Once you and the hubby
have made the decision that you will be a stay at home mom, maybe even
homeschooling the kids, the one thing you lament is that you simply aren’t
getting the level of activity you used to get. You see the pounds adding up and
know that it’s time to do something about it. Yes, it’s time to think about
fitness and a regular means of getting the exercise you need weekly, if not
daily. These four fitness tips should help you get up and get going. At the
very least, it’s a beginning that you can expand upon from here.
1. Never Use the Kids as an Excuse
One of the most common
excuses for not getting regular exercise is the kids. “I can’t leave them
unattended while they play, they are just toddlers after all!” Or, some mothers
say that their day is so busy with homeschooling and household chores there is
no time to even think about taking a break, let alone finding time to exercise. Rubbish!
There are always ways to fit in 45 minutes of exercise at least four
days a week and the
truth is, you are simply avoiding the inevitable. You need more exercise and
you know, it but you are not yet ready to
commit. Don’t use the kids as an excuse because everyone knows it for what it
is: an excuse. The only person you are fooling is yourself.
2. Schedule Daily Activity – With and Without the Kids
Even with little children, you can find ways to schedule daily
activity. Have you stopped to think about the importance of kids getting the
right amount of exercise as well? Schools offer Physical Education (PE) classes
for just this very reason. If your kids are young, put them in a stroller, walk
to the nearest park, and then set them loose! Run around after them playing
ball, which obviously they won’t be able to throw or catch, which sets everyone
running after that errant ball.
If they are older, put
on that Fitbit you decided to buy after reading reviews on indreviews.com and go for a quick walk together. Find a sport you
can all enjoy. Older kids may have a great laugh out of your efforts, but who
cares? At least you are all getting the exercise your bodies need to stay fit
and healthy.
3. If You Need Help Ask for It!
Sometimes stay at home
moms don’t want to bother their partner because he has taken on a greater
financial load with mom giving up her day job. If you truly can’t get
everything done, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask dad to mind the kids for 45
minutes four times a week or ask him to listen in on them if you choose to wait
until they’ve gone to sleep. Perhaps you could make a deal with him, trading
him weekends for a few evenings a week. Or, maybe he’s looking for a night out
with the guys but has been reluctant to ask. Do what you can to get the help
you need so that you have time to focus on staying fit.
4. Dance Your Way Around Household Chores
Finally, you can have
the most fun (and watch how joyful the little ones will get) when you dance
your way around household chores. Put the music on and dance your way from the
laundry hamper in the bathroom to the washer in the laundry room. Dance around
as you are dusting, picking up toys or even when sweeping or vacuuming. Before
you know it, the kids will be up dancing too and loving every moment of it. Believe it
or not, you’ve just accomplished two very important things. You are getting the
aerobic exercise you need and spending quality fun time with the kids.
So, as you can see,
there are ways to work fitness into your busy stay at home schedule. You just
have to find what works for you and stop making excuses. You owe it to your
family to stay fit and healthy, so let’s do something about it today. Get up
and get going!
Disclosure: This is a contributed post.
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