Week 11: Stay moving

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Doing the same thing at the gym every week can get boring, but this week the Reneaus found another way to get active as a family and have fun at the same time.

The family walked the trail around the Parkview YMCA with Activity Coach Brian West.

"Walking on the trail was a lot better than being on a treadmill or elliptical machine. The time goes by faster and you don't have the time there telling me how much more I have to go," Mark Reneau said.

West said taking family walks is also a good way to spend time together and talk about the day.

"It was good to have family time. When you're walking together as a family you all have that same experience together so it kind of creates a bond," Amie Reneau said.

The trail was 1.66 miles and they walked it in a little more than 30 minutes.

"They all said it didn't seem that long because they talked as a family and had scenery to look at instead of a treadmill," West said.

Riley Reneau enjoyed walking in a country setting.

"I like walking in nature better than on sidewalks with buildings. It passes the time faster," Riley said. "It was fun having that family time and walking because we were getting our exercise in and didn't feel it."

After walking a few minutes to warm up the muscles, West stopped to have the family stretch to prevent cramps or pulls. They stretched again after the walk.

"I thought it was fun seeing the views and it seemed shorter than it was," Chloe Reneau said.

Hydrating is also important when exercising.

"For the average exerciser, water is fine. Drink some before starting the exercise and then every 15 to 20 minutes you should be hydrating, just a few gulps is fine," West said. "If you are feeling thirsty then you are already dehydrated, and after the activity continue to hydrate."

The family also talked about rethinking goals.

"Goals need to be adapted every few weeks or every month," West said. "If you are not seeing results, you should say, 'OK, how can I adjust to meet those goals,' and if you are meeting them and seeing benefits, then find ways to increase them to meet new goals and new levels."

Every goal should be three things: realistic, achievable, and measurable.

Amie thought it was a good idea to revisit their goals because they made them at the beginning of the program not knowing what to expect.

"It was hard to know what our goals should be so it will be helpful to see how far we have come and the progress we have made and to make realistic goals and work to achieve them," Amie said.