Parents are busy, but they need to stay in shape too. What can they do to do this?
To celebrate the upcoming New Year, and help you get motivated, we’re highlighting ideas for real moms who are getting in shape and making it work. Exercise has not only improved these women’s health, it’s been proven to relieve stress, fight colds and make you look and feel great!
After training moms for many years I hear the same things over and over again. Every Mom (and a lot of Dads too) I know can relate to this.
I’m so exhausted and so busy I can’t find the time or energy to work out. It’s definitely a catch 22, no time = no energy and no energy and no time = no fitness. So what is there to do? Get smart, you have really go to start micro managing your time and plan when you can get your workouts in.
Jump-starting an exercise routine can be frustrating — no matter how motivated you are. Finding time can be the greatest challenge: How do you squeeze exercise in around taking care of your kids and their appointments, birthdays, and work your demands? When you do find yourself with a slice of free time, you’re likely to have a long list of things like house work vying for your attention — making it hard to justify leaving it all behind to go to the gym.
Here are some tips:
1. Find a gym or facility that has childcare, may of today’s gyms do. Before you join your gym check out the daycare facility. Some are great and some are not, some charge and some don’t, so do your homework.
2. Find another Mom in the same situation your in and trade off. You watch her kids while you work out and then switch.
3. Works out on a home elliptical trainer or do Pilates — an exercise program focusing on strength and flexibility.
4. Do your exercise in segments – Do 10 -15 minutes at a time through out the day and make sure it involves dumbbells or a resistance band.
5. Get the kids to the park and while they play you workout with a band and some dumbbells. All it takes is a 20 minute workout 3-4 times a week to see some improvement.
6. Find an early morning program (like bootcamp) and go and get back before anyone is up.
7. Don’t give up ,no matter how frustrating and slow the results might be at first it’s also what is happening on the inside that count as well as on the outside.
8. Plan your workouts in advanced and use your PDA to do it. If you don’t have something reminding you to workout, you probable won’t.
9. Buy a home gym and get it in whenever you can.
10. Go for a long walk after dropping the kids off to school and daycare. Do it right after and get it over with. Procrastination is the undoing of us all. So do it NOW!!
If you feel stuck eating what your kids are eating, you don’t have enough time and your so busy taking care of every one else, don’t have child care.
Physical fitness has been linked to everything from cancer prevention to improved mental health and energy levels. And mothers need stress relief , so regular exercise as much as anyone else — maybe even more, given the challenges of being a parent. If you’re a new mom, getting in shape will help you regain a sense of control over your body and your life. For experienced moms, exercise can mean the difference between coping and having a great day or letting everything get to you and pulling your hair out.
Allan H. Fine is a 20 years year veteran of the fitness industry; he is a Certified Fitness trainer and Certified Lifecoach. Allan writes for various newspapers, magazine and has appeared on numerous TV shows all relating to health, Wellness and Fitness.
His Websites include, http://www.fitnessbootcampscanada.com/ and http://www.executiveedge1.com/. Allan’s favorite Prograde product is EFA Icon.
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