Your baby is not making you fat.
You ‘re making yourself fat.
You say you can’t workout because you have kids.
Well throw that excuse out the door.
Just because you have kids does not mean that you cannot get yourself into great shape and lose all your baby weight and then some. Here are some quick tips to get you started:
1. Think of working out as part of your daily routine. No babysitter, no problem. No gym membership, no problem. That is why strollers were invented.
2. Make working out part of your child’s routine as well. If they know that every morning they are going in the jogging stroller for a run with mommy they will not fight it. They will look forward to it
3. Set the ground rules. Make it known to your child that it is mommy’s time.
Allow them to bring two things with them, a snack and a toy. If your child throws it out of the stroller, pick it up once. If they do it again, do not give it back. They will get the picture.
4. Get going first thing in the morning or right when you get home from work. The longer you stay at home and let them watch television or play with their toys the harder it is going to be to get them in the stroller.
5. Sure you might not be able to workout exactly the way you did before you had kids but any workout is better than no workout. Besides you are burning extra calories pushing your child in the stroller.
6. So you don’t run. Go power walking with the stroller. Or walk to the park and use the play equipment for a workout routine. Get on the swing, hold your abs tight and pump those legs. Do lunges on the platform or pull-ups on the monkey bars. Your child will be having fun at the park and you will be burning calories.
7. Call other mom’s. You are more likely to stick your schedule if you make a date. Not only will you have a partner but your child will have a playmate as well.
So next time you tell yourself that you can’t workout because you have kids, think again. Stand up, and get yourself out the door. You will feel better about yourself that you did.
Katie Valdes, MS, RD and mom of 2.
