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Getting Your Family Into
Fitness
Getting and staying in shape is important
for you - but your workouts may be more important for your family. The
reason; your family is inexorably drawn to follow your fitness example -
for good or bad. How you manage your personal fitness and nutrition has a
ripple effect that spreads across your entire family.
Your “personal ripple effect” may be one of the most powerful forces
shaping your families mental and physical future. Consider the following:
We are products of our environment. We gravitate toward what we are
repeatedly exposed to. It's a simple matter of repetition. The more we
see, hear, use, or eat something the more it becomes ingrained in our
psyche. In fact, social scientists believe environmental repetition may
have an effect on gene expression and can literally change your
biochemistry.
The power of suggestion is strong. The power of repeated suggestion is
practically unstoppable. So if you’re making poor fitness and nutrition
choices at any age, it’s likely your family will be making the same
choices shortly.
“When Junior sees Dad parked in front of the tube and digging into a bag
of chips, it's hard to resist the same lifestyle. And chunky Mom, plus
chunky Dad, often equals chunky kids”.
The evidence is compelling. Your example, your behavior, your habits are
being absorbed by your family at warp speed. The secret is making it a
blessing instead of a curse.
It’s never too early or too late to start. In the research center, my
staff and I see the impact that consistently exposing people to a healthy
lifestyle has on individuals. As people mature, they embrace exercise as a
natural, fun part of their lives.
You have the power to influence the health and fitness of every person in
your family (your children, your spouse, your siblings, your parents ---
and even your friends). The fitness habits you help them build will keep
serving them in every area of their life. I can think of no better gift to
give people than the gift of health.
But here's the secret...
You absolutely must lead by example. Never "tell" a person what
they should do, just keep living a healthy life in a tight lean body, and
people will instinctively gravitate to you and learn from your examples.
The process for some "hard-headed" folks might be a bit slower,
but they'll come along once they see how much more fun you're having in
your new body than they could ever hope to have unless they pick up the
pace and learn from your example.
So how do you do it? It’s a day-to-day process and a series of repeated
small steps that add up to awesome health habits. Every time you choose
the vegetables over the chips, a walk over a drive, and an active game
over T.V., you’ve just made another donation to yourself and to your
families lifetime health and fitness fund.
It’s your personal ripple effect in action…
ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL THE MODERATORS
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