LDS Families and Fitness

by Miriam Caldwell | More from this Blogger

13 Jul 2006 08:57 PM

We have been counseled to take care of our bodies. It is important to stay in good physical condition because this allows us to serve other better. It also helps us to have peace, contentment and better health. The church has a program, which is a physical fitness challenge. You can set up a rewards program so that as each family member reaches a certain level they will receive something. This program is available at www.providentliving.org, along with several articles about good physical fitness.

One of the challenges in physical fitness is finding the time to complete the exercise programs, but as the article "Focusing on Family Fitness" suggests you can incorporate your family time into time spent exercising together or completing activities that promote physical fitness. The article says:

"If Dad and Mom want Joanie, Robert, and the twins to exercise, then the parents will have to lead by example. Children will learn about the need for physical activity the same way they learn about integrity, moral purity, reverence, and love-by seeing good parental role models.

Experts in family fitness suggest that it probably won't work to simply send the children out to exercise. It will be much more effective to say, 'I'm going out bicycling (or for a walk). Anyone want to come?' (See A. Garth Fisher and Robert K. Conlee, The Complete Book of Physical Fitness, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young Univ. Press, 1979, p. 115.) As with reading instead of watching television, children are likely to participate in those things they see their parents do-especially if it means an opportunity to be with Mom or Dad."

You may want to plan a family home evening around the different types of exercise and then plan activities as a family, which promote exercise. When the weather is nice you could take a walk as a family rather than staying inside and playing a board game. Remember that if your family is not used to physical activity you should take it slowly. You can also promote your children's health by letting them run and play outside as often as possible.

If you want to start an individual program for yourself or if you just need some new ideas there is an excellent blog on Fitness by Heather Long. She has a lot of great ideas for different exercises and motivations to keep you on track.

Since we are counseled to take care of our bodies, it is important that we teach our children the habits that will help them to stay healthy. It is also important to lead the way through example and proper nutrition. You can find out more about the church's guidelines for nutrition and diet here.

Learn more about Miriam Caldwell

Miriam is a SAHM mom of three children. She has a daughter who is seven, and two sons, four and two. She loves being a parent and spending time with her children.

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