(our 14-year-old daughter, who stays fit through ballet)
For too many years, I put everything else in my life - building a website, homeschooling, being a mommy, home projects - above my health. It's ridiculous, really, that many of us moms don't take the time to stay healthy. We want to give our children an amazing childhood, and how can we do that if we are not healthy?
As part of getting my health back in 2012, I'm keeping track of what I eat and learning more about calorie input and calorie output. In order to keep my calorie intake balanced with my output, I've realized that I have to actually move more (gasp!).
I don't want our children to have to think about exercise as consciously as I must. I would rather they move without realizing they're doing anything special. We encourage active play at our house by keeping things here and there, from the Wii to the horseshoe pit, and from the kayaks to the Kinect. One son plays basketball in the front yard every day, our daughters take dance lessons, and all three of the older kids jog a mile now and then. As a family, we go on walks, canoe, or play the Kinect or Wii.
Last week, our daughter helped me think of yet another way to exercise together. She and her friend, who has a new camera, wanted to go on a photo shoot with me. Without even thinking of it as exercise, I walked a few miles that evening while snapping photos around the bay, up the cliff, into town, and around the fountain. It was the most pleasurable exercise a girl could have, and while enjoying the company of two young teens.
This week, I learned about Together Counts, a nationwide program inspiring active and healthy living. The purpose of the Together Counts campaign is to get more families eating and being active together, balancing the calories we consume with the calories we burn. The fun part is that we can join the Together Counts campaign to keep track of our progress.
The Together Counts coalition brings together more than 195 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and insurance companies, trade associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and professional sports organizations.
How to Join Together Counts (& me!):
You'll find more information at Together Counts , including how to join the pledge (their blog has some great tips!).
How to Enter to Win Some Great Prizes:
Together Counts is holding a fun sweepstakes on their Together Counts Facebook page to celebrate their first anniversary. Prizes include gift cards, George Foreman Grills and a membership to Anytime Fitness.
How to Enter for More Prizes (while having fun tweeting!)
Please join me and Together Counts as we celebrate Child Nutrition Month at a Twitter party on 4/3 from 8-9 PM EST. Prizes include $50 same-as-cash gift cards. For more information and to RSVP, visit the Together Counts Twitter Party page.
Other Places to Find Together Counts:
Follow Together Counts on Twitter and Pinterest.
Let me know if you join us, so I can look for you on the Together Counts map! How does your family creatively exercise?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Together Counts and the Global Influence Network. The opinions and text are all mine.
