Family Exercise Smackdown
It happened again this weekend... I grocery shopped for a selection of healthy, nutritious foods. My husband stopped at the store on his way home, and came in with two giant bags of dog-crap foods.
Brownies. Ice cream. Potato chips. Soda.
I didn't eat any of it, which is good (yay me!) but the fact that he is undermining my efforts is pissing me off royal. He doesn't see it that way, of course, but today, as he lamented his expanding waistline and lack of motivation, I seized upon the chance to deliver a little lecture.
I've had it with feeding the kids carefully, only to have Daddy come home with lollypops in his pocket. I'm tired of making a lovely, balanced dinner only to be informed that he ate a late lunch and isn't hungry. Invariably he ends up skipping dinner and snacking on dog-crap all evening after the kids go to bed.
Even more than that, I'm tired of being the only one setting a healthy example. He agrees that his inactive lifestyle is setting an example he's not thrilled with. So!
Starting tomorrow, every member of my family is going to do sit ups and push ups. We're going to start with 10 of each. Before showers in the morning, before baths in the evening - we're going to squeeze in those little exercises - all of us.
The kids are already adding exercises - jumping rope, lifting weights, jogging in place...
I think we'll make up some random selection device, and we'll pick two activities each day. Anyone have any silly suggestions?
Comments
I don't have any silly suggestions, only reinforcement that you are doing the right thing. Make it a part of your life. Modeling behavior is WAY more effective that TELLING your kids what they should be doing.
My kids are teens at this point and I've never ASKED them to do any physical activity. Amazingly, though, as I increase my physical activity, so do they.
Posted by: Kris | January 21, 2007 5:57 PM
I find that linking exercise to goals increases my awareness and overall want for the activity. Reward based exercising? Such as ... run 3 miles in a week (1 mile x3) = family movie night, bowling night, etc?
Posted by: BabyBought | January 21, 2007 7:23 PM
I would be wary of enforcing excercise. Don't they go to fun kid- friendly activities at school - gymnastics, dance class, football classes. How about you all take up roller skating?
Posted by: HealthyMummy | January 22, 2007 12:45 AM
Hey Jenny, have you seen this game? Darn you don't accept HTML... copy and paste it is then!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Fitness-Challenge-Board-Game/dp/B000A38I60/sr=8-1/qid=1169467084/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6553778-3038255?ie=UTF8&s=hpc
Posted by: Denise | January 22, 2007 3:59 AM
Dancing is always fun, do you have a music channel or a cd they all like or something similar? they can all have a little time dancing to their favourite songs.
As for him bringing in the food (an assy thing to do when you're trying to help everyone), throw it away. When he puts it in the cupboards, open them, put them in the bin and squirt some washing up liquid on top. If he wants to stop wasting money he'll stop buying. If he's desperate he can have it outside of the house and leave the inside a temptation free zone. There's nothing wrong with treats but you're right, they don't need to be in the house.
Posted by: Zanitta | January 22, 2007 5:54 AM
WOW! I was so relieved to read your post. Its nice to know I'm not the only mom struggling with this problem. My problem is a bit different yet exactly the same. I'm married to a Filipino (translation can't gain weight if I force fed him fat sucked straight from my thighs). The hardest part about this is that he can't ever relate to gaining weight. In fact he often complains about losing weight and needing to eat more junk and work out less. I want to pound him. My son who is 17 months old and barely weighs 22 pounds is the same way. I need to help him gain weight and the world around me (i.e. grandma, grandpa and dad) think the only way to do that is with french fries, McDonalds ice cream, pop cicles, pudding and so on. I'm struggling along with my own weight trying to set healthy examples and get my family to eat right and day in and day out I'm surrounded buy fried fat balls rolled in sugar. You are so lucky your husband finally started to catch on and help you out. By the way, I'm Shannon. Nice to meet you. I was just stumbling by when I noticed your post and wanted to rant about well...nothing really. Thanks for listening.
Posted by: wilddreemer | January 22, 2007 7:10 AM
I had this argument with my husband yesterday after he asked me if I was ever going to eat the giant Hershey bar he got for Christmas. I just glared at him and asked "Have you noticed what I've been doing for the last 3 weeks? You're not helping!"
Posted by: jaime | January 22, 2007 8:08 AM
We like to run races usually against ourselves, which has the added FUN! of using a stopwatch.
But we will lap the house a few times, hop on one foot across the driveway, cartwheel across the front lawn. The kids will ride their scooters and I try to keep up with them running.
I do most of these things in the front yard. My neighbors all think I am crazy.
Posted by: chris | January 22, 2007 10:08 AM
Ditto on the race running...in warmer weather we walked frequently, but today we played with balloons. Bean bags (the small kind you toss) can also be fun. We've used sleeping bags to have potatoe sack races, etc I use masking tape on the floor for hopscotch if it's too cold for the out-door version.
Our DH's must be on the same team...I just ham it up with the kids, keep cooking the healthy stuff, and if DH never gets on board, then that's HIS loss, and I tell the kiddos so.
Posted by: prov31wisemom | January 22, 2007 2:34 PM
I have the same issue at my house. DH has Type 2 diabetes and had to cut all carbs from his diet until his sugar regulated. He lost 20 lbs in 3 mohths and I wanted to wring his neck. He is now trying to gain it back while I still continue to try to lose. Our kitchen is a war zone.
Posted by: MJ | February 2, 2007 12:24 PM