What do you mamas do for exercise?

[voxana]

My first baby is now 9mo and I'm thinking of dropping the postpartum pounds and trying to incorporate exercise into my life on a regular basis. So now I'm wondering, how, when, and what are you mamas doing for exercise?

I'm just not sure how to fit it in.... I'm a wahm (try to), i breastfeed, and never leave ds for longer than an hour (very rare to do that even). The only chance I have to get freelance work done is during his naps and so I can't workout then. Also, when it comes to exercise I have little motivation and probably need something extra to make it appealing, like a class (so that there is a social component).

I'd love to hear how others work it into their life and also any suggestions you've got for me!

(I also posted this question in the fitness forum, but am hoping to get some more responses here.)

[lisalulu]

When I only had DS1, I would jump on the elliptical when DH got home from work. But with 2, its harder to do for some reason. Now, I just regularly walk for about 45min-1hr with them in the jogger. Between the walking and having to push around that much weight it works ok.

I know there are groups of moms that do stroller walks around the lake near me. Maybe joining something like that? Or do you have a community center near you that you could take a 1hr. class at?

[ryansma]

When the weather is nice we take nice long walks. This past summer I actually wore my rollerblades and would push them to the park by our house. Pushing two kids in the P&T's is good excercise. Now I get up early and go to the gym from 6 - 7am while the kids are still asleep.
Aren't there stroller classes? You can meet up with other moms and it's actually an excercise class but you keep your lo with you. I can't think of the name but I know I have seen ads for them.

[Heidi74]

I walk everywhere because I take public transportation to get to places, but I realize that doesn't work for everybody. Pushing a double stroller up a great big hill from our local train station, especially if it's through an inch or two of snow, is great exercise! All in all, I probably walk somewhere between forty minutes and two hours every day.

We do live in a cold climate, but have really great winter gear and a stroller that's suited for trudging through the snow. I realize not everyone does, but walking might at least be possible in the warmer months...

[GoGoGirl]

My favorite way of exercising with my baby is putting her on my back and walking up and down the flights of stairs in our apartment building. It's not fun at all...I feel like I'm trudging (compared to before kids, when I did the elipticals at the gym, and felt like I was flying.) But it works! It's more fun if I can talk my husband or my mama friend in the building to join me. Then we can talk a little between huffs and puffs. If I'm alone, I put my favorite get-my-ass-moving music on my ipod and pretend I'm all alone, even without the baby! It almost counts as alone time.

The bonus is that it always puts the baby to sleep.

[Qalliope]

I don't think it would be humanly possible to go back to 1 hr workouts like I used to get. I also WAH part-time and have a 6 yr old I'm homeschooling and a toddler.

This winter I've started to do 3-5 10 minute intense bursts of workout per day - on the total gym or running up and down the stairs or kickboxing (which my 6 yr old loves to do with me). This works great because I can cram exercise into odd breaks when I would normally be in the kitchen trying to figure out what's next in the day and likely reaching for a snack. Plus it keeps my metabolism up all day. In the spring and summer I go bike riding with the kids a couple of times a week .

[JamieCatheryn]

16lb Baby lifts, 100 reps a day
36lb Kid lifts, 10 reps a day
Vacuum lunges and floor sweeping 1-3 times a day.
45 minute walks pulling a wagon every dry day
Scrubbing mirrors, windows, walls, tables, counters
Many many bursts of run around the house, squats and lifts putting things away each day.
Tag, hide and go seek, follow the leader, and trampoline jumping

Who needs a gym membership?

[bettyjones]

Originally Posted by GoGoGirl

My favorite way of exercising with my baby is putting her on my back and walking up and down the flights of stairs in our apartment building.

The bonus is that it always puts the baby to sleep.

So funny I used to do the same thing. Put the lo in a kangaroo carrier. Worked like a charm.

When lo was 8 months I bought a jogging stroller. This helped. Now lo is 17 months. between a cold winter and illness I rarely exercise. which is not good for my mental health. exercise is a priority for my dh so after work he is goes to the gym. my gym doesnt have a childcare center but that works great for some moms.

[junipervt]

I walk a lot. I either push DD in our jogger (bob revolution) or I wear her on my back (wrap/mt/ergo).

