It's not a surprise that most parents of young children do not exercise as much as they should. Parenting is not only stressful but very time consuming. In fact, as it turns out, one of the most cited reasons for not exercising is being a parent. According to a study done at the University of Minnesota, parents exercised less and ate more unhealthy food than non-parents.
Although parents are usually quite active just in taking care of their children, they usually do not follow an exercise program to help stay healthy. Not only is it essential for parents to take care of their health with exercise and proper nutrition, but also for the health of their children. Study after study show that the single best factor to offsetting childhood obesity is the exercise and eating habits of the parents.
Parents report that the biggest obstacles to a committed exercise program are lack of time and fatigue.Here are some suggestions that help many parents overcome these roadblocks.
1. Wherever you go to exercise, bring the kids with you. Choose an outdoors activity, such as walking or jogging, and set up the stroller to keep your child happy. Sign up for stroller exercise classes that incorporate whole body fitness into an hour session. Get a tandem bike and take daily bike rides with your pre-schooler or elementary aged child.
2. Stay committed. Either get up a bit earlier or stay up a bit later and get your exercise in. Remember that if you take care of yourself, you'll be better equipped to take care of your little ones.
3. Set a reachable goal, such as running a 5k race. Perhaps involve the little ones in the goal setting. There are numerous events where kids can participate, also.
4.Seek out expert advice and help. Look for nationally certified personal trainers with experience. Join classes that offer expert training, such as StrollerStrength, a Las Vegas based stroller exercise class. (Go to www.jandfitness.com for more class details.)
Although lack of time and fatigue top the list, there is truly an endless list of reasons why parents do not exercise. As parents, it is pretty simple. Look at your children and commit to being a good role model. If you find it hard to do it for yourself, do it for them.
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