I often hear of the I have no time excuse for not working out–and I totally get it. Hey, I even almost let it get to me. But what I realized is that this new life requires some adaptation on my part.
I can still be fit–perhaps even more so than before…
So for now, I am a stay at home mom of two girls (3 years and 7 months) who are quite demanding in their own exhaustingly cute ways. However, exercise is unfortunately not a priority for them. So, I decided to wear yoga pants just about everyday. Not out of laziness or comfort, but because any given moment could be an opportunity for exercise. Gone are the days when I would train at my leisure–swim, bike, run, stretch, then head home to shower. Hope I enjoyed it while its lasted (I did). Now my exercise schedule includes hiding in my bedroom to squeeze in some push-ups.
I’ve made a decision to embrace my new, challenging schedule–and I’ve narrowed it down to 3 reasons being a fit stay at home mom is awesome…
1. All Day Exercise
So now that I’m dressed and ready to go, I’m finding opportunities for exercise all day. Luckily, kids love to play on the floor, and that just happens to be where most of my work needs to be done. Tummy time with the baby–planks! Rambunctious 3 year old–burpee time! Kids are napping–break out the weights! (Just kidding. They never nap.) The possibilities are really endless, and it has reintroduced my love for body weight exercises.
2. Boredom Buster
Without any structured routine I am surely never bored. I have key exercises that I like to perform daily, but every moment presents a different opportunity, so I’m constantly adapting exercises to best suit my environment at the moment. I crab walk around the house (with my daughter of course) and our dance parties always include some sort of plyometrics.
3. Role Model
Since I’m not leaving the kids to sneak off to the gym, they see mom constantly working out. I try to include them as much as possible and stress how fun working out is. I have built in 30 and 15 pounds weights at my disposable, and turning my workout into a game for them is a win-win for everyone.
So, my stay at home mom workout schedule is actually no schedule at all–but now I realize, that’s what makes it pretty awesome and I’m excited to move forward bringing you tips and tricks for getting it done.
Are you a fit stay at home mom? What are your strategies for staying fit? Comment below!