training studio to help get you started. Contact 360.574.7292 for more details.
Join us for the PACIFIC CREST ENDURANCE SPORTS FESTIVAL June 22nd – 24th.
The 22nd Annual Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival has something for everyone including the 72.3 BEASTMAN, Olympic & Ultra-Sprint Distance Triathlon/Duathlon/AquaBike, Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K/10K, 28K & 50K Trail Run, Bike Tours & Kids Races! Plus Sunriver is the most amazing active, fun resort-town ever! Rally your friends & family for an incredible RACE-cation!
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology and has been inspiring the world to adopt a fitness lifestyle for more than 33 years. She has received numerous industry awards including 2010 CanFitPro International Presenter of the Year, 2006 IDEA Fitness Director of the Year, 1998 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, 1998 CanFitPro Fitness Presenter of the Year and 2005/2006 ACE Fitness Educator of the Year - Runner up. She is a fitness trainer, fitness columnist for various magazines and newspapers, author of five books and manuals including "Go For Fit - the Winning Way to Fat Loss" and "Fit over Forty" and the featured presenter in various fitness DVDs. She has presented hundreds of workshops to thousands of fitness leaders throughout Canada, Australia, Mexico, Jamaica, New Zealand, Germany, England, Spain, South America, Asia and the U.S. She is the owner of Northwest Personal Training in downtown Vancouver, the founder of WHY Racing Events & WHY Community, participates in various community fundraisers and can be found running, biking, or hiking around the community. Find more information at nwpersonaltraining.com.