You now have two weeks of family fitness under your belt. It's a great feeling, isn't it? How did you do with the Mommy and Me Boot Camp in week two? If you have any questions, join the Community Challenge Message Board. Now, onto week three.

Week Three Activity

Get past the obstacles: Even when we know how important exercise is, each workout will never be urgent . It's easy to let things like laundry, errands, homework and dishes to get in the way. When trying to get this new habit off the ground, it helps to get specific with the challenges that are unique to your family. In week one, I asked you to make a list of all of the reasons why fitness was important to your family. This week, we'll tackle the flip side: what the obstacles are and why they exist, so get out that pen and paper ready for some troubleshooting.

• Make a list all of the obstacles that keep getting in the way of exercise and try to be specific. Keep in mind that obstacles can be external (things like lack of time, equipment or content ideas) as well as internal (low priority, lack of motivation, an all-or-none mindset).
• Take each of your most significant obstacles and start listing possible strategies you could try to overcome them. Often, we skip problem solving and go right to exasperation and defeat. Not this time!
• Set up a system for putting exercise on the weekly family schedule. There's a specific time for carpool duty, play dates and homework – let's add exercise to the list! If it's written on the calendar and you treat it like any other appointment, family fitness can turn into something that's expected and valued. When and where on the schedule is up to you. Toddlers and preschoolers at home? Try mid-morning. School-age children? How about an after-school ritual right after snacks and before homework? The timing doesn't matter as much as the predictability.

Here's what you do: Again, schedule in three time slots for fun family fitness. Remember, actually putting it on the calendar will increase the likelihood of success. This week's activity is called Animal Adventure. Have each child think of some of her favorite animals. Start with the whole clan lined up on one side of the room and the first person shouts out her animal and everyone mimics that animal's movement to the other side of the room and back. Before you're done, you might have hopped like bunnies, slivered like snakes, run like pumas, walked like crabs, and waddled like penguins! See how many you can come up with and let the fun begin! If you're looking for a little more, add the boot camp exercises from week two to the mix.

Results: After week three, if you've been pre-planning workouts on your calendar and getting them done, you'll have already netted eight exercises sessions beyond what you've done in the past. Way to go! You've added another 400-600 burned calories to the tally.

I hope all goes well for you in meeting your goals this week. You can do it! Talk to you next week.

Questions for Cathy? Comments? Post them in our Message Board.

Get more exercise ideas in our 20-Minute Park Workout and Stretching guide. Plus, get tips on finding time to exercise.