Holidays are such an easy time to forget about yourself. There is so much running and eating and visiting, that sometimes fast foods are the meal of choice or the typical overconsumption of holiday foods if you do happen to go to visit friends and relatives; rich foods and drinks and deserts seem to be the norm! Amidst this chaos, there is very little time set aside for exercise. As sad as this is for adults, the same goes for our children; developing a pattern that can follow them through life!
During these lazy days, days of friends and family, it would be really good to plan some fun activities that would get everyone out and active….together. How about planning to go ice skating – either outdoors on a frozen pond or in an ice-skating rink? One hour of skating can burn several hundred calories; besides being great exercise, is a great sport to teach your children.
Skiing is also popular and fun and a great way to stay fit and burn calories. Although some of us prefer to stay in the chalet and sit by a nice fire, it would be better for those people (including myself) to try cross-country as opposed to downhill skiing. Both are fabulous, albeit one less dangerous, but sometimes more taxing, than the other. It is just nice to go to a get-away and be together as a family. If you prepare in advance, you could also take with you homemade healthy treats as opposed to eating out at restaurants and not being as healthy in that respect.
Besides the normal board game, what if you packed the kids up and took them to the local YMCA to swim or at least play in the water; water volleyball is great fun and is a testament to health as you work many more muscles than you ordinarily do in a gym. Water sports are a fantastic way to help people to stay fit.
Kids these days balk at the fact that they have to move from the couch; would rather be playing video games than doing anything physical. It is truly important to remember that the body works better as a cohesive unit if you give it everything that it needs – that includes regular exercise and foods that are good for the human body.
Parents tend to battle with their children on this topic though. They could curb the arguments if they get involved with their kids and exercise in a way that will be fun for both them and their younger progenies. It is also great to develop an exercise regimen that will carry them through the years.
The best way to do so is to plan together, get involved and make sure that holidays are about getting out and active as opposed to the typical sitting around and staying dormant. Holidays can prove to be spectacular ways to stay fit and bond together as a family unit as well. You just have to want it.
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