The Parent Work Out- How do you lose weight while raising your kids?

I'm a step mom to an 8 year-old and realized today that I get much of my exercise when hanging out/playing with my kid.  Much of what I do with her might not be considered "exercise" to those of you who have a regular work out routine but I'm burning calories all the same.  What playing exercise do you get while bonding with your kids?  Also, what can you do to squeeze in exercise while playing with them.  I know it will differ based on ages, number of kids, etc. but I'm anxious to hear and share.

The pool- I may not get much swimming in but tossing a 73 pound kid over my head and into the deep water is a great workout.  I also usually get asked to go down the slide a dozen or so times.  The slide requires walking up, like, 40 steps and then since it was one where you could sit or lie down, I learned I could squeeze in 5 or 6 situps while fighting the resistance of the slide on the way down.  Feel the burn!

Play catch- when you're teaching a little one to play ball, there are plenty of lousy throws which leads to some extra running/jogging after the ball

The playground- If the swings are sturdy enough, I sit and give my legs a good pumping work out by swinging.  When she was younger, I'd get a nice workout of my arms from pushing her.

Video games- The Wii may be popular but DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) on the play station is a favorite in our house.  I think my daughter is starting to learn I don't limit her video game time as much when we're playing DDR as opposed to the sit-on-your-butt variety of games.

Biking- no, I don't get to ride with my kid.  She's still struggling to learn to ride a 2-wheeler.  But, I get a great workout by holding her up on the bike while she pedals or running alongside while she rides!

So, be it putting on music and dancing around the room to your favorite song or infant/diaper bag juggling, what are your best ways to work out when hanging with the kiddies?

 

I've noticed that pulling/pushing my son around in a cardboard box is a very very VERY good workout.

Then, I sometimes play pretend with him and go to the "gym" where HE is the weights, then we jog in place and do jumping jacks, and it usually ends up with him showing off all his tumbling skills - and spotting him while he tries to do a cartwheel. And finally, he practices his balance by standing on my back (great massage!)

Umm... we also jump on the bed together while music is playing.

If I ever want to get some cardio done while at the park, I have him sit in the middle of a field and run away as fast as I can, then run back as fast as I can. He really gets a kick out of it! (He IS only 2, though).

That's about all I can think of to add to the list!

Call me selfish, but my kids know that mommy needs some time everyday to exercise by herself.  I used to feel guilty, but having the kids play independently for 1 hour does not make me a bad mom.  It also teaches the kids the importance of exercise.  Sometimes they even get their "exercise" clothes on and work out with me for a bit.

Original Post by jill91198:

Call me selfish, but my kids know that mommy needs some time everyday to exercise by herself. I used to feel guilty, but having the kids play independently for 1 hour does not make me a bad mom. It also teaches the kids the importance of exercise. Sometimes they even get their "exercise" clothes on and work out with me for a bit.

I wasn't implying you should ONLY work out when caring for your kids.  I was just pointing out that you can burn a surprising number of calories by playing with them and I wanted people to share in this.

School starts Tuesday and our new home is less than a mile from the school.  My step-daughter said it would be fine with her on fair weather days if I walk to pick her up.  Yay!  We're not morning people so walking in the AM isn't going to happen but a nice 1.6 mile walk in the afternoons (round trip) will be great for me.

When my oldest son (8yrs) wants piggy back rides to play "horsie" - or dinosaur, whatever he feels like riding - I make a point of going up and down the stairs quite often during the time period.  Lugging an extra 60 pounds on my back gives my legs a great extra workout!  And if we're outside, we have a really good moderately steep hill.

I love to dance with my four year old daughter - we put on some dance music and run around the dining table flailing our arms wildly in the air doing silly moves.

We also have hoola hoops that we practice with.

when the weather is nice i take her on the back of my bike and take her to kindergarten that way.

I think this is a great thread, since it's good to get tips for new "excercises" with children....

Wow, I remember all that fun stuff fondly from when my kids were littler! What a workout!

It can be even more fun when they get older. My teenage son is my walking buddy, and next week we start fencing lessons. En garde! ;)

I started working out with my son when he was a baby. While laying on the floor--I would balance him on my legs and extend and retract them. Great stomach exercise. Then we graduated into him standing in my hands while I lifted him in reverse push ups. I counted in different languages.  As he got older I called him my personal trainer to sit on my feet and help with situps...  The funniest thing was when my son was 3 the doctor asked if I got any exercise. I said "I have a 3 year old." He just didn't get it.

He is now 15. Much more fit than I am, but still likes working out with me. We've done karate and aikido together. I'm so glad to have the nice relationship I have with my teenager.

You guys have fun with those kids. It is a joy!

le3 and socioval, how wonderful to know that if you start your kids off in a healthy way, they'll keep to it later... can't wait to take my daughter to a flashdance class ;-) once she's older....