Staying Fit With Kids
Don’t let your kids stand in the way of your fitness! Get-Fit Guy has some tips for parents.
Ben Greenfield
Listener Shawna wrote in:
“I am a 40-year-old who used to be quite fit. Now that my daughter is 5, I find myself in a constantly unhappy (and sore) battle with my body. While I haven’t gained any weight, my cardio capacity and strength have diminished dramatically. I just can’t manage to get to the gym and when I do, I feel like I’m back at the beginning. What do you recommend?”
Since I had my twin boys 3 years ago, I’ve shared Shawna’s frustration. But I’ve also picked up a few tips that have allowed me to continue to train for Ironman triathlons:
- Find a gym that has child care. We are members of the local YMCA, which has a wonderful kid care program. They’ll watch the kids for free for two hours and that is more than enough time to work out.
- Get home exercise equipment. Read How to Make a Home Gym, pick up some exercise DVDs, and then get up early or exercise during nap time.
- Introduce your child to fitness-friendly foods. Our kids do fruit leathers instead of candy, coconut ice cream instead of super-sweet regular ice cream, and fresh vegetables with salt and butter instead of macaroni and cheese (here are some other healthy lunch ideas). If you’re feeding your kids junk, it’s likely you’re eating it too, and that certainly doesn’t help your immune system or your fitness!
Do you have more questions about staying fit with kids? Ask away at the Get-Fit Guy Facebook page.
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.