Family Fitness

Healthy kids: The importance of child nutrition and exercise

Kori Ellis — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0700

As parents, part of our job is to instill healthy habits in our children from the time they are young. Talk about healthy foods, prepare nutritious meals and snacks, and incorporate regular exercise into your daily family routine to help kids develop habits that last a lifetime.

Eat, move, nurture: Raising healthy kids

Kori Ellis — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:00:00 -0800

By encouraging healthy eating and exercise habits, supplying structure and consistency and offering a lot of love, we all can hope to raise happy and healthy children.

Top New Year's resolutions for families

Kori Ellis — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0800

Don't make unrealistic New Year's resolutions that you'll break before you know it. Instead, make some new commitments as a family to spend more time together, argue less and stay active.

Fitting in fitness this fall

SheKnows Parenting Editors — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:00:00 -0700

With the days getting shorter and cooler and the kids back in school, chances are that your summer fitness routine isn't working for you anymore. That's OK. Fitness is a lifestyle, and you just need to change it up to fit your current needs.

Jillian Michaels dishes about fitness for moms, snacks for kids and more

Kori Ellis — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:00:00 -0700

Back in May, fitness guru Jillian Michaels announced that she adopted a 2-year-old daughter from Haiti named Lukensia, but that wasn't the only news. The same week that she brought her daughter home, Michaels' longtime partner, Heidi Rhoades, gave birth to a son — Phoenix. Now the mother to both a toddler and an infant, Michaels is finding ways to stay fit, have fun and enjoy time with her new family. We had the opportunity to talk to her about fitness, nutrition and more.

10 Active video games for the family

Michelle Maffei — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 14:00:00 -0700

Instead of joining the kids-and-video-game debate, pour your energy into getting in on the fun with exergames — family video games that you and your kids will love playing while being active, too! From exercise video games to video games for kids that will get your youngsters moving, get your game on with these 10 active video games for the family.

6 Ways to trick your family into exercising

Michelle Maffei — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:00:00 -0700

While the words "family fitness" can be dirty words to kids, getting your family moving without the resistance can be fun -- especially when they don't realize you're sneaking in exercise! From finding fun exercises for children disguised in play, to breaking a sweat and exercising with your kids, discover six ways to trick your family into exercising.

Don't let summer heat drain your workout

Molly Cerreta Smith — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:15:00 -0700

In the dead of summer, the last thing you want to do is take a long jog outside. But that's no excuse to go soggy this summer. We've got some fun and painless ways to stay fit with your kids this summer.

5 Ways to sneak in family exercise on vacation

Michelle Maffei — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:00:00 -0700

A family vacation is packed with a lot of fun, but it can also be packed with tons of extra calories. Dining out and indulging in treats is part of your vacation fun, but with these five ways to sneak in family exercise on vacation, you can still relax without worrying about tipping the scales.

Mom Blogger Face-off: Would you put your child on a diet?

Audrey McClelland — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 08:00:00 -0700

Obesity has become such an epidemic in our society that dieting is a word too many kids know about way too young. The diet game — how young is too young?

Raising strong kids, inside and out

Kori Ellis — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 01:14:00 -0700

Nutrition, exercise and self-esteem are all factors in raising strong kids. Learn how to nourish, encourage and empower your children now to help them thrive and grow into confident, healthy and strong adults.

Get Moving May! Get on the road to family fitness

Kori Ellis — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:00:00 -0700

Everyone knows that inactivity and obesity are serious problems in our country. The CDC says that fewer than two in 10 Americans get the recommended levels of exercise and more than 25 percent don't devote any time to physical activity. And unfortunately, we are passing our poor fitness habits onto our children.

How to help your tween lose weight

Kori Ellis — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0700

Childhood obesity is a dangerous and, unfortunately, a widespread problem. If your tween is suffering with his/her weight, it's important to encourage your child to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits now to avoid a host of health problems in the future.

Heart-healthy family activities

Linda Melone, CSCS — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:11:00 -0800

What do going to a zoo, hiking up a mountain and going for a bike ride all have in common? They're fun, active and the entire family can get on board. Instead of leaving the kids behind while you get in your exercise, activities done together go beyond burning calories. The key: Don't call it exercise.

Learn to exercise with your kids

Maria Mora — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:00:00 -0800

Short on time and low on inspiration? Try fun activities that get you and your kids moving together. When you’re having fun, you’re far more likely to stick with your exercise routine. Best of all, your children will learn to love being active.

How to keep kids off the couch during the holiday break

Michele Borboa, MS — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:53:00 -0800

Concern for your children’s health can peak during the holiday break, when all they do is laze around worshipping the teen trinity of cell phone, keyboard and game controller, while grabbing bags of unhealthy snacks and slurping down 32-ounce soft drinks. With more than one-third of American children overweight, how on earth do you keep your kids off the couch and get them healthy and active during the holiday break -- and hopefully jump-start a healthier new year? We asked Dr. Sejal Shah, pediatrician at Miami’s Children’s Hospital and creator of teen weight loss program Power Play, to give us parents the skinny on holiday break health. Here are Dr. Shah’s 10 tips for keeping our kids active and at a healthy weight.

Strong Women Strong Girls: Mentoring program for girls

Linda Melone, CSCS — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:06:00 -0800

Texting, playing video games and sitting in front of a computer may be fun and games, but these activities don't burn many calories. These sedentary activities contribute to childhood obesity, which has tripled over the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Obese kids are more likely to develop high cholesterol, cancer, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, for starters. Clearly, the dangers for overweight kids go beyond being able to fit into a pair of fashionable jeans. That’s why Strong Women, Strong Girls, a nationally recognized mentoring program, is on a mission to help young girls develop a healthy lifestyle.

How to hold family Olympics

Daphne Butas — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Even though today's families sometimes have a tough time squeezing in a little family time, some fun and games can still reel in even the busiest teen. Here's how to host your own family Olympics.

Fun outdoor activities for kid-friendly fitness

Michele Borboa, MS — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:58:00 -0700

Celebrate Earth Week, Screen Free Week, and the warmer weather by getting your kids outside to play – and get some exercise. These five kid-friendly activities will not only connect your kids to nature, they will also improve your kids’ strength, agility, and cardiovascular fitness while reducing their risk of childhood obesity and weight-related chronic diseases.

6 Ways to keep students healthy

Kori Ellis — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:14:00 -0700

From before the time your children are born, you worry about their health. And though we can't protect our kids from every germ or bug going around, there are ways to help keep them well when going to school. Whether your children are heading off to daycare or college, these tips can help keep students healthy.

5 Family resolutions you should make this year

Abbi Perets — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:00:00 -0800

Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is past, make some time to sit down and work on your family resolutions. From bonding time, to family fitness and giving back as a family, here are our top five suggestions for families.