I need motivational tips in order for my parents to understand exercising and doing it religiously?
- on 09.15.09
- motivational
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I grew up in a very sedentary family and my parents are becoming worse and worse in their condition everyday. I can feel the pain seeing them going back to the doctor every now and then and only making the conditions worse. I love them very much and this is my only way to help them but they always refuse for what I always teach them. Way back in 2004 I started exercising and up to this day I am still learning but there’s something missing in my life, I wanted to share the things that I’ve learned to the rest of my family especially my mom and dad. Anyone please give me any motivational tips so that they may have a clear mind and change their attitude towards exercise. It may be too late if in the long run and sitting here will do nothing. They are both senior citizens my mom 61 and dad 63. I love them very much and I just wanted to help them help themselves please give me some motivitional tips Thank You!
These is more of an emotional thing
I’ve told them wonderful stories, trying to make them understand what is right and what is wrong about their way of living without forcing them. I just wanted to help them and helping them help themselves not just through exercise but their way of thinking. I always understand that being older our body depreciates in performance. But you are right all of you guys here but this is not the end, the one thing that I want to impart to them is motivation and optimism
Well, as you probably know, all the sound advice, encouragement, and utter love in the world is not going to make someone do something if they don’t have the will to do it — many people need to be forced to take care of themselves, even though these same people tend to their cars and homes far better than they do themselves (even though these latter items are replaceable — their bodies are not).
I was having a talk with someone whose parents are both alcoholics, and she asked me what she can do to make them stop. Your cases are different, of course, but the key thing that is similar is — unless a person is compelled to change in some meaningful way (through fright of consequences, doctor’s orders, et cetera), it will be very hard to persuade that person to make the right decision.
I think, as I told her, the first really productive thing you can do — as someone who knows them very well — is to try to get inside their heads. If they don’t care about their bodies or about health generally, why don’t they? What are their priorities and why does health fall below so many other things? Like, why would someone get an oil change every 2000 miles for their car, wash it, clean the interior, change the oils, never push it too hard — but when it comes to their bodies, there is constant abuse. Why? Perhaps you can even present them with this question — you might be surprised at the answers you get.
I think that unless you start getting them to put things like this in perspective — that for some reason, they have downgraded their health in importance — they will never get it. As someone devoted to fitness, you can then begin to offer subtle suggestions — not offer it all at once, but tiny things here and there. One step at a time. Buy a bag of fresh organic apples for them and tell them you bought it for them out of love. Maybe they’ll like them — then, you buy another bag (or show them where you got it from).
Any change has to be moderately comfortable, I think, if someone has long-standing bad habits.
Again, I think it is critical you understand their psychological/emotional reasons for being unfit. I think you will then be better equipped to deal with the resistance they give to you — because you will understand where it is coming from. Good luck.
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There are two things you can try, show them articles about people their age who started exercising late in life, and how it changed their lives, my dad started doing triathlons at the age of 72. Or your other option is to accept that they really have no interest in exercising…don’t let that stop you. Maybe they will eventually come around, but you can’t force your way of life on someone else.
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I, understand what your saying. some times I feel my parents don’t listen to what I say but, your parents are old and thier body don’t work the same way we do. us teens burn more calories then aldults do. you need to take it eassy on them like yoga. don’t stress over it. my mom is 45 and I have her doing 30 sit-ups and I do about 60. I’m thin and she’s fat. Age counts alot and your parents aint active like they use to be. I know from health and from my grand parents. They will die soon but, not too soon and you have to take it eassy on them. I’m only 16 and I know. Take this advice from a girl but, don’t stress over it!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well, as you probably know, all the sound advice, encouragement, and utter love in the world is not going to make someone do something if they don’t have the will to do it — many people need to be forced to take care of themselves, even though these same people tend to their cars and homes far better than they do themselves (even though these latter items are replaceable — their bodies are not).
I was having a talk with someone whose parents are both alcoholics, and she asked me what she can do to make them stop. Your cases are different, of course, but the key thing that is similar is — unless a person is compelled to change in some meaningful way (through fright of consequences, doctor’s orders, et cetera), it will be very hard to persuade that person to make the right decision.
I think, as I told her, the first really productive thing you can do — as someone who knows them very well — is to try to get inside their heads. If they don’t care about their bodies or about health generally, why don’t they? What are their priorities and why does health fall below so many other things? Like, why would someone get an oil change every 2000 miles for their car, wash it, clean the interior, change the oils, never push it too hard — but when it comes to their bodies, there is constant abuse. Why? Perhaps you can even present them with this question — you might be surprised at the answers you get.
I think that unless you start getting them to put things like this in perspective — that for some reason, they have downgraded their health in importance — they will never get it. As someone devoted to fitness, you can then begin to offer subtle suggestions — not offer it all at once, but tiny things here and there. One step at a time. Buy a bag of fresh organic apples for them and tell them you bought it for them out of love. Maybe they’ll like them — then, you buy another bag (or show them where you got it from).
Any change has to be moderately comfortable, I think, if someone has long-standing bad habits.
Again, I think it is critical you understand their psychological/emotional reasons for being unfit. I think you will then be better equipped to deal with the resistance they give to you — because you will understand where it is coming from. Good luck.
References :
Certified personal trainer, 20 years exp.
Hi Buffman, you are such a good guy…
There is no good answer for you. If people do not want to change they wont and no one can make them. Why not set up a two night a week exercise hour in the living room. There a tapes for older people, where they are sitting in a chair and using movements and sometimes using small weights. You could also go on walks in the evening with them. I tried for yrs to convince my mom to do something and she would not do it. I told her she was either going to have a stroke, heart attack or get diabetes. She later had some routine tests and they found she had diabetes. She had that for about two years. They found that her pituitary gland was shot and had to have it removed. Do some research on the pituitary gland. It controls everything. Well, after removal, she lost 70lbs and her diabetes disappeared. Docs are just people and we need to be our own best researchers for ourselves and demand certain test be done. Most docs never check the pituitary. It is amazing. So, good luck!
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