Four Tips For Keeping Your Family Fit

As a Coach there is one powerful factor that I have observed which either will contribute towards a person’s long-term success or long-term failure when making a permanent lifestyle change. That factor is the support a person receives at home from their family and friends; whether it is a boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse, partner, children or roommate, the support we receive at home is a critical component of our success.

One of my goals for a number of years has been to help my parents get and stay in shape through the Kinetix principles. Being a Kinetix Coach I thought I would have no problem persuading them to start the program and change their lifestyle habits. Boy was I wrong! Although they were convinced the program worked, they were apprehensive about starting. Their old habits were so deeply ingrained that eating six small meals a day instead of three large meals was more work than they had anticipated. The gym was also an intimidating place. Prior to Kinetix, they had only gone on short walks around the neighborhood; now I was asking them to do squats and lunges?! Their progress was slow; they seemed to be taking two steps forward and one step back. They would follow the plan for one week then revert back to their old habits the following week, get depressed and frustrated with themselves, then begin all over again. Does this pattern sound familiar? What would it take to permanently change?

That catalyst for change eventually came in the form of a medical emergency for my dad. Despite some of the efforts he made to follow the program, my dad typically follows the typical American nutrition plan of no breakfast, small lunch and dinner that would feed a family of five. After many years of following these nutrition habits with no regular exercise he quickly became overweight, accompanied by high blood pressure and cholesterol. This finally caught up with him. One evening he began experiencing severe abdominal pain that would not go away. He went to the emergency room, stabilized, and shortly after was diagnosed with Diverticulitis, which is basically an inflammation in the colon. About six weeks later he was back in the hospital; this time with an infection in the colon which resulted in the removal of about 8 inches of his colon.

After going through the surgery, my dad gained a new perspective on his health and how his daily habits either contributed to or detracted from it. This was the motivation he needed to make a change. After having recently gone through an internal Kinetix Challenge myself, I observed how life-changing it can be to set goals and really focus intently on living the Kinetix principles for 8 weeks. This inspired me to begin a Family Challenge. Not only were they interested in accomplishing their own fitness goals, but more importantly wanted to support my dad in his journey to better health.

Seeing my family come together during the Family Challenge was very inspiring, not only were they becoming more fit but their relationships seemed to be strengthening as well. They all completed BCA’s together, cooked Kinetix meals for one another, became workout partners and began eating K-Balanced meals as a family.

Here are a few things I observed during my Family Challenge that helped my family members provide support for one another:

1. Workout together: Whether it is with one partner or four, it has been proven time and time again that having a workout partner can help provide accountability, support and allows you to workout with more safety and intensity.

2. Cook together and exchange food: Let’s face it; nutrition is the most difficult part of the program to adopt into our lives long-term. Support each other by cooking meals together and exchanging different recipes you have prepared. Keep things fun and interesting!

3. Enjoy K-Balanced dinners together: This allows your friends and family to bond while enjoying a K-Balanced meal. This is also a good time for everyone to reflect on how their nutrition and workouts went that day.

4. Enjoy Free-Targets together: My family enjoyed this one! Plan a fun get-together to celebrate your hard work for the week. You deserve it.

It is very difficult to watch family members and friends struggle with poor health habits associated with weight gain, especially when you know you have the answer. However, if there is one thing I have learned through coaching, it is you can’t want it for them; they have to slowly discover it themselves. All you can do is provide guidance and support. Health is something that is so precious yet many of us take it for granted until our bodies begin failing from years of abuse, when those small habits begin adding up. I am happy to report that my dad and the rest of my family are much healthier and have grown closer after accepting a Family Challenge together. Try it with your friends and family for 8 weeks and witness the holistic change that comes along with healthier lifestyle habits! The Kinetix Community is here to support your efforts and offer any guidance you need to succeed!