There’s a quote that I love by Anne Lamott.
“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining”.
It perfectly summarises how to get your kids to do stuff; particularly food and fitness based.
It’s not a quick route by any degree.
By eating lots of vegetables will lead to them eating vegetables, eventually.
Making movement part of your day, will lead to them making movement part of their day.
Add in the bonus wording of “getting” to exercise rather than “having” to and you’re on to a winner.
A friend asked me yesterday, if I train every day.
My initial answer was no. Then I realised, that I do some form of physical activity most days that would be considered exercise.
On Sundays, I go out for a bike ride with my mates. I don’t do it for the exercise, I do it to spend some time with friends. However, my heart gets pumping and we can be out for 5+ hours.
I meet a friend once per week for a walk around Coombe Abbey.
Another friend comes over to practice movement for BJJ at least 3 times per week.
Our kids see this as stuff I get to do. As a result, they want to be out on their bikes. They join me for runs by the canal.
I’ve been tempting my son in to eating broccoli by giving him the gun show, bicep posing. He eats his broccoli leaves and strikes a pose. He knows the more vegetables he eats the stronger he’ll get and he’ll be better at climbing etc.
Yesterday, Fran gave K a carrot stick as a snack. I got excited and tried to take a bite as if it was Green & Blacks Chocolate, which led to A wanting one and us all having some veggies pre-dinner.
I’m far from perfect, which will be obvious if you regularly read these messages, I do try to be an example of living an active lifestyle that inspires others to do similar.
Consistency is key.
Find something that you don’t “have” to do. Something that you enjoy for the sake of doing it rather than the perceived benefits you may get from it.
That something could be a meal you cook from scratch or a regular walk with a friend through the woods.
Simply get started.
Darren “Portland Bill” Checkley
P.S. Thank you Michelle Reid for the lighthouse picture x
