Exercising when You Have Kids

Trying to exercise when you have little ones around, or young teenagers, is a challenge in itself. Even those of you with pets (those are your children too). How many times did you try to do a push up or a plank and your cat or dog is RIGHT THERE in your face.  You gotta make sure your little ones aren't in an area where they could get hurt, they are hungry, want to play, and play, and play totally distracting you. I remember actually clocking my son in the face when he was 2 with my dumb bells doing curls. He sneaked up behind me and I didn't even know it. I felt horrible!

Then, you have your teenagers. You gotta make sure they are not in harms way, they need help with their homework, their hungry, and want to play, and play, and play their video games on the TV or tablet you are tying to use for your workouts. UGH! But there is hope. Just a few little things can make you exercise time easier, so you are still taking care of yourself and them. 

Nap Time! Hopefully your little ones are still taking naps. This is a great time. I know you would love to take a nap with them, but this is the perfect time when it is just YOU time. 25-30 minutes is all you need. If your workout is laser focused, you will get a good set in.

Take turns with your spouse. My wife and I used to do this all the time. She would watch them while I got my workout done, and then I would watch them when it was her turn. Too easy. 

Engage your kids. You are already trying to set a good example for your kids to be healthy. Let them workout with you. Get them a set of 1-2 lb dumb bells and let them pump some iron with you, or do push ups beside you, hold your feet for sit-ups, lift them up to your pull up bar before you do yours, then have some light resistance bands for them to do theirs, have them army crawl under you while you are doing a plank, or get them outside for a run.  My kids loved to work out with me from time to time and now that they are older, we all go on family runs together. 

Prep some food. Kids are home from school, you want to exercise, but you have to cook dinner, or they need a snack, or something that is distracting you related to food. Take 30-60 minutes one day and plan out what you want to cook or start it early. Make some snacks ahead of time your kids can grab out of the fridge. Look into slow cooker meals. There are thousands of recipes out there for stuff you can make ahead of time and let it cook while you get your sweat on. Or, sweet talk your spouse into cooking once or twice a week. :)

Here's the thing, the more you plan out, or at least have a system in place, the more time you will have. Plus, you will feel better and be that much closer to your health and fitness goals.