“I want to get old gracefully. I want to have good posture, I want to be healthy and be an example to my children.” -Sting

My kids love having dance parties every weekend with Just Dance 2 on the Wii, and I’ll admit that I have just as much fun as they do. It’s been a few weeks since we’ve had free time with everyone home so my daughter was especially excited this past weekend.

I don’t think we played harder or longer than usual, but man I had a hard time keeping up and was out of breath at the end of a few songs.

Who is this person that I’ve become? I danced my way through high school and college, and ran in local races before moving to Oregon. Sure, I’ve had a couple kids but I keep up with them, we go on family hikes, walks and bike rides. I eat right, most of the time.

I don’t know what happened but I don’t like it. This isn’t the healthy and fit body that I want. And this certainly isn’t the example I want to set for my kids. Leading a healthy life is important to me and I want to share that value with my children. It’s why we grow our own vegetables, fruit and herbs, why we eat healthy meals, and cook together.

Being a healthy role model for my children is just as important to me as being healthy myself. I want to take better care of myself so that I feel good and live a long, healthful life, of course. But knowing that my children are part of the first generation to face a shorter life expectancy than their parents tears at my heart. I have to set the best example possible for my kids so that they beat the odds. They may be healthy string beans today, but that might not last forever.

We are our children’s first and most important role model. Although I’ve embraced healthy eating, I’ve not done as much as I can to walk the walk when it comes to exercise, and it takes both to maintain our health.

So, I’m making a promise to me, my family and my children that starting today I take better care of myself. That means exercising 3 to 4 times each week, eating better (no more M&M’s at work!), getting to bed earlier, and finding ways to lessen the stress, like yoga.

I’m ready to make getting fit a priority and may need your help to keep me on track. I’m inspired by Alysa at Inspired RD and her daily lunges. I need to get back in the habit of reading my daily motivation from Whole Living blog. I’m going to take the back stairs at the office more often to avoid the candy bowl, and go running with my son.

It won’t be easy, but if I don’t set a healthy example for my children, who will? If I make healthy choices, they will too.

Do you think about the examples you set for your children? What helps keep you on track? I’d love to hear your tips!

They deserve healthy role models so that they can buck the odds!