Exercise

[noyoucannotcomein]

Are your teens doing any exercise?

DS15 is refusing. He's been self isolating due to symptoms, but has been allowed out since Thursday. He's been out once, for a cycle. Refusing to do anything else, or go cycling again.

I've suggested taking his football out into the (shared) garden and doing some practice/training as sent by his football coach. I've suggested a run, a walk, some YouTube exercise in the living room. I've said can he help me take up jogging once I can go out.

All met with huffing, puffing, and negativity.

He usually plays football 3 times a week and has chosen PE, so does that every day too.

I can't bear the thought of him doing absolutely nothing for months, especially since he isn't a great eater of fruit and veg.

Any ideas?

My DS sounds similar - doesn't love fruit & veg but does love a KFC!

However he has been cycling most days (there's a good 6 mile trip near us) and has actually done a YouTube exercise video with me in the kitchen although only once!

He's a slim one and loves the gym so is missing that. We have pull up bars in the kitchen and he must do 50 pull ups a day so is keeping fit that way. However I keep telling him not to skip leg day!

Ds had a bit of time adjusting to the lockdown, and going from 4 physical pe lessons and 3 gym/circuit classes a week to nothing.

We've dug the fitness gear out the loft and he's made up a circuit plan in the house. We've got weights, pull-up bar, skipping rope etc but he also does lots that don't require equipment such as situps, pressups, lunges etc. He did a good hour after 'school' today and says he feels much better for it. He also walks the dog for an hour each day which will be a few miles.

I am lucky.
My 15yo moans if I work too long hours, he wants to talk to me (or anyone, really... never stops talking).
So DS comes out for a walk or cycle ride with everyone if I go.
This problem may indicate that I am a good listener.

Total refusal to go out here. Mine was pretty fit too but can’t motivate himself.

I would stop worrying about it tbh. It would obviously be better if he did some exercise but it's not the end of the world if he doesn't for a few weeks. And putting pressure on him to do so when you're spending weeks in lock down will not be great for your relationship.

It’s tricky - even with the younger ones there is a worry about obesity and getting out of healthy habits.

He's gone out a few more times on his bike now, even taking his football for a bit of crossbar challenge at the AstroTurf. Although, I had to tell him off about that as it was obviously locked on and he climbed the fence anyway 🤦‍♀️

Thanks for the replies.

We don't have many rules in this house atm but they are:

A physical, preferably outdoor job to be done daily. So far they've washed cars, mowed the lawn and done some rubbing down and painting. Only for about an hour a day, so the painting jobs last a while or I'll run out of ideas also hoovering and bathroom cleaning when it needs doing.

An expectation that they will go out for some exercise everyday. DS1 will sometimes come for a run with me. He likes to give me a start and chase me down! But if they haven't done something independently they are expected to go for a walk with DH when he finishes work (wfh) at 4pm. Neither will admit it but they quite enjoy the chats they have in that time. If I havent run, I go too.

Everyone is doing dinner on rotation, so that at least gets them on their feet for a while and I feel that they are doing something more worthwhile than staring at screens all day.

I find it helps to tell them the expectations the night before rather than spring it on them.

I wouldn't worry, OP. It is a big shift for all of us and I think for teens it can be especially difficult. Pick your battles; this one isn't it.

One of mine has done nothing. The other has been out for a walk or run every day. That's normal for them anyway though.

Sorry, that sounded really patronising, I didn't mean it to.

I think going out on his bike for now is fine. I'm sure he will go back to exercising when life is a bit more "normal".

Total refusal to go out here.

Here too. DD has knee joint problems, and is an exercise refuser at the best of times. She doe no exercise at all when she is at home.

She did do quite a lot of walking at university because she had no choice, but now she refuses to leave the house.

@Chochito that's okay.

Since my original post, he's been out a few more times on the bike, so I'm happy with that. I'm sure if the garden was our own, he'd be out kicking his ball around most days.

Makeitgoaway - rubbing down the woodwork is bloody genius 😳. How the heck you managed I don’t know - that one is way beyond my parenting skills 😂.

14 year old here is either rowing or using my bike which is on a turbo trainer but she isn’t very keen on either. She has done a couple of you tube things.

I might buy a cross trainer next week, used to have one but downsized. DD would like to use one again - the only bit I can’t get my head round is the two of us getting it up to the second floor of the house on our own but I am sure we will manage.

MakeItGoAway
Very interested to hear how old your DC are and what happens if they don't go along with your rules (so I can follow suit with mine)

16 and 19! But I'm afraid the groundwork re "expectations" was done long ago

They just know how to be proper adults and take responsibility for themselves and their environment. How much of that is nature and what's nurture, I don't know.

Makeitgoaway we brought DD up to walk with us, but now that she has knee joint problems she absolutely refuses to walk anywhere unless she has to.