What do you do for Exercise

[TripkeHughes]

I posted this on another tread....but here is good too...
What do you do for exercise? And what do you do with your children. My dh and I were runners, cyclers and hikers before ds, but now it seems much harder to do it all. We manage to run a few times a week (on a good week, wink). What about the rest of you?

[Missgrl]

I'm with you on all you said!!!! I love doing aerobics....LOVE IT! After the birth on #1 I got back into it really good. Then i got pg with #2 and was pretty much on bed rest the whole time. After his birth it took me awhile, but I got back into it. But now me and dh did some job changes and now I don't get to go anymore. I miss it terribly! So for now I try to stay as active as I can. We have weights at home that I try to do 4 times a week. As for the cardio part....that's the part that is suffering! I haven'g figured out how to get back into that without my family life suffering. I don't like to leave to go exercise, but in the suburban life you can't go out and bike or hike! It sucks! That's why we are looking to move within a few years to a place we can do that!!! Hopefully, what i'm doing now will be enough until then.

[lisamarie]

LOVE TO WORKOUT!

I have been taking a step-aerobics class for the past 4 years and have gotten great results from it, but recently have wanted a change. I also walk/run/jog.

I'm just going to join the YMCA. I have also taken a Pilates class a few times and love it. They have on-site child care, but my ds is in school part-time, so I won't need it very often. Plus my parents live close by. My ds (who is 5), now imitates me by doing "his exercises". Its a good thing, I feel, to model for your kids. Good health and wellbeing.

[dfoy]

I love to workout, too! With a new baby, that has put a little bit of a challenge into getting my daily workout, especially since I also work full time. My dh and I love to run, bike and hike together but since the baby, we don't go together for anything but a short hike.

I do have a 17 yo daughter that helps out. She watches the baby (time permitting...she is very busy with her activities, academics, work and social life!!!) while I go workout after work and on weekends. On days when she's not able, I put the baby in the swing, face her towards me and she really gets a kick out of watching me do yoga! I don't get as much in (about 30-40 min) but at least it's something!

I have yoga tapes, pilates tapes, the NYC Ballet workout and abs, buns & arms tapes. I rotate through those after I've gotten in at least 30 min of yoga.

Happy workouts!

[ladylee]

I've made adjustments as well...

But I stick to a daily routine of either yoga, hiking w/the mountain stroller, weight training, pilates, and whatever fitness tapes I have around. I'm happy with Denise Austin's workout on Lifetime in the am--she's not really my style, but it's convenient.

~lee

[TripkeHughes]

Hey Woman... I ran my first race since ds. Every year we run a local Thanksgiving race called the Turkey Trot. This year I was only hoping to finish the 2 miler, but come yesterday morning I felt great and ran the 8K. I finished and feel wonderful. You go ladies!

[stClaire]

I love to go to the YMCA and check baby-Belle into the "baby place" as she calls it ...she loves going there as much as me. I do free wieghts and the cross trainer or i take a yoga class. It gives me time to un-focus and re-energize myself. I also like to go for long fast walks, love to run but it hurts my feet and ankles lately.

The only dilemna in my excersize life is when i need to take *both* children. DS hates going so on most days i go w/out him when hes in school, but my schedules changed and if i don't take him i don't get to go.

[Amulet]

Finding time alone!!

This thread is encouraging!! I'm just starting to try and get my body back together after 2 kids. I was a qualified weights instructor and also rowed pretty much everyday and did a lot of cycling before dd (now 3 1/2), then moved to ireland and had no childcare and no money for the gym so went to pieces then pregnant again and moved house 3 times, now in Switzerland SAHM and youngest is 18m, they don't stay with people at all - go to pieces and howl which I find hard, also gym is too expensive, rowing too far away. Just started to do some floor exercises in the morning which is ok if the kids stay infront of the video I've put on, if they see me they are just clambouring all over and I can do nothing. Have also started doing a little childrens yoga with dd when ds is asleep, she loves that. How do you all find time/childcare to excercise?

[Mami_Mala]

Not a workout person

Bt I try to do yoga a few times a week and I always dance on the weekends, whether that be at homne with friends or out in a club.


My four year old loves to do yoga with me and she always asks me to teach her to dance. As a single mom, time to myself is a rare thing....

