Hi! I’m Kalee! My mom and I are online healthy living coaches that have helped 100s of women hit their goals. Get our entire free library of meal plans and tips to help you feel and look your best! Thank you Janine for allowing us to guest post today!
Growing up, my mom modeled healthy habits for me without even realizing it. Even when our circumstances weren’t the best, she always made sure the two of us were staying active and keeping a positive mindset.
The biggest thing she taught me wasn’t healthy eating habits or exercise though. Through her actions, she taught me being healthy and active should be a lifestyle instead of a quick-fix. It also didn’t matter if she had a ton of money or time, she found simple ways to incorporate fun, active things to create memories with me.
Those memories are something that shaped how I view exercise and food today. More importantly, they’ve created traditions and other benefits along the way.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Want to get active + make family memories while doing this, too? Then check out these 7 surefire tips on how to do so.” quote=”Want to get active + make family memories while doing this, too? Then check out these 7 surefire tips on how to do so.” theme=”style1″]
Today I’ll be digging into 7 tips to make getting active fun for everyone.
7 Ways to Get Active & Create New Family Memories
Embrace the Seasons
Living in Tennessee, we’re blessed with all 4 seasons. Each one holds its own special excitement and adventure whether you’re 8 or 80! There is always something fun to do.
1. Spring Activities
With the Spring coming soon, it can be fun to get outside and plant seeds or fresh flowers. Taking the time to plant and get into the garden can be relaxing and allow for a time to talk to one another. Plus, it’s always rewarding to watch something you did together grow and come back each year.
If your not into planting, there are ways to enjoy the fresh blooms around town as well. Look for botanical gardens, parks, or local events that showcase all that Spring has to offer.
2. Summer Activities
I remember one Summer we planted a ton of veggies. We ended up just having random beans sprouting later, but the experience of planting a garden was fun. You may also enjoy picking berries and making jam together. One active event we’ve done so much I’d rather not do again is shucking and freezing fresh corn as well. It’s definitely a memory and an arm workout!
If you live close to the ocean or a lake, it’s always fun to plan a day to go swimming. If you’re really adventurous, camping can provide a chance to catch up and go swimming, canoeing or hiking together.
3. Fall Activities
Visiting a local orchard and picking apples also gets everyone outside and walking around. We love fresh apples from our local orchard and also visiting pumpkin patches. Running towards the perfect pumpkin, carrying it home and carving it definitely keeps the family busy!
4. Winter Activities
While Winter is probably my least favorite season, there are tons of ways to get away from the Christmas cookies and stay active. Ice skating is something fun and in available in most areas. Another calorie-torcher would be to go skiing or playing in the snow if you’re in an area with the right weather.
Find Activities That are Weather Proof
5. Jump it Off
Last year, my husband and I decided to try one of those trampoline places for a fresh date idea. We both made the mistake of doing a traditional workout before going. Yowza! Visiting an inside trampoline place after the age of say 10 is a workout on its own! Our core and legs were toast after about 30 minutes of jumping, and our heart rates got up too! The place we visit also does dodge ball on the trampolines! It’s perfect for all ages!
6. Laser Tag
Growing up, I loved laser tag too. I wasn’t always picked first for gym (…meaning often times I was picked last), but I was a beast when it came to laser tag. The indoor places here offer places to run, jump and climb!
7. Have Fun Escaping
Even an Escape Room activity can keep your family engaged and having fun without the focus being on food or electronics.
The Benefits of Being an Active Family
Being active as a family is so much more than just calories being burned or a goal weight being achieved. Finding ways to be active also allows for better communication with your family. I know doing things together brought my mom and me closer. These types of activities allowed us to talk without as much pressure growing up, and it also shaped my perspective on life and beliefs of healthy living.
I know, sounds a bit extreme, right? But it’s true.
The benefits of being an active family are the same as being a tight-knit family.
Through experiences like the ones I’ve shared, our family grew closer together. It also taught me from a young age that taking care of our bodies is important so that we can experience and do things versus focusing so much on our outward appearance.
The same memories also created traditions and habits for our family to keep active and enjoying one another’s company.
So, now I will leave you with a question:
How do you and your family stay active?
Thank you again for letting us guest post, Janine! We hope if you enjoyed this post, you’ll also enjoy our blog where we share tips to help you feel and look your best!
Thanks again, Kalee for contributing here today about keeping your mind, boy and soul active. Now, happily linking up her amazing article to this week’s Finish the Sentence Friday with Kristi and Kenya where the sentence to finish is as follows: “When it comes to this body…”
William Holland says
Or you could take care of 180 birds daily like I do:)
I totally agree with you, staying active is a huge benefit for our health. Hopefully I can force this old body into activities for many years to come.
Happy Weekend Janine!
Janine says
Seriously, Bill you are awesome, my friend!! And I know you will be active for many years to come. Happy Weekend right back at you now 🙂
Meredith Spidel says
I love how you have ideas for colder weather too! Staying active as a family is so important year-round!
Janine says
I agree as colder weather seems to sometimes be my nemesis on this, too. So love that they include ideas for this time of the year, too!! 🙂
Kalee says
Totally! Ice skating and Christmas shopping…or just seeing the decorations up…are two of our favorite things to do every year!
