Fitness: Make it a family affair Double your energy, ease pain, and look fabulous! Do you like your job and love raising a family, but wis...

Fitness: Make it a family affair

Double your energy, ease pain, and look fabulous!

Do you like your job and love raising a family, but wish you have time to take up a new sport — or enjoy your old favorites? Feel frustrated because there never seems to be enough time to get out there and get your mojo moving? Here's a novel concept: Take the fam with you on your quest for exercise.

Incorporating your partner and children into an active lifestyle can be one of the biggest favors you'll do for any of you. As the American Medical Association points out, "Fitness that begins in childhood is a lifelong investment." In addition, studies show that children who are more involved in fitness at a young age tend to pursue healthier lifestyles throughout their lives.

One caution with any physically strenuous activity: Youngsters often tire, dehydrate, overheat and drop core temperature more quickly than expected. Keeping an eye to these vital signs while enjoying your conditioning time together will ensure safe and fun exercising.

With that in mind, consider one (or all) of the possible activities here as options in your pursuit of a healthier, happier family:

Let it snow, let it snow. If you have fond memories of snowball fights, sledding down crazy hills, building snowmen and igloos, then it's high time to turn your kids on to your fun of yesteryear. Hauling a sled uphill is great cardio, and building with snow can be excellent resistance training.

Children as young as six can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and you can bundle up a wee one in your baby backpack or tow him or her behind in a special sled so all can savor a winter wonderland.

Reach for the stars. One of the newest sports to sweep America is rock climbing and, conveniently enough, you don't even need a real rock to experience it. Many gyms have added climbing walls and newer gyms may be built specifically around this feature. Definitely more challenging than a Sunday stroll, climbing is a total body workout that utilizes many of the major muscle groups. Most gyms accommodate a wide range of ages; some even offer family packages and host special family days.

Flippers 'n' fins. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can't swim to your heart's content. Indoor pools abound at local recreation centers and gyms; so call around to find good family-use packages. Swimming builds stamina, general strength and cardio fitness and is very low impact for those who have had former sports injuries. Whether you're working on water ballet with your baby or brushing up on the butterfly stroke with your teen, your body will thank you for the regular workout.

Park it. Weather permitting, camping, hiking and simple scenic walks in local parks are fantastic and inexpensive ways to exercise with your kids and to teach them to appreciate Mother Nature up close and personal. Why not take adavantage of some great outdoor escapes in your neck of the woods? If you want to hit the trails together on a larger scale, many of the National parks have family programs, as do local and state park systems.

Remember, family time doesn't always have to center around the remote control. Get outside and get your blood pumping together — you may create some lasting memories as well as a lifelong habit of staying in shape.