Mom Fitness - When You Need to Be Home

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

11 May 2006 09:16 AM

Mom fitness - and no I'm not talking about your fitness to be a mother, though it will improve your mental, emotional and physical capabilities where your children are concerned - when you are fit and trim. But most moms are so pressed for time or find their time curtailed by their responsibilities to hearth and home.

Whether you have one child or five - kids come with a lot of needs that only Mom can take care of; whether she is rushing to get to the older kids to school, the younger kids to their playgroup or laying on the floor while the 7 month old crawls all over exploring the world as defined by their living room. Moms are a busy group of people - in fact a recent survey came up with the salary moms' rate for what they do and it's six figures and growing steadily year-by-year.

So, it should hardly surprise anyone that if a Mom is doing enough work to rate a six figure salary that she isn't wallowing in empty hours that are available for a trip to the gym. That being the case, what can Moms do to maintain their fitness, reduce their stress and stay healthy?

You live in a potential gym - it's just a matter of taking advantage of what's right there at your fingertips. Here are a few ideas to give you a hand:

• You have to clean house and clean up the yard as a matter of course; turn on some lively music and make cleaning the house a cardio workout. You get a clean house, you get a neat garden and you get exercise all rolled into one. I know one mother that puts her youngest into a carrier on her back while she does the house. The baby gets a big kick out of hanging out with Mom and Mom doesn't have him underfoot while she is cleaning
• Two dumbbells and you've got about fifteen different upper body and core workouts available to you. You can pick up a good pair at Target for under $10.
• Daily calisthenics are available on a number of television fitness programs and they are free of charge to record either on your DVR, TIVO or VCR.
• Stroller fitness is a familiar rage, put the baby in the stroller and go for a walk - thirty minutes a day and your baby gets to look around, doze or play while you get some fitness in your day. A lot of babies will drowse off during the walk and it's a great way to calm down a cranky baby - leaving Mom and Child refreshed after their excursion
• Dance with your baby - put on some music and play with the little ones either by rolling around on the floor or picking them up and really dancing. Ten to fifteen minutes at a time can get your heart rate up, work your upper body and your legs (the largest muscle group in your body) toned.

Fitness doesn't mean sweating away for an hour a day in the gymnasium. It just means being creative, being active and living actively. Moms live actively as a matter of course so put Mom fitness to work for you Moms - get active and let your babies - all of them - reap the benefits along with you.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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