Michelle Obama- Our First Lady of Family, Health and Fitness (oh and of America...)

ExerciseTV



By Laurel House

Michelle Obama is more than our First Lady; she is also actively making a statement of the importance of family and health- combined in fitness. In fact, on October 21 st at the Healthy Kids Fair on the White House lawn, she spoke to an audience of school children (plus a few adults) about the importance of exercise and how it contributes to the overall health of the family as a whole.

Sally Dinius, a mom, fitness expert and ExerciseTV blogger of CrazyBusy Mama's Get Fit Blog said "what really hit home with me was '…we want (our kids) to learn now how to lead good, healthy lifestyles so that they're not struggling to figure out how to do that when they're older.'" When this generation of parents were kids, living an active lifestyle was more natural and part of daily life, so there was less of an emphasis on healthy eating and exercise. Not so today.

This is why lots of moms, like Sally, say that "that is why I'm striving to instill in my own children good habits like eating healthy food and staying in shape," yet another reason to look up to our First Lady. "When Michelle was jumping rope and doing the hula hoop with her young guests, she set a good example for the rest of us to get fit with our kids. Don't groan! It doesn't have to be a chore or even something you have to plan." Yes, fitness can be fun and it can be part of the family.

Kathy Kaehler, celebrity fitness expert, ExerciseTV trainer, and mom of 3 boys believes that "it's great to see the First Lady being an active role model and teaching others that being fit doesn't have to be at a gym, with a trainer, or play a team sport. It can be in your yard using things that kids play with."


You and your kids can try your own quick hula hoop workout below:


Kathy suggests a few more ways to slip exercise into family bonding time including:

-Walk the dog

-Ride bikes to school together instead of drive

-Family walk after family dinner

-Frisbee toss or tag

-Take active family vacations (canoe, kayak, hike, mountain bike, or just explore by foot)

-Monster Tag (a favorite with Kathy's three boys)

-Basketball, Horse, or 2 on 2

-And of course the basics: running, climbing, hanging and jumping

Or just make up a game. Like what? Masking Tape Twists. Lay down a long strip of masking tape and hop over back and forth for a minute. One foot at a time, both feet, twist jumps, front and back, side to side. Simple, basic, free fun.

The point, Kathy explains, is that "We aren't looking for ways to be the next Olympian or win the Ms. Fitness Contest. We just need to move more to stay healthy and make people realize that our lives now are physically different. We don't have an active society so we have to find ways to add activeness in. It's important for kids to see that their parents get up and out and DO SOMETHING ACTIVE. We all are aware of our finances and adding a gym membership may not be on the list at the moment but that doesn't mean you can't be fit."

Now get out there, get fit, and you may as well have fun while you're doing it.


Click on the image to get your health and hula on with this 20 minute Hula Hoop workout from ExerciseTV.