Getting a family to be more active - Sport & Health clubs? The Y?

[Anonymous]

I am determined to get my family of 4 more active, and am considering moving from membership at Fitness First to Sport and Health. The primary motivation would be getting us all a bit more active, but especiallly finding an environment in which our third grade boy could get a bit more fit. He's a big kid who has gained weight over the past 2 years, and unfortunately his MCPS elementary offers absolutely nothing in the way of afterschool sports activities. (Which outrages me, but that's another post sometime.) In any case, I'm wondering if any other DCUMs use Sport and Health or the Y not just as individuals but also more broadly for family fitness? The Bethesda Sport and Health seems to have swimming lessons as well as programs in tennis and other sports; I suspect the Y has similar programs but I can't get anyone to respond to an email yet. Right now my husband and I work out individually at Fitness First and like it just fine for our purposes, but if we could find a place that our kids could enjoy as well, we might go more often and that would benefit us as well as our son. Thanks for any advice!

[Anonymous]

why not just go for hikes on the weekend or out for a bike ride as a family? I think that does more in terms of promoting a healthy lifestyle for kids versus making it so intentional by going to the gym. There are also various classes offered through the county. I am in Fairfax county and there are all sorts of activites for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why not just go for hikes on the weekend or out for a bike ride as a family? I think that does more in terms of promoting a healthy lifestyle for kids versus making it so intentional by going to the gym. There are also various classes offered through the county. I am in Fairfax county and there are all sorts of activites for kids.

+1. We're in Arlington and the Parks and Rec Dept has millions of classes at very reasonable prices. Have each child pick one active class per season.

Sign up as a family for some 5K walks and do some training walks.

Bike rides are a fabulous idea.

Visit a local climbing wall place every now and then.

Outside hikes at places like Sugarloaf or the Billy Goat Trail.

Give everyone a pedometer. Minimum activity goal for adults is 10,000 steps per day. For kids, I think it's something like 15,000. Monetary or other prize at the end of the month for the family member with the most steps. This would work if you have a competitive family.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the suggestion but we're not the hiking types, and with FT jobs and kids who have a wide gap in their ages and capabilities, we need solutions that give us lots of flexibility and year-round options, but also build in more sports exposure to our older child than the one weekend basketball or soccer league they already participate in.

[Anonymous]

We found a place for tae kwon do where we take classes individually (for kids/adults) and (1-2x/week) together (parent/child).

[Anonymous]

Gym memberships are a waste of money. If your family is not active now, a membership will not change that

[Anonymous]

I would start small and then once everyone is participating -- look into joining a family-type gym. Why not walk together before or after dinner? That's not hiking. Take simple trips around the neighborhood. Invite friends, neighbors to join you . Take it from there.

[Anonymous]

Agree w previous advise. Get over yourself and Go on a hike in rcp, which is prob 5 min drive from your house. Stretch a little- mentally I mean. I took family there today and it was great!

[Anonymous]

Life Time Fitness has wonderful children's programs. It's another gym worth considering if there's one close to you and you want to go the gym route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am determined to get my family of 4 more active, and am considering moving from membership at Fitness First to Sport and Health. The primary motivation would be getting us all a bit more active, but especiallly finding an environment in which our third grade boy could get a bit more fit. He's a big kid who has gained weight over the past 2 years, and unfortunately his MCPS elementary offers absolutely nothing in the way of afterschool sports activities. (Which outrages me, but that's another post sometime.) In any case, I'm wondering if any other DCUMs use Sport and Health or the Y not just as individuals but also more broadly for family fitness? The Bethesda Sport and Health seems to have swimming lessons as well as programs in tennis and other sports; I suspect the Y has similar programs but I can't get anyone to respond to an email yet. Right now my husband and I work out individually at Fitness First and like it just fine for our purposes, but if we could find a place that our kids could enjoy as well, we might go more often and that would benefit us as well as our son. Thanks for any advice!

Why do you send your overweight child to such an afterschool program?

There are hoards of fitness based after school care, in particular Martial Arts. Fitness should not be a "weekend" activity, but a part of daily life. In addition to your child learning how to spell and do long division, he needs to learn that movement is daily.

A fitness based after care is much cheaper than diabetes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the suggestion but we're not the hiking types, and with FT jobs and kids who have a wide gap in their ages and capabilities, we need solutions that give us lots of flexibility and year-round options, but also build in more sports exposure to our older child than the one weekend basketball or soccer league they already participate in.

Let me guess, the children are getting big like mom and dad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gym memberships are a waste of money. If your family is not active now, a membership will not change that

This.

Going some place to exercise once or twice a week won't make your family more active. Active is a lifestyle choice. It's saying that even after a long day at work you want to go out for a walk, do Zumba, put in an excercise DVD, etc. It means that on the long weekends the idea of a miles long hike on one of the days is a natural choice your family makes and enjoys.

[Anonymous]

You might want to consider Lifetime Fitness which is a gym chain that markets itself to the whole family. There's one in Rockville, although I have no personal experience with it. Kids yoga might also be a good way to get your kid moving.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with some of the posters. I believe having access to a nice gym or health club with activities for the whole family will encourage the family to be more active. I live in NOVA and unfortunately I don't know of any gmys/ fitness clubs close by with activities for the whole family. In two other states my family and I have lived in, there were very nice YMCAs and university based fitness center with activities for everyone including nice, clean, pools, youth sports, child care/ teen care rooms with physical activities while adults work out. I have not find anything comparable to our previous locations. If you can find a club for the whole family, I say go for it!!