Congrats to your daughter for self-motivating that day!!! Just make sure she knows it is ok to eat when she's hungry if its the right stuff. I had some weight issues back in the day and it's a slippery slope to not eating when you should (not that your daughter will do that.)
That's why I try to be cautious and never talk about her activity in terms of weight loss. But, she does have some bad eating habits which mostly surround eating junk food at night largely out of boredom, so I think this was some recognition on her part that she didn't NEED to eat but rather was bored and looking for some alternative to help with the boredom.
Hmmm...such a hard thing motivating someone, especially a teenager. I'm trying to put myself back in teenage roxy's brain and I'm being annoyed at teenage roxy already.
Running at the high school with my mom would probably be the #1 thing to scare me off because I would have been too mortified (this coming from an athlete who was still super self conscious about just about everything and I want to go back in time and shake myself because I was so dumb, but still...)
Running with my mom anywhere other than the high school I would have been 10000% more on board with.
Maybe because there's no homework right now, a pre-dinner mile here or there would be something y'all could do together just to start?
Good point about running with me at the high school. LOL Yeah, probably mortifying for her. A short run before dinner has possibilities.
Happy Birthday to your Dad and girls! I love hearing about elderly people that have kept themselves active. It's so inspiring!
And I just wanted to say I'm so sorry photo bucket is being terrible right now. That is super annoying!!
Thank you. I'm working to badmouth photobucket to anyone willing to listen to me right now. It doesn't seem like a smart business move on their part, honestly.
Also, I love how thoughtful and compassionate you are going about motivating your daughter. You are already thinking of the pitfalls of being too eager and I think just that thoughtfulness alone will help a ton! You already are doing the biggest thing which is leading by example. She sees that you are a better, happier, healthier person because of your activity level so that sinks in on so many levels. I think once the weather cools down a bit evening runs are a fantastic idea. I'm sure you want to keep the motivation she has right now going though!
I am hopeful that the example is the biggest thing that will help right now and I don't want to push her, but do want to encourage and nurture any thoughts she has about it right now. It's hard for me to rein it in.
It's good that your daughter is showing interest. I would have never desired to run at that age but I think part of that is no one in my family ran. I think it's always nice when a family has an activity they all enjoy together. I definitely understand the concerns of being too eager. I think a potential trip to Disney would be a good motivation (at least for me). Also, if she doesn't have running clothes perhaps take her to get some if she's going to keep with it. Having (cute!) running clothes made more invested in running since I wasn't as self conscious about what I wore while running. As for when to run, perhaps you guys can run together in the morning on the weekends? That way it won't be too early and it won't be too hot.
Disney is obviously a huge motivator for me.
She's dying to see Carsland, so DLR has even more appeal for her. CLOTHES!! That's a good idea.
Wow! It's been a big birthday month at your house! Happy Birthday to the teens and your dad!
It's hard to imagine 6 mile maintenance runs- you all are awesome! I think if I want to run "far," I need to phase out my 2 mile runs and get longer ones in.
Thank you! I was a little overwhelmed thinking about doing 6 mile maintenance runs, but honestly, it's not been any more difficult than doing the 4 milers.
We went to Worlds of Fun in KC in college and it's fun, but again, just missing the magic! I actually really like water parks, so I remember enjoying that part!
Yes, they still have the water park attached, although we just stuck to the amusement park side, although during the heat of the afternoon, I was thinking that water park would have felt pretty good.
14 is a tough age. I actually think 13-15 were my hardest, most moody, years at home- I was full of sass! (Still am
) I am not athletically inclined, so I think one of the most important things is a "run your race" mentality, especially since she's surrounded with other runners in the family. My older sister and I were good at VERY different things and the difference can be really hard to accept as a young person. It sounds like she's motivated (yay!), so maybe just encouraging it with little to no pressure! Good luck! (I should say.. I don't have kids yet, so my advice probably stinks ha)
I do worry that she might feel like she needs to compete or something with her sister. They are SO different from each other, so I want to be sure she isn't doing this because she thinks she needs to do it to keep up with her sister.
I think it is fantastic that your daughter is showing interest in getting more active. As a former, inactive, over-weight person (when in my teens/early 20s ) in a very active family, it took ME making the choice to pursue fitness for my own ends to really make it stick. However, just being a positive role model is a great first step...and dangling the Disney carrot, probably doesn't hurt either.
I was also very inactive and never did anything athletic in my life until I started running at the age of 48, so I absolutely know what you mean that it took ME deciding to do it before it happened. Disney carrots are great motivators though.
Yeah, that part stuck out to me too.
My mom tried to get me to take walks/run in high school and, being stubborn and hating being told what to do, I never really got into it. So if she's anything like teenage me, a hands-off approach is definitely the way to go! I think having a Disney race as a carrot is a great motivator.
See? This is why I posted this because I needed some other people to remind me that she's a 14 year old girl and that too much enthusiasm/pressure on my part would have the opposite of the desired effect.
Thanks everybody. I'll take things easy and just try to continue to encourage her or suggest some no pressure pre-dinner runs if she wants.
Rant over.
I hope I am in half as good of shape as he is when I am 93!!
I asked her what prompted that and she told me that she was getting hungry and thinking about eating and decided to run instead. She is a bit overweight, but I've always been careful when I talk to her about exercise to make it about health and wellness and not weight. Still, I was so happy. So, I talked with her the next day about maybe continuing to do this and she could even get up with me and her dad at 4:30 in the morning to run. 
Now, much as I'd love that, I know my kid and no way does she get out of bed at 4:30 AM to run. So, Chris and I spent some time this morning trying to figure out how to get her to run with us but at a time that is manageable. I also don't want to get so enthusiastic about this that we push her too much and she gives up. Not that we are intense or anything. 
