Fitness Tips for Busy Moms

Just this past Sunday before our adult Sunday school class, as I chatted with a friend, my normally sweet son walked into the class to ask me a question, right before he left, in front of my dear friend he started wiggling and giggling my arm, right under where a bicep muscle should be. He was amused at the way my arm wiggles compared to his “guns” ( male word for muscles). He kept saying in that taunting voice “Where are your guns mom, I can’t find them.” ( He actually is a nice kid, but at that moment I was pondering ways to damage his “guns.”). So just because I have mushy biceps does that mean I am a total fitness failure……absolutely not! When you become a mom, and get older, that standard for fitness changes…..and you do the best with what you have.

As you can see I am a typical mom with leftover baby baggage! But I also strive to be a fit mom, no I do not have 6 pack ripping abs ( ha ha ha ha ha, that is me laughing so hard at the thought of having a “six pack”), I have a mushy butt and mushy biceps, but I still work at being fit!

I ride my exercise bike, or walk several miles or when the weather is nice I ride my bike out in the country. I also stretch when I am done, and do a little work with free weights, just to keep the biceps mushy, not sagging. 🙂

I know that finding time for a work out is tough when you are a mom and have to deal with kids schedules, and exhaustion…but I am also a firm believer in fitness and thought I would offer several tips that have helped me through the years.

• When the kids were younger and we would get together with neighbors for play dates, we always walked to their homes, we never drove.
• I found a nearby park with a great walking trail, I would push one kiddo in the stroller and the other would ride his little bike with training wheels. Several times I had to carry the bike back with me on the stroller, and my son on my back as I pushed the stroller, but that was ok, it was a better workout! Attitude makes all the difference! 🙂
• I run up and down the stairs in my house alot, even when I don’t have to retrieve things, my kids think I am crazy, but a little stair running never hurts. My goal is to stay on the move whenever possible.
• Ok this is really looney, but I set a timer, and mop my floor and vacuum like a mom who drank way too much coffee! I try to set a new record each time, trust me I am often out of breath after finishing these chores!
• I hike with the kids a lot, and this has also developed in them a great love for the outdoors.
• I like to get outside to work out, and during those long walks or bike rides I often pray, listen to christian music or teachings I have downloaded to myiPod. It’s doing 2 very valuable things at one time. I have done spiritual battle many times as I am battling up a hill on my bike.
• Often while playing a game on the floor with the kids, I will do leg lifts, or stretch out as I play. My kids are now 10 and 12 and no longer think I am crazy, they are just used to it now. I always say, “something is better than nothing!”
• This is a small thing, but I usually take the stairs in office buildings I encounter, or park in a distant parking space and walk quickly to the entrance.
• Our local library has tons of exercise/yoga/pilates videos and DVD’s, I have borrowed these several times and have learned a lot with out having to pay to join a gym.
• I have never joined a gym, I just don’t want to pay the money. But if money is not an issue, gyms these days are a great way of holding you accountable, and encouraging you to stick to your routine.
• Get a pedometer, it’s a fun way to challenge yourself and count your steps. Watch out, they can get addictive if you are the competitive type!

Having an active lifestyle makes a huge difference. I build workouts into my week, but when things are busy, being active helps until you can get back to your routine.

My son is currently clamoring for me to hurry up so we can ride our bikes into our town for lunch. Sure we could drive, but the adventure of riding the 3-4 miles into town, and then biking to the park with our lunch, and biking around together is worth much more then driving to our favorite pizza place for lunch.

I Corninthians 6:19-20…..remember our bodies are temples of God’s precious holy spirit, let’s keep our temples active and fit, even if we are a bit mushy! 🙂

I am going to be participating in mamma brights fitness challenge…won’t you join me? I plan to ride my bike 200 miles this summer….wow that’s a lot of gatorade I’ll be drinking! 🙂