How to do a lift up

It's the middle of spring break for the kids, and thanks to warm weather and a pool heater, they are usually ASKING to go to bed by 6:30 pm.  If you're thinking I wish my kids did that! the trade off is they like to get up at 5:45 am.

Today was a lifting day, so the kids and I spent a little time in the backyard prison gym.  To call it a "gym" is really a stretch.  It's a squat rack with pullup bars, a flat bench, two bars, and some weight.  That's it.  The kids think it is some sort of crappy jungle gym.

They both like climbing on the rack and lifting weights because it's not a workout for them: it's play.  Audrey completed a bunch of "lift ups", her name for pullups.  Max did a few overhead presses with one of the squat safety bars. 

Max was way too excited about his birthday presents, so he bailed on the workout.  Audrey hung in there and did a bunch of dumbbell overhead presses.  We then did some ab work on the grass, she did some pushups, and we finished up with some dips and a few more lift ups.  And she likes it.  Because we are outside together doing something together. 

My kids aren't crazed cult fanatics of physical fitness.  I don't ever want them to be.  I want them to lead an active, healthy lifestyle where their physical condition enables them, not hinders them.  Whatever activity you model and excel at, running, swimming, watching television, your children will be predisposed to excel at also. 

According to your children, you are already the world's greatest runner, swimmer, cyclist, or weightlifter.  Include them in your activity and you'll develop a lifelong training partner.  How?

1.  Get a jogging stroller.  Insert kid (or two).  Push while running.  Become exhausted more quickly than running without stroller.  If kid (or two) is too large for stroller (someday all kids will be), go on your regular run.  At the end of your run, link up with kid at home and go out again.  Do a comfortable distance at kid pace.  They'll think they just ran a marathon and you'll get a nice cooldown.

2.  Swim with your kids.  At your gym, your local Y, a park, your backyard, a swimmin' hole, or your local swim school.  I'm lucky to have been exposed to water at an early age.  My kids are now strong, confident swimmers who have skills for a lifetime of enjoyment and safety.

3.  Take a family bike ride.  It's easy.  For a child, riding around the block is like a journey into the heart of the jungle.  We've never been down this street before!  Do you know how to get home from here?  Can we stop for water?  Our next goals are basic maintenance and to turn some wrenches on our rigs. 

It's not magic.  It's called turning off your light-emitting device and doing something together.