Instead of starting a weight loss program for the New Year and going at it alone — an approach that can be tough to start and easy to quit — why not turn your 2012 fitness plan into a chance to connect with your neighbors?
People who exercise together hold one another accountable, says YMCA spokeswoman Cyndy Vogt in Grand Rapids, Michigan. But something subtler happens, too. “They just start talking to each other,” she says. “They start connecting with each other; really building a sense of community.”
New Year fitness made easy
When it comes to working off the pounds, company and conversation can make an hour-long run feel like a quick jog around the block.
Spread the word. Recruit neighbors for regular walks, jogs, or bike rides, and help each other tally up the miles covered and the pounds lost. Set a common goal — being ready for a 5k or a 10k by March, for instance, or fitting into pre-holiday clothes — and stick to it.
Plug in. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Meetup offer a quick means to draw in participants, drum up enthusiasm, and stay posted about your group’s plans and progress. You’ll also find myriad weight-loss and fitness trackers and calorie counters online, and many are available as smartphone applications (such as iMapMyRide for mountain biking or LoseIt).
Break bread (really!) Good nutrition means as much as your fitness plan — make healthy meals a social activity with a neighborhood potluck every other week, alternating houses and low-fat recipes that everyone can try and share.
Cut loose. A serious weight-loss regimen can still have lighthearted elements that keep neighbors involved. For example, if you’re all training for a half-marathon, come up with a team name and a T-shirt. It’s one more reason to finish out your mutual goals.
Bring the family
Children aren’t immune to holiday weight gain, and on the whole, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here are some ways to include children in on the program:
Use your own fitness goals to set an example. Make a game of every mile you log together, or play “I spy” to appreciate each street’s nature and architecture.
Try sparking friendly competition with flag football, a pickup basketball game, or a jump-rope contest to keep youngsters’ blood moving in January’s chilly weather. When children get excited about sports, says Vogt, parents do too. “Neighbors are bringing lawn chairs out,” she explains, “and people are cheering their neighborhood kids.”
If weather permits, inquire about kids’ classes, camps, clinics, or tournaments at the local golf course — ideally, one that children and teens can reach safely on foot or by bicycle. If youth programming isn’t in place, help organize a loosely structured “golf day” for little ones in the neighborhood. If you’ve found a team but need help with uniforms or equipment, Associa Supports Kids donates money annually to youth teams when one of the children lives in an Associa community.
Your 2012 fitness plan: with neighbors!
Instead of starting a weight loss program for the New Year and going at it alone — an approach that can be tough to start and easy to quit — why not turn your 2012 fitness plan into a chance to connect with your neighbors?
People who exercise together hold one another accountable, says YMCA spokeswoman Cyndy Vogt in Grand Rapids, Michigan. But something subtler happens, too. “They just start talking to each other,” she says. “They start connecting with each other; really building a sense of community.”
New Year fitness made easy
When it comes to working off the pounds, company and conversation can make an hour-long run feel like a quick jog around the block.
Bring the family
Children aren’t immune to holiday weight gain, and on the whole, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here are some ways to include children in on the program: