May Is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. It’s a great time to start a fitness program or help family members become more active. It’s never too late to start getting fit. Children and teens should get an hour of exercise each day. Adults of all ages need about 1 hour 15 minutes of vigorous exercise or 2 1/2 hours of moderate exercise each week. Once you make exercise part of your daily routine, it’s easy to stay physically fit and active throughout your life. People who exercise regularly are less likely to have high blood pressure, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and have lower cholesterol. National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is a good time to get active and to help family members become more active.  You can find more information about recommended activity levels for people of all ages and physical ability on the US Department of Health and Human Services website, Physical Activity Guidelines.

Help get members of your family off the couch and exercising by taking small steps. Choose an activity that every member of the family can participate in regardless of their fitness level. Begin by taking a family walk around the block after dinner two times each week for a month. Go for a family block walk three times each week the next month. Take the whole family for a bike ride or go roller skating in the park after dinner one night each week. 

Sign up for a family membership at your local YMCA or gym. Take the whole family swimming at the gym or YMCA every weekend. Meet up with family members at the gym twice each week and then enjoy a treat like low-fat frozen yogurt afterwards. Make it a routine and make it fun for everyone. Challenge family members by helping them to set realistic fitness goals and then make it a race to success! For example, challenge your spouse to a race to lose 10 pounds in the next 60 days by eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly. 

Buy fitness-friendly birthday, anniversary and holiday gifts instead of toys, games and trinkets. Bicycles, skates, skateboards and sports balls make great gifts for kids and adults. Don’t forget the helmets and protective pads! Dumbbells, pedometers, new exercise clothes and sneakers are great gifts for adults and kids. Try a new healthy dinner recipe each week. Involve the kids in making the menu choices and helping in the selection and preparation of nutritious ingredients and side dishes.

Can you think of other ways to get your kids and spouse or partner involved in physical activity and healthy food choices?