It is helpful if the parent can have fun with the child in the activity. Whenever a child has a parent's attention and company, that time quickly becomes a reward. A child of any age will soon pick up the parent's attitude toward exercise. The parent needs to be a good example by exercising regularly, even if it is not with the child. This will result in fewer sore muscles and a better chance to continue the program.
Some people burn more calories with their exercise than others.
This is partly related to how hard the person exercises. For example, a person who runs at a rate of seven minutes per mile burns 300 calories in 30 minutes. However, if the person runs at 11 minutes per mile, only 200 calories are burned in 30 minutes. If weight loss is one of the goals, it may be necessary to work harder or for a longer period to reach the desired goals. If the pulse is more than 160 beats per minute, the exercise has probably been too strenuous.