Fun Mom Workout

    

This was fun because it made me smile.  This was work because it made me sweat.  Let's just say it was a fun workout, a mom workout.

I suppose I'm feeling a little guilty for my lack of athletic achievement these days.  It seems all my sisters and friends are training, racing and working out but I still haven't found the time and can't even manage the amount of sleep required for such activity.

One of my sisters was thoughtful in sharing a detailed program on how to get fit, she's doing a triathalon.  I got tired just reading through the reps and responded instead with the program I've been following.  Here it is:

Wake up and nurse the baby (good calorie burning activity)
Shower as fast as you can (if you have time)
Wrap the baby on your back for resistance
Collect all the dirty laundry and carry it down two flights of stairs
Dance in the kitchen while you prepare breakfast
For added resistance you my want to also pick up a crying 30+lb toddler and bounce him on your hip
Carry one kicking screaming child up one flight of stairs to her bedroom
Run down quickly to assist the rest of the children
Repeat once or twice - until the misbehaving child calms down
Clean up kitchen - squatting as you help unload and load the dishwasher (20 lb baby still on your back)
More squats in the laundry room as you switch and fold the laundry
Rest and Nurse the baby
Take all the kids and dog to the playground - pull the wagon
For variation you could walk to the library instead and pull the wagon full of books and kids up hill
For lunch lift a 10 qt soup pot to the table - lunge over the dog
Load all the kids in the van - reach way over to buckle them in
Load a few kids in a cart and baby back on your back for grocery shopping
Push cart around gradually adding more weight
Load groceries into van - reach way over to buckle them in
Unload groceries - put them away as fast as you can before the kids start getting into them
Back down to the laundry room - more squats, less resistance this time because the baby is not napping on your back
Change crib sheets because of a nap time blow out - feel the resistance of those annoying super fitted sheet working your arms
Prepare dinner once again lunging over dog - toddler can add resistance by grabbing onto your legs
Chase all the kids to the couch for scripture reading
Drag a few up to the bath
Wrestle a chubby wet toddler into his jammies
Cool down with books and cuddles
Collapse on the carpet and leave all the dirty dishes for the next day's workout

This may vary day to day but following such a program will guarantee you back in your "normal" clothes in about six months after giving birth.  You may not look like an Athleta model or even as cool as your friends and sisters but go ahead and give yourself a break because sometimes mothering is all the workout you need............at least that is what I'm telling myself to keep from feeling guilty and instead just have fun with my kids.