My kids are dumbells – in the most literal sense in this case.
I’m a big fan of fun. So are my kids. And they like to play with me while I workout. So we have started doing push-ups and sit-ups together now.
Personally I get bored doing high repetitions so adding a little weight is nice. I get a better workout. Shorter. And we can do it together as a family. Fun all around.
Push-ups: With these two kids it adds up to the equivalent of about a 270 bench press. Not bad for just getting back into shape. I can do it with the two oldest as well. With him on top they bump the weight up to just under 300 lbs. I maxed out at about 340 in my hayday, so I’m getting back up there again.
Sit-ups: Tess adds about 35 lbs to my chest. As I move up the weight distribution isn’t quite that heavy, but at the bottom it is. My middle child (Savannah) can sit on my chest as well (about 70lbs). But Conner is just too big. I tried to put her on my shoulders to increase the difficulty – but that did not work too well. Oh well. Maybe in a few more weeks!
I guess te bottom line of this post is HAVE FUN. This should not be torture. Find ways to enjoy it. This is just one way for me. The kids I hope will develop a sense that exercise is enjoyable. I try to smile and talk and joke while I workout. Taken too seriously the kids will think that it is torture. I want them to grow up with a healthy respect for their bodies, but not an obsession with it or a bad attitude about it. It should just be healthy and fun.
Matthew Stearmer
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Comments
I know it is a random fine line, but refering in general to my kids as
dumbells and the joke that it implies seems funny.
Where as making it more specific to just the girls grats on my
post-neo-feminist philosophical mind set.
I know – not much difference – but something just won't let me see the
other as funny. Even though I get the joke.
Sometimes being an academic takes all the fun out of things:)
Yeah- go Matt – I have used my two boys many times for my weights. It's almost mandatory, because they can't seem to stay off of me once I start a work-out routine:)
Hi Matt, I just read your ABOUT page. I loved it, I feel like I know you and Janille so much more! You guys are very inspiring to me. I have – we have always admired you. I am so glad that we can strenghthen our friendship more. thanks
Thanks for the comments. Kids are just a lot of fun. And I think that if we
just sit back and enjoy it a little more we can not only lose some weight
but have a great time at it as well.
Thank you for the compliment. Really I just want to help others and
hopefully they can see that I'm just a regular guy that is trying to
overcome life like everyone else. And hopefully some of the things I have
learned along the way will help.
Thanks for the confidence placed in us!
This should not be torture. Find ways to enjoy it. This is just one way for me. The kids I hope will develop a sense that exercise is enjoyable. I try to smile and talk and joke while I workout
I totally agree. obsession over workouts I think generates an unhealthy relationship with it that will make it less likely for our children to want to be healthy on their own in the future. Thanks for the post.
Be Healthy – Enjoy Life!
Matthew Stearmer
I love child and kids it is developed his sense and brain, I totally agree obsession over workout where I think unhealthy relationship your child can’t generate their own future.
This is such a funny article telling the view about hoe you enjoy with your kids at the same time you were doing exercise to keep your body fit and having fun with your kids which is very interesting and funny tip who have shared
The article is very interesting its all about the exercise. The person in the video shows the push-ups and site-ups exercise to his kids. The article is nice. The had fun while watching this video.
This is great article which tells us about the Exercise and at the same time kids feel very happy while playing with his father.
So I can't help but wonder if you should use the feminine spelling “dumbelles” for your daughters in the role of work out equipment.