Keeping Up With Your Family’s Fitness

With the kids back in school, the last thing you want to think about is your fitness routine. But hold on, it doesn’t have to be as complicated as you may think. When the alarm goes off on the first day of school it can sometimes mean to most that any free time that was dedicated to exercise over the summer is sadly gone. Worry not though because this, in fact, couldn’t be further from reality!

Sure, back to school means getting things in order, tightening up the family schedule, and getting kids back into a regular routine, but be sure not to leave yourself out of the equation because missing a few workouts can lead to packing on a few pounds. It’s also fairly common knowledge that it’s easier to maintain a particular schedule rather than trying to fit in a new one down the road, when you become desperate. In fact, at one time or another, most busy parents have discovered that once they’re out of the groove, they end up kicking themselves come spring when it comes time to resuscitate their long lost fitness regime.

A Fitful Life Starts At Home

Aside from having to endure the physical and emotional impact a lagging fitness program can produce, remember that kids learn by example. Paying attention to your own health and fitness will send a positive message to your kids that it’s important to take care of their health. What’s more, with the whole family in sync with exercise and proper nutrition, the struggle to get kids motivated to free themselves from their phone, television, or video games, to participate in family outings becomes a breeze. So if your personal fitness program is shoved aside, how can you teach your kids to be healthy and active?

Home-Schooled With Fitness

To win the war on time management and fitness, it’s all about keeping what’s important to you at the top of your priority list. After a summer filled with fitness and exercise, you want to keep up that momentum. The question is, how can you fit in the time now? Take an old-school approach: An increasingly popular solution – one that’s been dominating over the option to purchase a gym membership – is to create your own simple but effective home gym starting with a few simple pieces of equipment. Being home-schooled in fitness is a great way to not only keep the option of exercising right at your fingertips while in the comfort of your own home, but it’s also a great way to spend time connecting with your family while carrying out a healthy and active lifestyle together.

With ongoing cuts to the physical education funding from the school curriculum, providing your family with the tools to keep exercise an important part of their regular day will help foster their personal growth in many ways. From a health and wellness perspective among students, studies indicate that exercise has been proven to contribute to easing stress levels, increased alertness in-class, and having a greater ability to focus on studies, which ultimately lead to a greater overall success rate and a better future! 

This health tip is contributed by Robb Armstrong, Fitness and Lifestyle expert with ELM. Equilibrium Lifestyle Management is a proud leader in the field of customized in-home personal training and recreation management services. www.elifestyle.ca