Day 12: ChaLean Extreme Challenge 

Today was day 12 of my ChaLean Extreme challenge. As has been the case all week, I had my little one working out with me. To say that has been a joy is to put it mildly. In general we think of kids as being high energy, little speed demons. Unfortunately in this day an age, many kids are more lazy and out of shape than adults. Yesterday we were in Prospect Park and I saw 3 kids, about 8-10 years old, out running.They were clearly training and I didn’t see an adult with them. They were pushing themselves on their own to achieve whatever goal they were after. I was inspired and impressed. She saw them and said “I wish I could run”. Then she rethought and added “But I ride my bike and I like that better.”

What kind of example are you setting?

Do you do what you must even when you don’t want to? Do your kids see you make choices based on the long term benefit rather than the short term feel good? Being disciplined is always hard but it’s easier if it becomes a habit as a child. This morning Miss M didn’t want to workout. I woke her up early, as she requested, but I guess that sounded better when she said it last night than it felt at 7 am. Yet after a few minutes of thought she remembered that she really wanted to workout because it’s good for her. She pushed herself out of bed and joined me, without me saying a word. She is proud of the choices she makes to be healthy because health is a family value around here. Discipline is another one. I never overtly taught her to value these things. Actions speak louder than words. We have to be disciplined with ourselves for them to learn what that word means. Far too often the conversation around discipline has to do with making them behave the way we want them too, without any thought to whether we are emulating that behavior ourselves.

In a perfect world our children would do as we say, but this is not a perfect world. Children follow our example, be it good or bad. Self care is something we have to practice for them to get it. You can’t punish them for yelling at their siblings when you are road rage personified. You can’t tell them to not drink soda and you drink liters of the poison yourself. We can not end childhood obesity by taking our kids to the park and telling them to run around. We have to be active ourselves. Depending on their age, they may or may not immediately want to participate. Like with anything else we know is good for them, we must push the issue. A friend of mine has two children when they go to the track, her daughter jogs with her while her son rides his bike. There are many options, but non-participation is NOT one of them. There is no negotiation about brushing teeth, doing homework or going to school. Being fit is a must for a healthy life. If we don’t model and teach our babies this, who will? The commercials they see while watching TV? They may whine and complain in the beginning, but getting active is a must.

There can be no capitulation when it comes to making our kids take proper care of the only body they get.

So all that said, today I pushed myself! I upped my weights went deeper and took notes to take it further next time. Some people asked why I have numbers filled in for the coming week. I do that because right after I finish my set I KNOW exactly how much heavier I need to go or if I need to stay the same. A week later my mind may play tricks on me and I will underestimate what I’m able to do. Here’s today’s weights and reps.

Would you do me a favor? Leave me a comment telling me what activity you will do with your kids this weekend to get you all moving and having fun. Thanks!!

Now I’m off to Mommy-daughter date day we are going to see Brave. 🙂

Wishing you all the best!

Ana María