What do you think of when you hear the word fitness?  The exercise you did or didn't do today?  How you can't add one more thing to your already-too-long To Do List?  Maybe you think about your desire to lose weight or prevent a heart attack?  Bet hearing the word fitness doesn't make you feel giddy, or jump for joy with another memory making opportunity with your family.  If you're all jazzed up about your next family fitness activity - good for you - you already have the attitude you need to raise a FIT family.

For the rest of us though, we may need a shift in attitude and behaviors in order to raise a fit family.  Go back to what you originally wanted for your new baby when he or she was born.  We're guessing it was health and happiness just like us.  Both of these gifts are tied to fitness. 

Lack of fitness contributes to disease and suffering - the opposite of what we want for our children.  Many children in America are living with metabolic syndrome. "This is difficult to accept because it’s a largely preventable condition. Metabolic syndrome is defined as a combination of risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease: hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity. A report in the January issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlights a study that examined metabolic syndrome in 10 to 15 year olds. The study pinpointed three factors that kids with metabolic syndrome share: lack of cardiovascular fitness, lack of physical activity, and high maternal body mass index. The upside of the study is researchers found that increasing a child’s exercise levels even just slightly can decrease the child’s risk for developing metabolic syndrome."[1]

It wasn't that long ago that raising a fit family was easy.  Kids walked to and from school, had more recess time and more gym classes.  Children spent more time playing, and less time sitting in front of a TV, computer or video game.  In fact, the average American child spends more than 7.5 hours a day watching TV and movies, using cell phones and computers for entertainment, and playing video games.[2]  Food was REAL too and portion sizes were much smaller.[3]

Bottom line: The societal obstacles we face as parents when it comes to creating REAL health for our family means we have to be more conscientious about making sure our children are moving every single day. 

Here are some ways to make it more fun to be a FIT family:

ONE:  We've all heard it - 'Don't worry that your children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you!'.  Are you "fit" role model?  You don't have to be an athlete or have a set exercise program.  Easy changes like parking in the furthest spot so you can walk more, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator speak volumes.  Turn off the TV and turn on some music to dance with your child.  Jump on the trampoline, walk the dog, go swimming together.  Plan your family time around fitness activities.  Create the habit of being active everyday.  Wear comfortable clothes, appropriate safety gear and go make some "fit" memories with your family.

TWO:  In their book Fit Home Team baseball player Jorge Posada and his wife Laura teach us how to plan fun fitness activities around the seasons.  Use Mother Nature to guide you.  In the spring you can garden, climb trees, and play tennis.  Summer means opportunities to swim, hit the beach, play on the Slip 'N Slide and wash the car by hand!  In the fall head to the local playground and play with your child or host a family kickball game.  Sledding, snow shoeing and ice skating are musts in the winter months.  Wherever you live, use whatever seasons you are blessed with and get creative about being active together everyday!

THREE:  Laugh!  Playing together while you are getting more fit is the perfect time to model joy, something many adults seem to lose somewhere along the way.  Laughter lowers stress hormones, works muscles and strengthens the immune system among other benefits.[4]

Raising a FIT child doesn't have to be a chore or a burden.  It's a shift in attitude and behaviors as a family that result in more fun and fitness.

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Sources:
1. DeLeo, K. (2009, December 4). The Latest Research on Kids' Health and Fitness. Health News. Retrieved November 23, 2011, from http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/The-Latest-Research-on-Kids-Health-and-Fitness/1lngAqZrP0fPaClbVvAjJJ/
2. Get Active. Lets Move. Retrieved on November 23, 2011, from http://www.letsmove.gov/get-active
3. Study Confirms That Food Portion Size Increased in U.S. over Two Decades. (2006, May 17). ScienceBlog. Retrieved on November 23, 2011 from http://scienceblog.com/813/study-confirms-that-food-portion-sizes-increased-in-u-s-over-two-decades/
4. Scott, E. (2011, January 10). The Stress Management and Health Benefits of Laughter. About.com. Retrieved on November 23, 2011 from http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/laughter.htm