Peace

[apmum2two]

Jogging Mama

Jogging is so fun for me. When my first son was a few weeks old my husband used to meet us at the gym and hang out with him in the parking lot as I ran on the treadmill for 20 mins or so. (I'm still so thankful for those months)

After that we bought a jogger stroller and I ran with him during the day. Now that we have two children, I use a "double jogger stroller." (As a shower gift I asked for money to buy it and got one from Costco Online)

Anyhow. I find that anytime I'm feeling blue, I load the kids up, pack snacks, books, water bottles, toys etc. put the rain-shield on (we live in the Northwest ) and go for a run. It's amazing how exercise changes my outlook on things.

I think I'm hooked.

[TripkeHughes]

I should be going out there now but I am freeeezzing in my house and just want to drink hot coco and surf the boards. What is up with that? I should really be out there.

[mamarain]

We live up in the mountains, so even the walk to the mailbox is a good one !! Doing yoga is both physical and mental exercise for me, but it only really started working around the time dd was 6 months old. Now i do it when she's napping, and thet means i have to be on that mat when she's in bed and not here on the computer, otherwise she'll pull my hair when i'm on the headstand or keeps poking and pushing me. And i need that time just for myself - in order to be fully present with her the rest of the day.
But now with the winter around the corner i notice my energy levels dropping and have a hard time adjusting my practice.. Yes, TripkeHughes, i'm drinking my hot (soy)coco as i speak!

[zealsmom]

-Tae Kwon Do (1x/week)
-Softball (1x/week)
-Running back and forth from home and work all day to nurse Zeal
-Yoga/breathing meditations (as often as possible but not often enough)
-Long walks in parks, through markets and around delhi sights (as often as possible with zeal and daddy)

[lil' love]

I rotate my routine but most often I walk about 3 miles. At low tide, I love to walk on the beach and my jogging stoller rolls on the sand nice and easy!
Sometime I rollerblade, ride my bike, or go for a jog. I try to do a little of each so that I don't get bored.
However, I find that I enjoy exercising more now then ever. It is so nice to have this hour to myself. Even if my daughter is with me, she usually is sleeping and my thought can drift away.

[LukesMum]

I walk for 30 min. 6 days a week --ds usually is having breakfast with daddy

Yoga -5x a week 30-60 min. I teach yoga at the "Y" so I get paid to practice (yeah) ds goes to childwatch and is not crazy about it yet.....hoping this will improve.

Before ds I ran, was a personal trainer, taught Pilates..++ now I am just maintaining 8lb less than before I was pregnant and am just too exhausted to do anymore!!

[wren]

I'm feeling rather inspired by all you active mamas! I am usually pretty active, and I LOVE to exercise. Lately, I've been "too busy".

My favorite means is Middle Eastern Dance. I have one class a week and I try to practice for at least 1/2 hr, 3 x/week in addition. At the very least, I try to maintain a general body conditioning routine 5 x/week (15 minutes in the morning). If circumstances were ideal, I'd substitute 1 or 2 of those 15 min. workouts with the full 45 minute one. Alas, as of late, that has been just a dream (or memory from pre-cub days...)

The best part of dance is that, unless he insists I sit and watch him, DS likes to dance with me. And, the 15 minute workouts can be squeezed in anywhere... if I try.

wren

[Elizabeth]

This is a great thread! I have just started to exercise for the first time in my life. I have to say that I love it. I do 35 minutes of cardio 4 times a week followed by weights. I am addicted to the elliptical machine, I could stay on it forever. I have been working out for abou 5 weeks now and I am starting to see resuls. Plus, I feel great!

[Cranberry]

Now that the weather is warming up, I am trying to walk 3-4 times a week with ds in the stroller. I would like to start doing some low-impact aerobics too. I bought a yoga tape months ago but haven't done it yet! I find it hard to get motivated to exercise...

I also love to dance!

[shematrix]

Aerobics, yoga, walking, playing on the trampoline with my oldest, going to the park with my kids. Once the water warms up, we'll be swimming a lot.

I've just recently started back being active again. I feel so much better after I have gotten in some exercise

[USAmma]

I so far have not had time for an excercise class (or money). I sometimes try a yoga video but dd likes to climb on me. Ever try to do downward dog with a toddler using your legs like a slide? Or the inverted bridge with her crawling in and out underneath you? lol!

I try to get out the stroller and walk but that gets boring sometimes. Last year I bought a bike seat at a yard sale. It's a good one with a full frame around it. I put it on our bike, got us both helmets, and we fly! Dd says "weeee" and then falls asleep after 15 minutes most of the time. We ride to library lap-sit and sometimes to the mall to their indoor playground. It might get too hot to ride during the day soon, but mornings are still good.

Darshani