This Year, I have a whole list of resolutions. Of course there are the usual ones, like finally lose the 20 pounds that seems to have permanently taken residency around my waist, eat smart and exercise each day. The more I thought about the changes I wanted to make for me, I realized that as a family we could use a make-over. All of us could do with a little more exercise. My kids play a variety of sports and sometimes while they are at their practices I will walk around the fields for exercise. But I want this year to be about us taking the time to exercise together. The first two days we went on a walk around the neighborhood. Then the boredom set in of doing the same routine. So this mom set out to find a new place to go to get our exercise together.
So welcome to the first edition of "A mom and six kids exercise adventures".
The plan: to set out each week to find one new, fun place to exercise together as a family
The goal: to show my children that exercising as a family can be an adventure and just between you and me....to personally work on losing some of those 20 pounds I'm looking to lose.
Exercise Adventure #1
I am really committed to doing this, but after a long day at work I was starting to waiver on my commitment to do this. But I am not giving up on this. So I loaded up the car and headed right down the street to a park that I pass ever single day but have never been on. We went to Guyte P. McCord Park...located right across from my favorite street...Blythe Street. The kids hoped out of the car and took off. I am still amazed that places like this are hidden all over Tallahassee. We did a little pre-exercise warm up in the huge grassy area surrounding the park. Of course with kids, our warm-up consisted of rolling down the hill and a quick game of freeze tag. Then it was time to head down the trail. If you are a short-distance runner like me, this is the perfect place to start. The trail is fairly short, but just long enough to leave you a little winded making you feel as if you are really doing something. We took off down the trail and it was beautiful. There is a little pond you run around, which the kids loved because there was a sign that said look out for alligators. And about half-way through the trail there is a sign that lists the types of birds you might see on your walk. Included are cards that the kids could take along with them to help them identify some of the birds they were seeing. When you are done, you return them to the stand for the next hikers. It was a really nice touch.
After our run/walk/skip along the path, we returned to the green, grassy area for post-exercise cool down which consisted of another round of freeze tag and a few rolls down the hill. While they were doing that, I took the opportunity to run up and down the hill, my version of running steps. Nothing makes you want to work harder to be healthier for your children than when you see them laughing and hear their joy. I want to be around forever to hear that sound!
As the sun was setting and we loaded up the car, I couldn't help but think that our first exercise adventure was a huge success. For me it was nice to find a fun place to take the kids that is just a few miles from my house off of Thomasville Road. If exercising is on you lists of New Year's Resolutions, grab the whole family and join us on our adventures! Hold on to your hats for the next adventure to come....we are going rock climbing without ever leaving the city!
Tags: Family, Florida, Nature, New Year's Resolution, Outdoor, Park, Resolution, Tallahassee
Blythe NewsomeBlythe Newsome is a single mother of six children ages 6,8,10,12,14 and 16. While a morning radio show host, her family was featured on an episode of the Supernanny in 2007. The reality of this single mom who spends her days getting GI Joes out of the toilet, explaining to her girls that you can not cut your hair like you do your Barbie’s, convincing herself that ketchup on a hotdog counts as a vegetable and letting America see what hides underneath her couch cushions made her family one of “America’s Most Asked About Families” from the show according to producers. ABC came back to film the 100th episode which aired in March 2010. When not playing the role of nurse, teacher, chef, referee, taxi driver, coach, or housekeeper, she writes a syndicated column called Flirting with Forty.
“As a Tallahassee native, I am passionate about this city, raising my children here and I am always searching for new adventures for us. When people think about a vacation, this is the place to come. The city is rich in history, annual events and provides people of all ages with something to do”. Each week Blythe and her children will share with you the stories and pictures of the adventures that are waiting for you in Tallahassee!
