We’ve been in a healthy-living cocoon these last few months. It all started when my husband had a 104 fever for 3 days. Come to find out he had diverticulitis. Which is usually something older people get and is caused by a western, American diet. I was terrified and got online immediately to figure out what in the world we were going to do–I did not want my husband on medication for the rest of his life. (Ever since my dad was sick with cancer and Hepatitis C, I have a huge distrust of medicine.)
Anywhoo. I found a local chiropractor who had just begun a 40 Day class and Healthy Living Challenge. I called to get my husband signed up and he has not turned back! He has been eating a “healing foods diet” and working out at a CrossFit gym. He is so excited about it and it has rubbed off onto all of us.
I’m now in the middle of the Healing Foods Diet (which means NO SUGAR for 40 days!) and have been amping up our healthy foods in the house. I’ve also been *gulp* exercising. I haven’t done any consistent exercise since I was pregnant with Asa. He is almost 4, y’all!
When my husband comes home from the gym, the kids want to know what exercises he did. He tells them and then they copy him. They absolutely love it! I’ve found some similar (similar, mind you) high-intensity exercise videos online so the kids and I can do it together. You’d think I was giving them an extra TV show or a candy bar they love it so much.
Well, lo and behold, we get Clubhouse Jr in the mail last week and inside is an Olympic Fitness Challenge for the summer. The kids earn points for whenever they exercise and if they earn 100 points this summer, Clubhouse Jr will mail them a prize! My kids could not be more pumped!
There is an downloadable exercise log but we decided to make our own–we found a huge piece of paper (I think it was actually packing material from our last Ikea run) and made a long game-board like path on it. This actually took forever to fit 100 spaces on it, but it looks really cute now!
Every time the kids earn a point, I let them mark part of the box. Every single day they ask to workout–their favorite is to do it with my Tabata timer app. Here they are doing burpees.
What have I gotten myself into? They are asking me to workout! Let a little child lead them, indeed! 😉
Do you exercise with your kids? Wanna do the Olympic Fitness Challenge with us?
Amy says
Yes! We’d love to do it with you! My whole family has entered a race next weekend – our first. With a horrible family history of heart disease and diabetes, we’re trying hard to teach our kids good habits. I’ve Daniel fasted twice, and my kids are always on the lookout for sugar. Sounds like fun!
Southall gym says
The kids earn points for whenever they exercise and if they earn 100 points this summer, Clubhouse Jr will mail them a prize! My kids could not be more pumped!
Staci Brown says
Ugh…I hate burpees!
Joyce says
Evidently I haven’t looked at the Clubhouse Jr. even though it’s the first thing we usually do when we get it in the mail. I guess vacation and a wedding distracted us. :p I will have to take a look and do some of this after the kids wake up from their naps. 🙂
Kristina says
Yes! We exercise together regularly. I’ve always loved working out, but it becomes a little trickier with kids, but twice a week, they run around and mimic what I’m doing at my boot camp on the beach, they come to my races and cheer me on, and I cheer them on and run with them in theirs.
We go hiking together every weekend – and while my almost 3yo still likes to be carried sometimes, my almost 5yo can do a 4.5 mile hike on her own. They love being outside, and we make a point of doing something active every day – the beach, park or pool.
I truly think that healthy eating and exercise habits are the most important things to teach kids – “healthy body, healthy mind”.
The Olympics challenge sounds like fun – I think we’ll try it!
Hope you enjoy that active time together!
Kristina
Leigh says
I was wondering what was up with all your no-sugar pictures!
I’d love to do this with you – but I’m recovering from my last exercise-induced injury… I pulled a tendon around Christmas training for a 10K. It’s still hurting… But I’m able to get on a recumbent bike/elliptical thing at the gym, so at least I’m moving a bit. I need to get off sugar, though – and I’d like to get the family off of grains altogether. People are fighting me with that one, though… I’ll be praying for you guys!
ohAmanda says
Yikes. I saw your pic with the cast-thingie on your foot. 🙁 As far as the no-sugar goes, it’s not as hard as I thought. I do let the kids have sugar (not fake, or refined) but because Les and I aren’t eating it, it’s just not around here as often. We don’t even have bananas! Les is completely off grains and doesn’t think he’ll ever have them again. I’m not quite in that boat and don’t think I wanna be. I made bread the other day and it killed me not to have a piece out of the oven!!
Liz says
Thank you so much for this info. I will be doing this with my 2 kids. I was thinking what can I do to get them, especially my 10yr old to exercise. This is great. Congrats to your kids & to you & your husband. I wish you all the best.
Katie says
I am soo jumpin on this bandwagon with the kiddos!Thanks. I have been on the Daniel fast the past week and a half, with no sugar and without a lot of other fav foods…how are you doing without the sugar? First three days were H A R D. Now, I feel so good that I may never go back…amazing what healthy eating does for the function of your body in so many ways! (ultimate guide to the daniel fast by Kristen Fiola) Speaking of exercise, have you heard of the T-Tapp method? My chiro recommended and it is great ! Just thought i’d share 🙂
Elizabeth @ Daysinmybarefeet says
Count us in!! So is it every time they exercise they get to fill in a square? Does it have to be for a certain amount of time? AWESOME! I sometimes work-out with my kids but would love to do it more!
ohAmanda says
Elizabeth: It is a certain time frame. Here’s all the details from Clubhouse Jr: http://www.clubhousejr.com/clubhousejr/crafts/olympic-fitness-challenge.aspx 🙂
Tiffany in Tennessee says
This is awesome!!! I’m a new follower of your blog and I’ve gotten so many great ideas from you and your family. My kids are still really young, and I wan exercise to come naturally to them so thy don’t struggle with it as adult like I have. Thanks so much for sharing!
ohAmanda says
That’s exactly what my husband says, Tiffany. He wants exercise to just BE a part of their life. It’s harder for us, huh?
🙂
Jacquie says
I just totally copied you and drew out a big race track for the kids & for me. I’m so horribly out of shape, it’s ridiculous! Maybe if I can think of playing games with the kids as exercise and make an effort to be more active, it will actually be sort of fun. 🙂
ohAmanda says
Awesome, Jacquie! That’s what I’m hoping, too. 😉
Elizabeth @ Daysinmybarefeet says
Thanks a ton!
ChristiS says
I have started Couch to 5k this week, and I have decided it would be great to get my eldest involved with me! Their dad exercises regularly with them in Tae Kwon Do classes, but I wanna get in the act, too!!