A Fun Way to Keep Your Family Active

After long days of work and school, it is so easy for a family to want to just curl up on the couch and watch television. I want to motivate families to stay active inside their homes, especially during these cold winter months!

For the month of March, I am encouraging families to stay active with a fun and creative family bonding activity.  
Start by cutting a shamrock clover out of green construction paper. List 5 exercises on the clover and post it on your refrigerator.  Keep it up for the entire month of March, reminding your family to get moving and to stay healthy!


Here are some examples of what you can write:

1. 1 minute marching to warm up
2. 10 push ups
3. 20 ab crunches
4. 20 squats
5. 20 jumping jacks

You can do this multiple times as a circuit to make it more difficult.  Always end with a cool down and stretches. Make sure the exercises you select are appropriate for your family. 

After you have spent exercise time as a family, end your workout with a healthy GREEN snack. Some examples of healthy green snacks are green beans, grapes, a salad, and broccoli. Greens are antioxidants-cancer fighting agents that will also keep your body strong and healthy!

By involving the entire family, each person can hold the other accountable in completing this daily routine. This simple activity can bring you together after a busy and hectic day. Exercise relieves stress and releases endorphins, which makes a family happy! 

Not only are you spending quality time with each other, but you're improving your quality of life, as well. In my profession, I know how important it is to eat well-balanced meals and exercise daily. I also know how hard it is for my clients and their families to meet the daily demands of life. So, I suggest to them very simple activities, such as this, to help keep them active and continue on the right path to a healthy mind and body. 

So start this month of March by marching to the beat of a new and healthy you...with your family!

Alison Cardoza, B.S. Exercise Science and Sports Medicine and ACSM Certified Personal Trainer at Milestone Wellness Center.

Family: John and Alison Cardoza and 7 year old daughter, Alexa Cardoza.