Kenya G. Johnson says
As a family we like to go bike riding but it’s definitely not weatherproof. In fact when the weather is the most ideal as far as temperatures go, we can’t go at all because of the pollen. Thanks for sharing other ways to keep active.
Janine says
Happy to share. No pollen here just as of yet in NY. But I do know how when that does happen going out sometimes can be an issue still yet, too.
Kalee says
Oh ya, as a allergy sufferer we have to get creative sometimes. It’s so awesome that you guys can bike as a family when the weather cooperates though!
Tamara says
I love that mother/daughter photo. I don’t live close to my mom but she modeled healthy habits BIG time. She’s still really active on horseback. I love this post!
Janine says
Me too! and I love that your mom into horseback riding, as well 🙂
Kalee says
Thank you so much! It’s great your mom was able to model healthy habits for you too! It makes a difference!
clark says
hey! funny thing about these bloghops, while some of the suggestions in your post might not apply, I totally perked up at the mention of exercise (in the opening). Seriously, just today, I encountered a situation where more-than-normal physical exertion was required. I managed, but afterwards, I was all, like, ‘Man, I need to get into shape’.
So, thanks, Janine for being a part of that semi-magical thing that happens out here, in the sphere.
Janine says
I love that and agree definitely magical indeed, Clark 🙂
Kristi Campbell says
Thanks for sharing some good ideas for keeping active! I haven’t been ice skating in years but now I really want to take my son. And those trampoline places are awesome. We go pretty regularly and I leave exhausted!
Janine says
Kristi, same with us with the trampoline places, too! 🙂
Pat B says
These are all great suggestions for ways to keep yourself and family active and having fun while doing it.
Your statement : The benefits of being an active family are the same as being a tight-knit family. (This says it in a nutshell!)
Thanks for addressing a very important part of family life, which thankfully our children are much more exemplary of doing than we achieved with them when they were growing up. At least that is how I remember it.
Janine says
Happy I could share Kalee here with you, too and thanks for sharing what you remember, as well here.
Kalee says
Thank you so much Pat B!
Schnelle Acevedo says
These are great tips! Especially finding weatherproof activities! Brilliant.
Janine says
Thanks Nellie 🙂
Jen says
Cold and warm weather ideas, I like all of this you shared ladies!
Janine says
Thanks Jen and happy we could share this here with you 🙂
Mary says
Hi Kalee! So nice to meet you 🙂 I watched my Mom exercise 5 days a week through my childhood and teenage years and it really stuck with me. What a fun list! Thank you so much for sharing. I took my boyfriend on a challenging hike last week, he loved it and I was so surprised, it was nice to sweat together.
Janine says
I agree great to sweat together and so happy to introduce you to Kalee, too 🙂
Kalee says
Oh wow! It’s so cool we both had moms to showcase healthy living!! It’s awesome you’re getting your boyfriend into healthy habits too – going on a hike is so much fun!
Diane Roark says
Janine,
Staying active as a family is a huge struggle. As the kids got older, we were always running to sporting events and never had time to do anything else. Now, that they are young adults we need to be more active with them. We do take family walks when the weather is ok but I know that is not enough.
Thanks for sharing your great tips!
Diane
Janine says
Aw, so happy to share with you as I with you on needing to get a bit better with this here for us, too now 🙂
Kalee says
Thanks Diane! Family walks are such a great habit to have, and I’m so glad you liked the tips!
Cynthia says
Making memories happens every day, one moment at a time – and some of these we really remember. Hehe. Lovely write up and fun guest post!
I love the idea for the trampoline date. I need to try that with husby stat! That sounds like tons of fun. 🙂
Happy Monday!
Janine says
I think that would be tons of un and hope you both can try together soon. Happy Monday once again, Cyndi!! 🙂 🙂
Kalee says
Yes!! I’d love to know how it goes! We loved it, but we were also like — hmm…how can kids do this all day?! LOL! We got a little winded, but it was a blast. I can’t wait to go again!
Julie Clarke says
I need to make a list of season friendly activities! Living in UK winter makes it complicated to get out much mainly because of the high strong winds.
Janine says
Julie, I hope the winds do dissipate enough for you to hopefully get outdoors soon. And also hope you can write that list soon now 🙂
AnnMarie John says
We have been trying to get out and walk together when the weather is better. I’m actually thinking of investing in an adult scooter for myself so that I can scoot while the kids bike.
Janine says
I love that idea and definitely would be great to use while the kids indeed bike 🙂
Christine Carter says
These are GREAT ideas! I love how you pointed out some new activities for every season. We have all four here too, and I think winter is my least favorite as well. I find myself wanting to just stay in and snuggle and watch tv… Getting out and doing things is really important during these cold months.
I love that you and your mom are a team in this! SO fun! And you’re right- you don’t need money to have fun and stay active. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing such great tips on being healthy and it really is a lifestyle choice to carry out every day.
Janine says
Aw, so happy Kalee could share here with you. And think you know that I feel similar in the colder winter months as you, too.