Encouraging your family to be active?

addean1

I havent posted much on here- but lurk for great advice and recipes. Since I started using mfp in early march, I'm down 39 pounds, and feeling great. I've been thnking how important it is to have an active lifestyle, and not just exercise to lose the weight, and then stop. We are becoming an active family, hiking has always been something we enjoyed (i enjoy it much more now, when i dont get winded after the first 2 minutes! lol) and we are headed on a backcountry canoe trip in yellowstone this weekend- something I only dreamed of a year ago.

What are your best ways for keeping your family active? How Has you getting more active helped them?

It's been a surprise for me lately to realize that I truly set the example around here. For the past 3 yrs, I've done a few triathlons, low-key, slow, and defiantly not a pretty sight- but I've done them- and finished! That was the goal. Just recently I've really focused more on losing the extra weight (that I can't really blame on babyfat- since he just turned 8). But I've noticed- since I started doing tris, and focusing on being more active, I've noticed these changes in my family:

--oldest ds has done 2 biathlons, and a triathlon at his school- decided if his old mom could do it, so could he. He ran a 5k for the first time last summer- and did great! He has since decided he really likes running, and has joined the high school cross country running team this year as a freshman. He enjoys biking, and hopes to one day be able to save enough $for a road bike. He is signed up for his first 10 k next month. (And keeps telling me he wants to do a marathon, or RAGNAR- a local running relay through the mountains.)

--middle ds has always been full of energy, and loves sports, he has begged for soccer the past 2 years, and basketball in the winter. He's a talented athlete. He has also recently discovered running- and is doing a kids mile run next month. He had me time him the other morning- and he ran a mile in 6:32. He told me he even stopped to tie his shoe. Lol- trying to encourage his talent.

--youngest ds. Not really into sports- didn't want to play soccer- because he didn't want to run all over the field. Lol- still trying to find something active that he enjoys doing, but it's ok- he's young, and I'm sure he will find something.

Dh- has always been supportive of my races- and even the $ it costs to run them, he brings the kids, and cheers me on, last month- he got us both gym memberships- and has been working out every morning before work. He probably weighs the same he did when we got married- but heart disease really runs in his family- and the dr said the best thing. Is 20-30 min of cardio each day. So he has been doing just that. I so proud of him! 4:15 when that alarm goes off- is e-a-r-l-y-!

So how is your family getting more active and healthier? Has your example rubbed off on them?