The family that exercises together...stays healthy together!

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Now that the holidays are over, it’s time for parents ― and kids ― to resume a healthy lifestyle together.
That means … exercising!

During the winter in the Albany area, that can encompass everything from walks to housework, while in the summer, the exercise can be stretched to bigger energy burners, including participatory sports such as softball, basketball, swimming and tennis.

We accept no excuses for no exercise, parents. Partaking makes us feel better ― it sparks the release of uplifting chemicals called endorphins ― and it also helps control our weight.

Adelphi University professor Stephen Virgilio, author of the book “Active Start for Healthy Kids,” told Parents magazine that “it’s never too early to start" exercising.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children and adolescents get one hour or more of physical activity each day, and that adults get at least 2½ hours a week.
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With those goals in mind, here are some family activity suggestions from Parents magazine:

• Pre- or post-dinner walks: Whether you head into town or just cruise the neighborhood, building a walk into your daily schedule ensures it won't get put off. Too cold to walk outside? Walking the stairs in your house, up and down,  and then again, is a cardio workout.
• Crank up the music and boogie down: Betsy Murphy of Coral Gables, Fla., holds disco nights with her four kids and several neighbors. She moves the furniture aside, fills the CD player with dance tunes, and lets the kids take turns using a flashlight as a strobe light. "They dance for three hours straight," Murphy said.
• Make a game out of household chores: Pretend that dust creatures are invading earth and it's up to Captain [insert child's name] to save the day by capturing them with his broom. Says registered dietitian Juliet Zuercher of Arizona: "Make believe he's one of the Rescue Heroes, and have him save his teddy bears from the slimy pit of the floor by putting them safely in his toy chest."
• Sneak workouts into other activities: If you have a toddler, have him or her walk on brief errands with you instead of riding in the stroller. That will allow you to take the stairs instead of the elevator, where needed.
• Turn TV commercials into fitness breaks: Invent silly names for simple exercises such as squats, push-ups and sit-ups, and then do them together until your show comes back on. ​