quick tips

fitting in fitness

make time to work out

While being the mother of two is the world’s greatest excuse to not exercise, my children became the main reason I started doing it. Since making a commitment to exercising regularly, I’ve discovered many creative ways to get moving and stay moving. Here are some tips that have really worked for me. A Sign up for a road race. Many races are designed for all levels, from walkers to runners. My children and I did one in which I pushed my son in a stroller and my daughter alternated between walking and running. Bonus: A lot of races benefit local charities. B Turn on the tube! Fitness channels abound on TV. Make room for your child to “work out” alongside you. Borrow exercise DVDs from the library. The Internet is another great source. C Play with your kids. Soccer, basketball, tennis, and riding bikes are great cardio options. When I coached my daughter’s kindergarten soccer team, I tried to do every practice drill with the kids. That included dribbling exercises, jumping, sprinting, relay races, and scrimmages. My heart rate always rocketed into fatburning levels, and I logged at least 4,000 steps in each 45-minute practice. D Start small. A marathon may be too much to bite off, so set small goals to start. Park as far away as possible from the store and walk the extra distance. Take a single bag of groceries in from your car, then repeat. Work in squats while you fold laundry. During TV commercials, do leg lifts, planks, or crunches. E Keep track. I received a fitness tracker as a gift two years ago, and this was a final game-changer. This wristband records daily steps, heart rate, and calorie count. The statistics have been motivating. I can also challenge friends and family members to competitions using tracker technology. ●