Fitness for Kids + Workout Gear

Let’s talk fitness for kids! First, I’ll give you a little background. I was a personal trainer for a couple years when I lived in Arizona. Honestly I loved that job, like LOVED it. I taught 4 classes per day, 3 days a week for up to 40 women. I had ladies driving 30+ minutes to come workout in “The Garage”.

You would think with fitness being such a big part of my life that it would have rubbed off on my older girls. It didn’t. There were a couple of years I would trick everyone to come to the track with me and run/walking lunges, etc. Once we were there, they loved it! It was getting them there that was the issue. They just wanted to be at home on an iPad, watching a movie, etc. I think this is a common problem among kids nowadays and a contributing factor into childhood obesity.

I read a report recently showing 1 in 5 children (ages 6-19) are obese in the United States.  A poor diet, too much time indoors, lack of knowledge and habits created by parents all factor into this issue. As a parent, you have to be so very careful how you talk to your kids about food, exercise and their bodies. You don’t want to give them a complex or have them feel like you don’t think they are good enough.

The way I see it, my girls are already exposed to body shaming and comparisons. It’s everywhere around them! From social media, TV, school, etc. My role as their mom is to create a safe place to talk about their bodies, nutrition, and exercise. It’s also to educate them! Never to shame them, tell them to put down the fork, or give them any reason to doubt their self worth.

Here are a few ideas you can use at home:

Create nutrition challenges! Each week switch it up. Some examples are: make sure you eat breakfast every day. Eat 3 servings of green vegetables each day. 8 glasses of water. Cut out sugar for a week. No boxed foods for one week. Kitchen is closed at 7pm all week.

You can create your own.No one is forced to participate. I think it’s a good way to introduce healthy habits and by inviting the whole family to do it, no one feels like you are singling them out.

Get outside and move with your kids! Walking, riding bikes, playing catch, running, tag, jumping rope. Just move with your kids! Make it fun and the kids won’t even realize they are exercising.  In the summer I do a bootcamp with my kids. Each morning after chores I teach a quick 10-15 min workout. At first they dreaded this and now they ask for it.

I think what I’ve noticed the most as my kids get older, they pay attention.

Avery and Poppy were 7 and 8 when I was training in Arizona. They were 9 and 10 when I’d have to trick them to come to the track with me. Now they are 14 and 12 and ask me to teach them a workout or go jog with them. They remember the names of girls I taught, they remember the races I ran, they remember the nights at the track doing quarter mile lunges and racing to the finish line, always letting Goldie win;). So when you think you’re kids are not paying attention, they are.

Being a parent is overwhelming and being a kid has it’s own set of challenges. I’m just doing my best not to screw them up;) But really, let’s all try to be better today than we were yesterday.

I shared my Nike JACKET with you on Instagram story last week. I’m also wearing it here. It’s comes in 3 colors and is on sale for $80!

See outfit details below: Lisa Allen of Salty Lashes with Poppy wearing Nike, Zella, Valley Eyewear and Iviva

Lisa Allen of Salty Lashes with Poppy wearing Nike, Zella, Valley Eyewear and Iviva Lisa Allen of Salty Lashes with Poppy wearing Nike, Zella, Valley Eyewear and Iviva

NIKE JACKETLEGGINGSNIKE’SSUNGLASSES 

On Poppy: WATCH– TEESHORTSSHOES

MORE WORKOUT GEAR I LOVE: Links to products are in bold

KIDS | SPORT BRA – NIKE LEGGINGSCOLOR BLOCK LEGGINGS, 40% off –

ADIDAS TEE- ADIDAS SNEAKER, obsessed!

WOMEN | FLEECE PULLOVER LEGGINGSTANK, 40% off – ADIDAS SWEATSHIRTCAGE STRAP TANKADIDAS HOODIE ADIDAS SNEAKERSNIKE’S – CROP TOP

I decided a GIVEAWAY would be fun today for some new workout gear! It’s super easy..just follow us on both FACEBOOK and PINTEREST to enter to win a $100 gift card to Nordstrom! Giveaway ends on Friday the 17th!

WINNER OF THE NORDSTROM CARD GIVEAWAY: Samantha Evans- please email me at lashes.salty@gmail.com to claim your prize! Thanks for everyone who followed us on Pinterest and Facebook. I will be hosting exclusive giveaways on FB and Pinterest so make sure you are following along!

Thanks for taking the time to read. I really appreciate all of you.

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