There are a lot of good thoughts here already. I can only reiterate some of them. I agree that you can't make them do anything and need to be careful in how you encourage them. I think that short (and slow) walks are the place to start. I think it would be nice if you asked them to join you walking. If there's someplace scenic or interesting, it might provide a good excuse. If you can bring up the health issue gently and lovingly, like wanting them around for a long time and for grandkids may strike a chord. If you can get them walking a little, maybe observing a race that has a walk option would be neat. Many 5K walks have people out for a good time or to support a good cause and who finish in 45 min to an hour or more. Seeing these folks might provide some incentive to join them. If you could get them to go for regular walks (they don't need to be long or fast), you would have done a lot for them. Assuming you could get them to that stage, perhaps you could, while walking with them, suggest they jog slowly with you to the next telephone pole (or any other thing that looks so close that it would have to be easy to do). If they develop an interest, C25K has worked well for a lot of people. Again, regular walking would be great as would biking, tennis, or any other regular exercise. I agree with those who have mentioned the great support available here. I also agree that it could be intimidating. Introducing them to the boomers with selected threads or posts might work. Perhaps you could find some examples of boomers mentioning how they've gone from nothing to something significant and with big health benefits. Perhaps you could find examples of boomers encouraging people who are starting out. As a personal note, I started running in my mid 50s and am still going at age 63. Before I got started, I can remember trying to jog down the street and only lasting one minute. Last summer, I survived a slow marathon. Best of luck.

TomS

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http://This message has been edited by tselbs (edited Apr-11-2007).

I'm 45 and have a 24 year old daughter. So, I think I can give you some insight.

Face it. If they're not motivated, they are not motivated. It has to come from within. They're smokers, they are not healthy eaters, they aren't exercising at all right now. You cannot change that.

A few years ago, I joined Curves because I wanted to tone up and lose some weight. It did a little, but not much. Last year, my doctor used the menopause word on me. At that point, I looked at myself and realized that I wanted the second half of my life to be healthier. I joined Weight Watchers and a gym and started really focusing on losing weight and getting fit.

In January, I knew I needed to step it up, so I started the Couch to 5K program. I'm the kid who couldn't run a single lap around the track in high school, but 1-1/2 weeks ago I finished up C25K with a 3.25 mile run. I've been on such a high because of it. I can do something at 45 that I couldn't do at 24.

That said, I was active and fit in my twenties. I went to the gym regularly and I did a lot of dancing and took long walks with my little girl. I couldn't imagine ever not being healthy and fit. But, life sometimes gets in the way of getting enough exercise. My decision to resume exercising and to start running had to come from me. I had to make a decision to do it. I had to commit the time to doing it regularly. I had to have the support of my husband to look after our 11 year old son while I exercised. But, I knew how good it would make me feel, so I did it.

Now, if your parents have never been regular exercisers and they have never paid attention to good nutrition, you are probably not going to change them. Even worse, the harder you try, the more they'll think you're a pain in the butt. They most likely see what you are doing as something for young people, not for middle-aged folks like them.

Keep doing what you are doing for yourself. Maybe someday, they'll have an epiphany and join you on the road to health and fitness. In the meantime, love them for themselves.

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Sandi