Getting My Kids into Fitness

For me, one of the greatest benefits of getting fit has been being able to inspire my kids. Growing up, I was a classic couch potato. My parents divorced when I was young, my mom worked full time.  I walked home after school and lounged around. There was no one there to monitor my activities, turn off the TV and tell me to go outside and play.  It was no one’s fault, just the reality of our situation.

It wasn’t until I was well into my thirties that I realized how much I missed out on by not being active growing up. There are huge benefits to learning how to take direction from a coach, learning to move as a team, work as a team, and be presented with physically challenging situations regularly. For instance, when I am working out, and I reach a certain point where I begin to feel more than just ‘uncomfortable’, I literally stop and think to myself, “this hurts, let’s make it stop.” I have to work really hard to push myself farther to reach my potential as an athlete. I have generally found that those who grew up participating in team sports have learned that there are times when you push through the pain. Mind you, I am not talking about an all out, hurt yourself kind of push – but you get the idea.

All of this leads to the importance of muscle memory, a type of movement with which muscles become familiar over time.  A former athlete starting up a fitness program after a break can usually see progress quickly, and that lends credence to the idea that the younger you start to get fit, the more likely muscle memory will play a part in your life-long ability to remain fit.  

Both of my kids have not really taken to participating in organized team sports. We have tried soccer, lacrosse and will be trying baseball next season to see how that goes.  I still want them to be a part of a fitness program.  Since they ask me about my workouts all the time, I took them to a free CrossFit Kids class offered at my CrossFit gym.  I have done a few of the  games that were incorporated into a few of my CrossFit sessions and I liked the concept of the workout– s play games while you MOVE.   

During the actual kids session, they split the group of kids up in teams and had them run obstacle courses with a wet sponge and the team that filled up a bucket with water from the sponge first, won.  It was hilarious to see these kids trying to jump over tires and run ladders and yet still have to operate as a team.

Another session, the kids had to do all these exercises within  a certain amount of time, collecting Lego pieces as they completed them. At the end, they had to construct a Lego tower and who ever built the highest structure, won.

What I liked about these sessions was it not only focused on getting the kids to move, they also learn about teamwork and strategy.  And it’s great that kids who are not into team sports have another option to incorporate fitness into their lives.  It also shows them that being fit doesn’t have to be a chore – which in my opinion, is the ultimate lesson that will inspire them to lead a fit and healthy life into adulthood.  

See the importance of inspiring and helping your kids to lead a fit and healthy life? It has massive repercussions that could affect them for a very, very long time. 

Visit Live Fit and Sore! to find more ideas and reasons to get fit. You can also find support and general information about fitness and nutrition.  My hope is that you find the right information to inspire you while on your own fit and healthy journey. 

I am a consultant for CrossFit Impavidus in Ashburn. The opinions shared above are my own & they did not encourage me to write any particular review of my experience.