I'm trying to fit exercise in to my daily routine, but it's really hard. Between chores and homeschooling and just trying to enjoy my children, I don't get too much time for myself, and when I do, I tend to want to take a breather, just relax a minute, you know? I've been able to do a bit with my free weights here and there, but I forget a lot, so I need to look up some good exercises to do with them. We have Comcast and I've fooled around with some of their On Demand exercise videos, but I'm super uncoordinated.. anything with a rhythm or complicated movement is difficult for me. Especially since I've also got the rugrats underfoot.
We're thinking of joining the Y when we get our tax refund. There are a zillion other things we should do with the money, but I think that this is important. I know it will be hard to actually get to the gym, but I'm hoping that having a bunch of good equipment waiting for me will motivate me. I just have to decide whether I want to get up super early and go before Doug goes to work, or whether I want to drag myself out when he gets home.
Anyone have some good tips on exercising with little kids around?
12 comments:
I love the Y. I miss my Aquafit - we're not members anymore as there isn't one near where we live, but we were for a long time and it was worth every penny.
They also have programs for low income families, you might want to look into that - as well - some have childminding on site for a small fee - like $3/hr and the kids love it. The other option is if you join as a family, while the kids are in their program, you can do the treadmill or swim or a circuit of the weights.
I hope it works out for you. When my kids were little the thing I did was put them in a Fisher Price wagon and go for picnics in the park. I'd walk to a park that was as far as I could go and then we'd have a light lunch, the kids would run themselves ragged, I'd pull them home and they'd usually be ready for a nap or at least quiet time by then, so I could do an exercise video alone. Sometimes I would get them to do it with me - we would end up laughing more than exercising, but it was fun and was at least some movement on my part.
Hi, I just "dropped by" to give you an "atta gal". One thing I remember about counting points is, you will need to use all your points to lose weight. Skimping on points or undereating will not help you lose weight ~ that's what I was told at WW. I would hate to see you go through all this and only lose a little bit!!!!!
I know how hard it is to exercise, especially with little ones around. To expend a little energy, and even break a sweat, try playing "inchworm" - that is, place your hands on the floor, raise your behind, and stand up on your toes...walk around the room...encourage the children to "walk" that way to pick up their toys. When all toys have been picked up, reverse posture so the front of you so you look like a spider or a crab, and walk around the room. Perhaps your children would like this "exercise game" and join you!
Enz has good ideas, I like those. When my daughter was young it WAS hard to fit exercise in. I do know that it is very important, too, and good for the children to observe. I belong to a gym and now my daughter exercises occasionally with me, she's 15.
Hi,
I've been using the weight watchers points food list for some time, and I think your blog is great also. I study wellness and fitness in college. Newer studies show that as long as you get 30-40 minutes of cardio in per day, it doesn't matter how you do it. Which means you can break it up. The studies show it works even at only 2-3 minutes a time. Watch tv at night? run in place or do jumping jacks, or whatever you like during commercials. Do this for an hour of tv and you have almost all your needed cardio. Just remember, you can break it up as much as you want. So while the kids are energetic do jumping jacks with them for three mintues! that is 10% of your needed cardio. I hope this helps. I have started doing the break up of my cardio, and it has really helped with my weightloss!
good luck.
HI! I know exactly what you mean and how you feel. :) Your blog has given me some extra motivation to get moving myself and to push myself. My daughter is 2 and will not let me exercise without her all over me. I've found that our Cox Ondemand offers exercise TV and they have walk away the punds or whatever it's called... and I found that does work with my daughter around... i just use it a little differently, like chase her around the kitchen when she's getting too much. At least I know how far I'm walking and it's motivation to keep going. Good luck and keep up the good work.
That can be a tough one! I don't know how old your kids are, if they're young you can do little things with them like playing airplane, or dancing. If you do it for long enough, you really can start to sweat it up!
My best suggestions though are swapping babysitting - find someone in your area who wants to work out too and trade babysitting so you can get that time in. Lots of gyms also have childcare, and if you go several times a week it's often a pretty good deal.
Wow, thanks for all the great advice everyone!
I think that for working out at the Y, my husband and I will have to trade off. My boys might do okay in childcare (they're 5 and 3), but the baby is too young for that. I don't think she'd tolerate a friend watching her, either.
When it gets warmer out, I know exercising will be easier.. I can just plunk the boys in the double stroller and put the baby in the wrap and head off on a nice walk. It's just too cold and snowy for that right now..
I may be the worst mom ever, but I use the TV. I tell my kids (age 3 and 5) that if they want to watch Dragon Tales (or whatever)that they have to stay on the couch. I turn up my MP3 player and dance to floor exercises (kinda like Richard Simmons). After 30 min. their show is over and I've gotten a nice workout. I don't have a lot of room, but I make do. I can't afford the gym. Sometimes my kids root me on...that helps. I totally love what you are doing with this website, and your hard work. Its inspiring to me.
Oh, my 3 and 5 year old would totally be okay with me working out. It's really just the baby.. she always wants to be held, or at least have me sitting on the floor right next to her. When it was just me and the boys, we used to dance around to our favorite music.. not officially exercise, but it definitely got my heartrate up. :)
I've got a busy schedule as well but discovered a month ago I can squeeze in the gym. I'm fortunate that my work has a gym for the employees so I joined last month. My day consists of getting up at 6:30 shower, wake up daughter, breakfast, drop her off at school get to work at 8. At work I get 2 15 min breaks so I go for 2 15 min power walks. Right there I burn 140 calories =2pts. 5pm off work, pick up my daughter. Get home make dinner, dishes, homework, get her a shower, spend some time with her. She goes to bed at 8pm and then I'm off to bed. I'm lucky to have my boyfriend. He watches her when I go to the gym. I get in 60-75 mins at the gym and get home around 9:30pm. Take a shower and plop in front of the TV. Off to bed at 11pm. It's a busy schedule. Hard at first but once you start going to the gym you've got much more energy.
I work and have 2 kids and can't ever seem to fit the gym in. So I dance with my kids (5yr and 3yr old). I crank up high school musical and they love dancing around. I dance and try to mix in some aerobic moves and I wear weights around my ankle to help pump it up! You can also buy a small trapoline (walmart sells them for $20.00) and jump on that to music with your kids-good way to get them tired too!!! :)Good luck and remember - BABY STEPS!
Just walk. See if a friend or babysitter can watch the kids for 20-60 minutes or however long you think you can manage.
I don't exercise other than walking. I plan to once I lose all my extra weight in order to tone but for losing weight I find walking helps best. You don't have to run really fast or anything but if you go slow it won't do much for you. If you were to start with 20 minutes a day and eventually work up to an hour a day, you'll find the weight will melt right off.
Also, (and this is honestly the main reason I walk) you'll find you'll end up feeling a lot calmer by the time you get home. Going for a walk is a great way to get your head together, pray about anything on your mind or to simply enjoy the peace of not hearing "Mom!" every 2 seconds. Not to mention if you decide to put all 3 kids in a triple stroller, they'd love the fresh air and the stroller adds to your exercise.
Good luck!
Post a Comment