Designing A Supplementary Exercise Regime For Busy Moms At Home

It's certainly a challenge to find time for an exercise regime as a stay-at-home parent but it's a challenge worth taking on. In fact, it's possible to turn your entire home into a home gym without a little bit of ingenuity. Below are just a handful of creative options to sneak in a workout throughout your day.

Make your kids part of your workout routine. Childhood obesity is on the rise meaning it's your responsibility as a parent to keep your kids and yourself on an exercise regime. Next time you send the kids out in the backyard to play, why not go outside and play with them? Sure you have a list of chores to do that's ten miles long - but wouldn't it be more fun and frankly, more beneficial to your relationship much less your BMI to push your kids on the swings or shoot some hoops with your teen?

Another great motivator is to slip on your workout clothes as soon as you wake up and vow not to take them off until you've worked out. This way, you're ready to squeeze in that workout time at the instant you find an opportunity - say, while the kids are watching 'Blue's Clues' or napping or better yet, you can plunk the kids into their strollers and take a stroll around the block. By wearing your workout clothes, you're also sending yourself a constant reminder that your exercise regime is a priority.

Any busy parent will tell you that no matter how hard you try, some days don't seem to present any opportunities to complete your entire exercise regime. If you can't get in a full workout, it's important to try and sneak in pieces of activity throughout your day. For example, you can park in the back of the grocery store lot and sneak in a few extra steps there. Better yet, make it a point to pick up the pace wherever you're walking. Small kids make great weights for resistance exercises like push ups and leg lifts too. Try this during their playtime. Running up and down the stairs in your house is another game you can try while waiting for the laundry to dry or a kettle to boil. Bottom line: being active will help you feel better and set an important example for your kids to follow for the rest of their lives.