Keeping fit after having kids will usually take a backseat to daycare, feeding, bathing and all other aspects of parenting. However, think of it this way, if you keep going pedal to the metal without a care about your personal wellbeing, who will care for your children when you fall sick?
That being said, we’re not telling you to hit the gym every day and dump your responsibilities on your partner. Parenting is a full-time job for some but there are ways to exercise while ensuring your child is getting the care they need. Remember that you are going to leave an impression on your children and leading an active lifestyle could encourage them to do the same when they’ve grown up!
Here are some suggestions on exercises to do with your mini-you.
Shake Your Tailfeathers
Clear some space in your living room, put on your favourite tunes and have a boogie night! Involve your partner and kids and burn some calories just by dancing and expressing yourself. For a bit of extra ambience, let your kids take turns with a flashlight as a strobe light.
Go For Walks
This doesn’t matter whether your child can walk or not yet. If your child isn’t walking yet, strap them on and go for a walk to help burn calories and also promote bonding. This can also be done by pushing your child in a pram. Pushing a three-year-old in a pram is a form of weight training which can help you gain strength, lose body fat and the exercise can help improve your mood as well.
Tv commercial time = fitness time
There are opportunities to exercise even during family TV time. Every time a commercial break comes on, do simple exercises like squats, push ups and sit ups with your child. You have the option of having the child as a weight or as an exercise partner! If your child is a little too young to perform the exercises, have them hold onto you while you do push ups and also squats! This is also a great way to practice counting with your children as you sweat it out.
Designate a Day For Sports
If you and your partner both work full-time, do this on a weekend so everyone can get up and moving. Plan a day where you do something sporty outdoors such as hiking or going to the beach! Throw around a frisbee or play beach football with your kids and because it’s harder to balance on sand, it’s sure to work up a sweat. Make it a fun sporty day with a picnic right after with health finger food like veggies and hummus, salads with fruit slices and sandwiches. Remember to drink lots of water and if you’re playing outside, wear sunscreen!
References: 8fit.com; GQ; Netdoctor (UK); www.parents.com.
