A Guest Post By Sarah Forgrave
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When people find out I recently became a certified fitness instructor, I think they assume I’ve been a fitness junkie my whole life. Y’know, as in kicking the tail off other girls in P.E. or slurping protein shakes and pumping steroids.
Not so.
I’m just a normal mom who had to work like crazy to get these 20 pounds of baby weight off and who understands how hard the demands of motherhood can be on the body. And then there’s the whole time factor. As in, moms of young kids have none.
When I decided to make my health a top priority, I discovered I had more time to exercise than I originally thought. Here are some suggestions that I hope inspire you to get moving while still being the mommy you long to be.
1) Find a gym that offers quality childcare. Fitness classes are my favorite way to work out because they offer variety every week, and I challenge myself more when I’m around peers. By going to gyms that offer excellent childcare, my kids enjoy the chance to play with other kids and I enjoy the break for some Mommy Time. Win-win!
2) Buy Mommy-friendly DVDs. If you can’t get out of the house, try these options: Leisa Hart’s FitMama (both the prenatal and postnatal are good) and Lindsay Brin’s Postnatal Boot Camp. Both of these DVDs split the workouts into smaller segments so moms can deal with the inevitable distractions. And both the postnatal videos provide exercise options to include your baby.
3) Walk, run, or bike with your family. This doesn’t have to be triathlon preparation. You can enjoy a walk or bike ride, but go at a slightly faster pace than normal. Or incorporate a brisk walk into the “little” things, like going from your car into the grocery store. All those bursts of energy add up to calorie burn.
4) Clean your house. Okay, I’ll admit it. This doesn’t always get done, and it definitely isn’t fun. But we all have to pick up toys on occasion and wipe the bathroom sinks. Why not scrub a little harder and burn some extra calories? You’re already sweating anyway.
5) Play with your kids. Go outside and play a game of tag. Or take them to the park and run around with them instead of sitting on a bench and watching. Get some tennis balls and rackets and play pee-wee tennis in your driveway. Shoot some hoops. In other words, be a kid again. Not only will you feel better, but your kids will love sharing the time with you.
And ultimately, isn’t that our goal in reclaiming our health? Sure, we’d all love to fit in that Size 6 dress again. But at the end of the day, we want to have the energy and strength to be the best moms possible. Our kids will thank us for it.
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Category: Guest Author
Tags: exercise
