Member Blogs

From Sofa to Softball – Fitness for Your Entire Family

I come from a huge family. I'm the oldest of four with a large assortment of cousins on both sides of the family - expending excess energy in the form of play was pretty much a childhood requirement. Games of football or softball happened as often as games that could be played indoors, such as charades and Twister. I didn’t realize the benefit of being part of a rough and tumble group of adolescents until my first semester of college when my activity level slacked off and the pounds crept up – in the form of that number on the scale.

Although a few decades have passed, my family is still just as competitive; except video games have replaced our outdoor ones. Thanks to hands-on features, even Grandma can go up against us in virtual forms of tennis and bowling. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about spending time together as a family in a way that doesn’t find us just watching other people play spots on television. And I’m not just saying that because Grandma beat my high score at snowboarding!

I'm fairly certain actor David Ogden Stiers was talking about mine when he said that, - family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. There's a lot to be said for the buddy system, especially when it comes to adopting a healthier lifestyle. What better source of buddies than the ones living right under your roof? You're more likely to instill a habit as well as maintain it longer if you recruit your family members as support.

Feeling Great at Any Age – 4 Family-friendly Fitness Tips

As a child I watched my mom try to suffer through a diet alone once. She looked positively miserable as she ate her naked broccoli, while we stuffed ourselves with fried chicken and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy. Despite her best efforts, none of us kids were willing to join her in giving up carbs loaded with calories. But getting your family involved in living a healthier lifestyle doesn't have to be a headache, and you don’t have to give up flavor. Try some of these suggestions on for size: