To say we have a ton on our plate as moms is an understatement. Being responsible for a tiny human is physically and emotionally draining. The thing that seems to go the fastest, besides our patience, is our time. We have a limited amount and yet unlimited things begging for our attention.
Earlier in our wellness series we were reminded that saying no is an act of self care. Saying no to what we don’t really want so we can say yes to what we do. Exercise is one of those things that can sometimes waver between these two categories. Having a plan and realistic ways to fit it in to your day will have you saying yes more often and lead to feeling refreshed and re-energized.
Here are some ideas on how to fit in a work out 3-5 times a week and resources on free or paid plans for at home or the gym.
Plan the night before
If you know you have a crazy day, plan the night before and make sure your workout clothes, shoes, and water bottle are ready to go. If you don’t have to think about it, you are less likely to talk yourself out of it.
Get the kids outside
The biggest win for me has been getting outside on my back patio or in the yard and doing a 30 min workout while my son plays in a rice tray, water, or sand. Occasionally he’ll jump in and try to join me. Usually he can occupy himself for the half hour and then we can run around together which extends my workout just that much more.
Don’t sit when you get home
When I worked out of the house, I would come straight home, change, chug espresso and then get outside with my son. I would eat a pre-workout snack while playing with him, then jump right into a workout. Not sitting before I had my workout clothes on was the only way I did not get stuck on the couch after a long day.
Sweat while they bathe
Some of the workouts I’ll post below can be done in small spaces. If you haven’t gotten your workout in, give the kids a longer bath and sweat it out in the bathroom. They will enjoy the extra play time, and you can enjoy a nice post workout shower after they go to bed.
Ok, now for the what!
Here are some resources for a few different fitness leaders that I love because, while not all of them are moms, they seem to get the need to make fitness as efficient as possible. (I follow all of them on instagram because I love their content. The mom trainers are very honest and open about things like post-partum, problems breastfeeding, and body image challenges.)
Bodyfit By Amy – I LOVE Amy’s workouts. Most are no more than 30 minutes. Go to her website and download the workout calendar for the month and follow along with her FREE YouTube videos. She also provides prenatal workouts that are safe yet help you feel energized and toned. Definitely give her a try!
Baby Fit Gym – Kristy has put together some amazing content to help moms who suffer from diastasis recti. Her e-book is $25 and she also has a monthly online-workout group that you can join. Her blog has so much great information and her instagram always has a new challenge and great free workout content. She also has some booty bands on Amazon that you can purchase that include a free 2 week Booty Challenge.
Betty Rocker – Betty Rocker is not a mom but she is a kick-ass fitness goddess. She has a free 30 day challenge that can be done in 15 minutes a day. You can of course do more rounds but the point is, she has made fitness fit into a busy life! Her website offers so many great recipes and so much information to help you fuel your body to run at its best.
Chris Rudden – Chris was my trainer pre-baby. He motivated me and helped me reach my bodies physical potential. He has recently been featured on NBC’s The Titan Games, as a champion for athletes with disabilities. He has two e-books out that help anyone wrap their mind around the science of weight loss. I loved finally understanding macro counting and training efficiently for the optimum results. This is a great resource if you and your significant other want to train together!
But wait there’s more…Momlando chimes in with who she calls in to get a workout done.
Tone It Up – I discovered Karena and Katrina when they had a short lived Bravo series. This surprises nobody I’m sure. They are very peppy and positive but will kick your butt during a workout. If I’m short on time I do one of their eight minute workouts and it keeps me on track.
Yoga with Adriene – I love yoga but rarely make it to a studio. Adriene has so many videos that make yoga accessible to everyone. If you’ve always wanted to try yoga but have no idea where to start, she’s your girl.
Cosmic Kids Yoga – I stumbled across this a few years ago and it’s still my go-to when I realize my kiddos have too much energy too close to bedtime. It’s a yoga and mindfulness series for kiddos all themed to their favorite movies and shows. The kids love it and I get a workout in and some extra bonding time. Win win!
However you make time for you, remember it’s something you GET to do, not HAVE to do. Make exercise part of your routine and you’ll quickly realize what a positive impact it can have on your mom life.
