Developing a fitness-friendly lifestyle is a work in progress. Small steps mean small victories that move you in the right direction and add up in the long run. Take advantage of the next six weeks to travel along that road with a fun program developed by Kaboose's fitness expert, Cathy Moxley. Learn how to make your exercise routine stick, once and for all !

Week One Activity

Take stock: Take a closer look at your family's unique situation and think about what's going to make this time different from previous get-fit attempts. You are the expert at what is going to work for your family, so it's crucial to invest some time and thought into finding out what your goals are and what success for you and your family would look like.

• Write it down: Start by sitting down with the family and writing a few sentences that describe what you're looking to achieve – more energy, a healthier heart or family fun time together. What's it going to look like and feel like when you're living a fit lifestyle?
• Identify what's different: Next, list all of the reasons, large and small, why this is important to your family. Put an asterisk next to the reasons that are really going to motivate you to make this change. These are the items you'll want to keep front and center on your brain. Be specific: generic reasons don't work as well as personally compelling ones, so put on those thinking caps.
• Walk, dance, relay race! How about doing two family fitness activities this week above and beyond your normal habits? Write them down and commit to them. Nothing fancy this week – try activities like putting on some music and dancing in the family room, having relay races in the basement, or taking a walk together if the weather is nice. Aim for two 20-minute sessions of whichever activity you select. (I'm going to ask you about it next week, so do your best!)
  
   

Good luck with your goals for this week. Remember little things do add up – soon you'll be well on your way!

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Get more exercise ideas in our 20-Minute Park Workout and Stretching guide. Plus, get tips on finding time to exercise.