Good for me to get exercise, good for DD to get fresh air & vit D, good for the dog

[jtbuko]

I hike with the kids and do the occasional exercise DVD from the library. I was actually in better shape when they were younger and I could jog with them in the double stroller.

[Erinz]

Originally Posted by JamieCatheryn

16lb Baby lifts, 100 reps a day
36lb Kid lifts, 10 reps a day
Vacuum lunges and floor sweeping 1-3 times a day.
45 minute walks pulling a wagon every dry day
Scrubbing mirrors, windows, walls, tables, counters
Many many bursts of run around the house, squats and lifts putting things away each day.
Tag, hide and go seek, follow the leader, and trampoline jumping

Who needs a gym membership?

who has the energy for a gym membership?

[PPK]

Running and yoga are the only things that keeps me slim. I push ds in the jogger, however, we live in a fairly warm climate. That said, when its too hot, I use a treadmill. If I had room, I'd buy one for the apt. Treadmills are one of the most boring things on the planet IMO, but it works!

I liked Bounce Back Fast program too, I bought the book on Amazon and her workout for post-partum abs is still all I use after 2.5 years, and it works great and isn't too difficult!

[mamaluvspirates]

We used our tax return one year to buy a treadmill. It's in the basement in front of the tv, so I can watch a show or a DVD or sometimes I just listen to music. It's my time and I guard it. Sometimes one of the big kids will join me, and sit on the couch to watch tv but most of the time it's just me. DH watches the toddler .

I just realized that you said you prefer a social environment...the treadmill works for me because I'm anti-social and don't like people lol.

[Rowansmama]

Do you live near a gym with a childcare option? The one I used to go to (before I was too pregnant to move, let alone workout) has onsite childcare. I drop DD there and go do my thing for an hour. Sometimes I'd use the machines, other times I'd go to a class. If you have a Y nearby, this is a great option. At first I felt guilty for dropping her there, but she's never had any issues and it's good for her to see mama taking care of herself.

Now that I don't feel like going to the gym, I get on the treadmill or do a pregnancy workout DVD. It's not social, but it's the only way I can squeeze in exercise.

[Cprem]

After my daughter was born (well a while after) I joined Stroller Strides, which a few people mentioned. A bunch of moms meet in the park with their babies and jogging strollers and we do a full work out. These work outs are tough too! Lots of strength and cardio. Plus the baby gets to spend time outside, meet other babies and you get to socialize with other moms. I really love it.

I do live in a warm climate year round, moving soon, so I'll need a new plan for winters...But either way I highly recommend it.

[just_lily]

I go to aquasize at our local indoor pool. There are evening classes so I can leave DD with DF. I can either put her to bed before I go, or else she will just hang out with Daddy. It is a lot of fun, and very social. Our pool even has Baby and Me aquasize for babies under 12 months.

[kittywitty]

I wish I had home gym equipment! I walk with the kids a lot, run in nice weather with my 9 yo, and do exercise videos with them all (sometimes if I'm lucky and they're all asleep, I do one by myself).

[becoming]

I'm doing the 30 Day Shred (a DVD you can buy pretty much anywhere -- Target, Walmart, online, etc.). It's a HARD work-out, but it only takes 20 minutes a day. After my initial 30 days, I'm planning on doing it every other day indefinitely.

Edited because I meant to add that the work-out includes strength (you use hand weights), cardio, and abs.

[mommy212]

My hubby is a personal trainer, and he made me work out until recently, when i started making up my own. he still looks over them for me and gives me tips, though. He has to motivate me to work out, and I have to motivate him to eat well, so we're kind of funny that way. I do cardio 3 days a week and strength 2 days. If it's a nice day I will take Bobo for a walk in his stroller. On cold or otherwise bad days I wait til he goes to sleep at 7-8ish and walk up and down our stairs for a while. On strength days I do a 45 minute or so long workout after he goes to sleep. I would ask my husband to watch him but he works at night and sleeps in the day so there's not as much opportunity.

[jenneology]

Babywear, long walks and breastfeeding. I did an exercise type class once a week too (Irish dance 2 years ago, and yoga right now). With that combination, I lost 60 pounds after my son was born, and I had only gained 30 with his pregnancy.