Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents

Physical activity hasn’t always been a high priority for the Jesser family.

Yet, this family of five is always on the go.

Connie, a mother of three, splits her time between family and her lawncare business. Her husband John, a self-employed cabinet maker, helps shuttle the kids to choir, basketball practice and other activities. Between the two businesses and family life, there isn’t much time left for exercising. Sound familiar?

In December, the Fort Collins family heard about a pedometer program through the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and signed up.
“The step meters have really made us more aware. We’re so much more conscious of the activity we get in a day, and it’s challenged us to do more,” says Connie Jesser. “You feel better in general.”

Because of varying schedules and different interests, the Jessers get most of their exercise on their own rather than as a group.

Twelve-year-old Cate wishes she had P.E. class more than three days a week. Her father agrees, saying a stronger emphasis in schools might translate to more active kids.

Still, Cate has found motivation: her pedometer, and knowing that even kids can be at risk for heart attack if they are inactive and overweight. To get more steps at home, she inline-skates in her dad’s workshop or pops in a CD and steps to the beat.

John, 45, gets most of his 10,000 steps a day while working. He shoots a few hoops in the garage by himself or with the kids when he can.
Connie has a desk job. She tries to pick up a few extra steps at home any way she can, including while cooking dinner.

The least eager Jesser to strap on a pedometer was 10-year-old Austin, an avid basketball player who didn’t think he needed to lose weight. (He doesn’t.) On this day, he’s proud to announce he’s taken 28,894 steps.

“He’s Mr. Active. On a bad day, he gets 18,000 steps,” says his mother.

Even 3-year-old Jill, who is too young to track her steps with a pedometer, has caught the family’s step fever. The curly-haired toddler is overheard repeating, “I need to get more steps.”

All in all, Connie and John say they haven’t had to give up much in their lifestyle to accommodate the extra steps. It was more a matter of making some readjustments.

“It’s amazing how much difference this can make if you put effort into it,” she says. “We think about (moving around) a lot more than we used to.”