Busy and hectic lifestyles can lead to a lack of exercise. With the amount of overweight and obese families on the increase, it is crucial that you teach your family the importance of eating healthily and exercising regularly.
If you and your family spend most of your free time in front of the television screen or on the computer, it is vital that you begin to make changes to your lifestyle.
But, how can you go about changing your lifestyle and getting your family to be more active?
Start by setting a good example
Set a good example for your family by taking the first steps to becoming healthier. Depending on whether you are just unfit or overweight, you may want to make an appointment to have a chat with your doctor first.
Explain that you are trying to change your lifestyle and make your family healthier. If you are extremely overweight, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian or weight loss clinic for advice and tips on how you can stop obesity for life. You may be asked to follow an individual eating and exercise plan, or depending on the severity of your weight, may be advised to have weight loss surgery.
Make sure to take on board and implement any health advice or tips your doctor or specialist suggests. If your children see that you are making an effort to be healthier and are having fun with it, they will be more inclined to give it a go to.
Make time for exercise
Although it can be difficult to fit exercise into your hectic schedule, it is crucial that you find a way to do so. If possible, set aside periods of time specifically for exercise. If it isn’t possible to set aside specific time periods, think of ways you can exercise without needing to book time out of your schedule to do so.
Instead of driving the children to school, get up half an hour earlier and walk them there instead. Instead of parking right outside of work, park a few streets away and walk to your office. If you usually drive to work, you could swap your car for a bicycle. Cycling is an excellent way to beat the morning traffic, as well as being an easy way to keep fit.
On weekends, plan activities for you and your family to do. Don’t just sit inside watching television, get out and about. For a fun afternoon out, walk the dog to the park and let the children have a run about. Whilst you are watching the children play don’t sit on a park bench, instead keep moving around. For an exciting day out, why not go for a family bike ride. You could pack a healthy picnic and head off on your bikes.
If you can find ways to make exercise enjoyable, then you and your family can get a lot out of it.
Only eat healthy snacks
Don’t make the mistake of allowing yourself and your children to eat unhealthy snacks. Whilst you may serve healthy main meals each day, you may forget about how unhealthy a sugar filled snack can be.
To encourage your children to eat healthy snacks, don’t buy crisps, chocolate or sweets. Instead, stock your snack cupboard with healthy snacks. Fresh fruit, low-fat yogurts, cucumber or carrot sticks, nuts and seeds, and other healthy whole grains are excellent for snacking. If you fancy a treat, make it yourself. By making your cakes and biscuits yourself, you know exactly what goes into them and can limit the amount of sugar baked into them.
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