What do you mamas do for exercise? - Page 2

[bluebirdiemama]

Some one I really look up to mentioned one time that two minutes of something each day can make a huge difference... so I decided to work out for 2 minutes each day. (haven't done it in a while!!! lol!) but when I did, it was right when I woke up, stretching, jumping jacks, knees up, sit ups, for how ever long I felt like it, but at least two minutes. Usually not more than 4-5. It always gave me more energy during the day, I felt better, really helped my weight.... the only thing is getting myself to do it.

[K-Mom3]

I walk a lot, even when it is cold (I've got the right gear!) because I need the outdoor light to stay sane.

Sometimes I do yoga and pilates and my funny kids sometimes get on the floor and do it with me. Even my baby, starting at like 13 months, wanted to have a blanket for her "mat" and would lay on the floor and kick her legs, trying to copy what I was doing.

My advice is to start slow. Y'know, set a goal to exercise 15 minutes, 3 times a week and gradually work up to something more.

My friend has a blog about losing post baby weight. She offers online personal training services, in case you're interested in that.

[JennTheMomma]

Now that it's been nice out we're going for walks everyday. I also do a prenatal workout in my house each day. In the summers we're outside a lot, walking, riding bike, swimming, etc.

[Harmony08]

I gave up trying to do anything without him. It just doesn't fit our life. I try to take a good 30-60 minute walk everyday though it is not always possible in the winter. I do some yoga while we play on the floor and at night when we watch TV. Ds and I dance and dance. This actually makes me quite sweaty. Ds just loves it. We also play a game where ds makes "music" with pots and pans and spoons and I dance like a buffoon. When he stops I freeze and he cackles with glee. He usually doesn't want to stop this game so it can be quite a workout

[berry987]

Just like Lindsay I am doing the 30 day Shred, too. It's so short it's fairly easy to find the time (30 min from start to finish). I do it at random times - I have a 5, 3 and 1 year old. Sometimes before my DH goes to work and the kids are with him in the kitchen, sometimes during afternoon nap for the little ones while my 5 year old watches TV.

Otherwise I try to take walks, but I can't get much of a workout with a 5 year old slowly making his way behind me. We're actually DESPERATE to move to a walkable area (we live in the burbs) so I can get everywhere by foot. I think that is the surest way to stay in shape long-term.

[catilina]

I started (a few weeks ago) working out with some friends, and it is the only thing that has been working for me since having children. Every morning (M-F) at 9 a.m. I pack up myself and the kids and we go to my friend's house. Another friend meets us there with her youngest. The kids (between the three of us there are 6 kids usually, sometimes more when one of us is watching someone else's kids!) all play together or watch a movie in an adjoining room, and we do some kind of workout video or EA Sports (I think that's what it's called? Might be EA Active or EA Fitness, can't remember) on the Wii. I don't have a Wii or any of the necessary gear (thigh strap and nunchucks) so I just follow along without being monitored. Or we do some other workout. We've been doing a lot of Jillian Michaels' No More Trouble Zones lately, and that one is a killer (for me anyway, since I am really out of shape).

But it is great because meeting up with two other women keeps me accountable so I work out even when I don't want to. I know they are expecting me, so that gets us out the door every morning at 9, no matter what. I need that, or it is too easy for me to justify myself out of it, like I have in the past. And the kids just play and have a great time (for the most part. Occasionally my baby will get in my way while I am trying to exercise but it is still the best system I have found so far.). My son looks forward to it every day and has major meltdowns when we can't make it for some reason...

I am also doing the Couch to 5K program on my own (3 days a week after working out as I already mentioned), just because I have never liked running and I want to. I just started that this week. I am doing it M, W, and F when we get home from exercising. I put my baby down for a nap and my preschooler watches a show while I run on our treadmill.

I am also going to start some classes in the evenings, once or twice a week. I used to dance (through high school and college) and I miss it, so I am looking at doing a Zumba class (for fitness) and a ballet or hip-hop class (for fun).

When the weather warms up, we do a lot of hiking and cycling, but I don't do either one consistently enough or hard enough to lose all the weight I want to and to firm up my muscles like I want to. But it helps at least keep me healthy and helps me maintain my weight, even though it doesn't help enough with weight loss.

[GoBecGo]

I bought a babyjogger and ran. I've run about 600miles pushing DD now (and i've not been running regularly for about 8 months for various reasons). I plan to do the same with #2 when DD is at nursery/school/with DH.

[MoonWillow]

Please feel free to join the other thread here.