Motivating yourself to workout can be challenging enough, but throw your family into the mix and things can become even harder. With childhood obesity affecting nearly 13.7 million children in the United States, the need for exercise has never been greater. However, kids don’t always possess the intrinsic motivation needed to stick to an exercise schedule and they may need your help to stay on pace. Keep every member of your family healthy and happy with these simple tips for how to encourage your family to work out.

Have fun

Perhaps the best tip for how to encourage your family to workout is to simply have fun. There are many ways to get your family up and moving and have some fun at the same time. Instead of catching a movie, head to a local park for your next family outing. You’ll work up a sweat while you’re sliding, swinging, and running around the playground. Plus, your kids will have so much fun they won’t even realize they’re exercising. You can also bring along your favorite sporting equipment and engage in a friendly game of baseball, basketball, or soccer. If indoor exercise is more your speed, try hosting a dance party in your home. Cranking up the music and boogying down as a family is a great form of cardio exercise and will have you burning calories in no time.

Mix it up

Working out can sometimes feel like a chore, especially if it involves doing the same exercises every single day. Mixing things up and incorporating different exercises into your daily routine will help break up the monotony. It will give your family something new to look forward to every day. Try to focus your daily exercises on a different muscle group every day. This will break up the monotony of working out and help you stave off sore muscles for a more beneficial workout. If you’d rather focus only on one muscle group, try to change up the individual exercises you’re performing. For instance, if you want to focus on cardio exercises and don’t want to solely run laps, try incorporating swimming, dancing, cycling, or jumping rope.

Be a leader

Children learn by example, so one of the best ways to encourage your kids to exercise is to show them how it’s done. Working diligently toward your own fitness goals will help your kids see how easy it is to get in shape and encourage them to follow in your footsteps. Leading by example, you’ll be able to instruct your family members on proper form, technique, and how to live a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle. Teaching your family members about the importance of good health and exercise early on will encourage them to maintain healthy habits throughout their entire lives.

Kickstart your family’s fitness journey and stop by an American Home Fitness store today. We have locations throughout Michigan, so no matter where you live, your family can get in on the fun.