4 Simple ways for moms to stay in shape

Between children, house and everything else, we slowly tend to let go of things that were once important to us. One of the first things to go is exercise. Because really, which mum in her right mind would get up early in the morning to go jogging when she’d been up half the night soothing a teething baby and fighting monster under her kindergartner’s bed?

Not me that’s for sure!

There’s no denying that exercise is good for us. Forget weight loss – we’re not even going to go there. But what about staying active and fit? What about not letting our joints rust? What about not groaning when we stand up after bending down for more than 30 seconds? That last one has been plaguing me since my first born’s birth.

It didn’t take me long to realize that formal exercising was out of the question. There just wasn’t any time and frankly, no motivation either. Instead of fretting over how my body ached and how rusted it felt after the birth of my baby, I decided to think up ways to exercise my body without exercising.

How is that even possible you ask?

Take the stairs

You’ll huff and puff but after a couple of weeks you’ll do it less obviously until one day you’ll barely feel out of breath. Take the stairs at your office. Start with three floors. If you’re on a floor higher than that, take the lift from the third floor. Apply the same at your apartment building.

Going down the stairs is easier so tackle more floors when going down. Climbing up is tougher so start with what you feel is right for you. Remember, it ain’t exercise if you don’t feel a little exertion at least.

Squat

The next time you’re picking something your child dropped, squat instead of bending down. Don’t bend at your waist to pick. Lower your hips and back till you’re squatting, pick it up and straighten while keeping your back straight. Eventually your legs will stop screaming in protest when you get up after squatting.

Run

After your children, race through your grocery shopping, walk briskly at the mall (havoc for us window shoppers!) or play tag with your kids in the park when the weather permits. You’ll be out of breath and end up holding the stitch at your side, but it’ll be worth it when you end up feeling active instead of rusted after a while.

Work out with your kids

So you’ve tried everything and still feel you need to do more? Get your kids involved. While you’re walking the treadmill, ask your kids to work out with you. Hand them filled water bottles to use as dumbbells. Play a Pilate’s or Yoga dvd and get them to do it with you. Or find one especially geared towards kids and let them follow it along while you do your exercise.

How do you as insanely busy moms stay fit? Share your secrets and help us all!