Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

[Siccaluvn]

I have a 7 month old and work full time.....I'm finding it VERY hard this time around to get my exercise in. The eating is no problem, but the energy levels and the time IS...

Yesterday I wore ankle weights all day, but that's just a minor thing, I also try to walk to all my errands around town during the work day. I need to do more though......

Just wondering how other Moms out there are working in their exercise

[lindsayanne0]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

Can you exercise over your lunch hour and then eat at the office? That's what I do. I hit the indoor pool and swim for about 40 minutes on my lunch hour. Or do you have a Wii? I like to play this in the evenings while dinner is cooking or after dinner with my daughter. We'll do like the boxing or something that requires a lot of movements and MAN is it a workout!! Or you could just take a walk over your lunch hour or a couple 15 minute walks over breaks.

[Grant]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

Just wondering how other Moms out there are working in their exercise

Hey, dads have good ideas too! I usually get my exercise in by commuting to work on my bike. I used to take the bus but biking doesn't take me much longer. It's ideal for me because I get a good work out without taking any time away from my family.

[Elizellen]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

I did see a while back that some Mums used their little ones as weights and managed to incorporate lifts into their normal playing time with them.

Dancing around holding a child is quite good exercise, or get one of those 'jogging pushchairs' if you can afford it so you can go for jogs instead of strolling round.

Even doing situps or pelvic exercises with the little'un sitting on your tummy could add resistance and be fun play too!

And when they get old enough you could get one of those dance/exercise DVD's to do at home and they could join in.

[ShannonM]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

I'm in a similar situation and I thought of incorporating a couple trips up and down the seven flights of stairs in my building during the workday. So far I haven't been able to fit it in around pumping and work obligations, but at least I'll be done with the pumping soon so that should make it easier.

[Siccaluvn]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

These are all great ideas!! WE JUST GOT A Wii for Christmas too!! I have tried it a few times, I will definitely do the boxing it looks very active!!

I do have an hour for lunch and it only takes me a few minutes to get home, since I'm the only one home at that time I usually do housework, let the dogs out, eat, then my hour is up.....I could definitely squeeze in a 20-30 minute workout of some sort and just skip the housework from time to time...and eat at my desk, I don't think anyone here at work would mind....

Yes Dads should be included too!! Thanks for pointing that out Grant, I don't have a bike and I live up a steep mountain from where I work- but my brother works at a mountain bike shop---If I had a bike I'd probably use it, I should talk to him about getting one at his discount.

Oh using the baby for weights- NICE IDEA!! Aiden loves to be held up in the air, I could bench press him LOL....and yeah we can dance around too...Im sure once he's walking in a few months I'll get a bit more exercise chasing him!!

All good ideas, thanks everyone! If i can just squeeze in 20 minutes of good exercise each day, whether its playing Wii, using my lunch break to walk or lift weights, or playing with baby, it's SOMETHING and I need to just DO IT...

Tonight, I will BOX..
;-)

OK DRINK SOME WATER NOW EVERYONE..

[Skeptika23]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

I have a similar problem - I work some pretty long hours and by the time I get home, my DH hands the baby to me, and it's her grumpiest time of the day, so then by the time I get her down for the night, I'm completely wiped out, so I go to bed early, and then the cycle starts all over again... ugh.

[imagood1]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

you can do jumping jacks, running in place, leg lifts, lunges, squats, crunches -- all take a few minutes and none require any special equipment. You can use canned goods in both hands for upper body strength - using larger cans as you become stronger. Get a piece of rope (or a cheap kids jump rope) and jump for several seconds, moving up to several minutes.

Just some things to think of.

[Siccaluvn]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

I did a crunch routine on the floor this morning, similar to one I did years ago--it worked while my 7 month old sat next to me playing...

And last night I did some boxing on the Wii, your'e not kidding, it DOES work you good!!

[cleochatra]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

Do you like to watch tv at night? You can watch television and march in place. Or do what I do and watch while walking on the treadmill or riding a stationary bike. I even treat myself to netflix and watch movies and tv series while exercising (Yay Buffy and Angel!). If I'm going to watch anyway, why not move a little bit.

[Rayjax]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

Just go do it. Make time. Get up earlier, stay up later. If you have a supportive boyfriend/husband/partner whatever it will make it easier. But ultimately its up to you to not make excuses and find the time to do it.

I may be a dad, but I'm self employed so my son is with me a lot even when I'm working. I'm up at 5am and at the gym nowadays by 5:30, eating on the way. I just had to decide to do it, and make the time to do it.

[soon2bslim]

Re: Anyone have creative ideas on how to get your exercise in???

I used to do lunges while rocking my babies to get to relax > sleep ... it was calming for them and helped me to move myself. if u have leg weights, wear them at work and do leg lifts while sitting at your desk, i used to keep a pilates kind of band at work and stretch my arm mucsles. Often i do standing leg lifts to the front, back and sides, like while i'm cutting vegetables >>>it looks kind of funny so i do it when no one else is in the kitchen ... even makeshift arm exercises work too while i'm standing and doing something else w/ my other arm.