The warmer weather of spring has a way of making us realize that the season of winter holiday feasts is past and summer swimsuit season is quickly approaching. We start pondering ways to get more exercise into our weeks.
However, finding time to exercise when you have little ones at home can be a challenge. There are so many demands on our time as parents; its hard to fathom taking time to get into a workout.
Some parents use childrens nap times to exercise. In my case, all I wanted to do when our darling little sleep rebels finally closed their eyes and kept them closed was join them in slumber. Even though I knew I needed exercise, giving up an opportunity to sleep was just out of the question.
My first exercise attempts with a baby involved putting our first son in a backpack and resuming some of my pre-baby hiking habits. I figured even if I didnt go as far, I still got a good workout because of the extra weight.
When our second son arrived, I put our sons in a jogging stroller and walked. Many mothers find timing this with naps works well, but I had better luck when the boys and I were all well rested.
To slip in a little extra walking, I started parking at the far ends of parking lots. I still have this habit because I skip the crowded areas close to the store, save time looking for a space, and fit in a few more steps each day.
When the kids got a little older and needed to run off some energy, all those challenging slides and climbing equipment at the park really did the trick. Joining kids in climbing and sliding can be great exercise for parents too.
As one very fit mother-of-two once told me, The best way to stay in shape is just to join the kids in what theyre doing. If they ride bikes, so do I. If they jump rope, so do I. Not only does this method contribute to family health, the shared experience is a great way to bond as well.
Of course, the weather does not always cooperate with all these outdoor strategies. For cold or rainy days, I turned to a treadmill or exercise video to fill in the gaps.
If I just have a blank wall to look at while Im on a treadmill, I do not stay on it for long. I just cant take the boredom. Consequently, I always try to have a television with a DVD player in view.
When the boys got old enough to sleep through the night, I started trying to get my workout in before they got up in the morning. Sometimes I made it all the way to the shower before they roused. Other times they appeared shortly after I got started.
On the days the boys woke early, I started their favorite videos and let them play on the bed until I finished my workout. I jogged many miles to Blues Clues, Barney, and Sesame Street.
If you want to go to the gym or join a class, fitness facilities may offer babysitting services. Alternatively, you could hire a sitter or trade time with another parent.
When our boys reached school age, I started taking them to swim and gymnastics classes to help them develop a fit lifestyle. Once they felt comfortable with it, I started slipping away to peddle a stationary bike while they spent time in their classes.
Now the boys are old enough to let me workout in the morning without entertaining them. In addition, they have learned to make their breakfast and get their morning routines started while I fit in my last mile or set of sit ups.
It has not always been easy to wedge in exercise, but my continuing efforts have brought on benefits beyond my own health. My kids have become conscious that they too need to make exercise a priority. These days they want to know when Ill be done working out so that they can use the equipment.
