How Do Parents Stay Fit?
I honestly did not want to write about this but the topic kept popping into my head and just wouldn’t disappear no matter what I did. People who do not have children and see other people running around like a headless chicken in order to keep up with their kids (especially those tots in their terrible twos) would probably think that being a parent would make staying fit an easier task. And why not? Expending all that energy running after one toddler (let alone 2 or more) should be enough exercise to burn away all those calories, shouldn’t it?
Unfortunately, there is more to losing weight than that. I can’t exactly explain why taking care of toddlers and losing weight do not always come together but I do know that a mom (or a dad, for that matter) may have to actually squeeze in an exercise regimen to keep fit.
This is hard, trust me. For stay home parents, it is already hard enough. For working parents, it is even harder. With work, parenting, homemaking, and other essential activities that we engage in, where do we find the time to exercise?
I suppose the answer would depend on many different factors – the children’s ages, your work schedule, your energy level, and more. I think that the bottom line is deciding that you want to exercise, that you want to make fitness one of your priorities. If this is firmly established, I am sure that you can find some time in your hectic life to exercise – even if it is only an hour a week. What do you think?
April 29th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Yes, I always thought it was hard to find time for exercise until I had a baby. Then, it seemed impossible! My hubby and I (both working parents) ended up gaining quite a bit of weight after our daughter was born. And we were already overweight to begin with.
Now, as she’s about to turn 2, we are finally turning the tide, and have lost 73 pounds between the two of us. We usually squeeze in exercise after she goes to bed. It’s hard to muster the energy, but we’re always glad we do it.
Susan at http://mrandmrsgetfit.blogspot.com
April 30th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Wow, congratulations! I admire your determination!
May 5th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
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September 24th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
73 pounds! I’m so happy for you! I’ve begun to sit at the dinner table with pilates exercise table and do some exercise after the kids are in bed. It’s really tough to get in a full blown work out, so these exercises are nice, as well as using a resistence band, can get workouts in really quickly!