I walk with my kids in the double stroller every morning as a way of adding extra fitness and steps into my day. I can partially relax my mommy brain and enjoy the sights of suburbia while fielding a handful of questions about squirrels, trash trucks, and fire hydrants.
As my oldest gets older, this has become more challenging. He no longer wants to sit still to play with his cars or snack on pretzels. Yesterday he hit his breaking point and screamed at the top of his lungs:
“I walk too mommy! I need to get my exercise!”
What can I say? He is one smart kid!
So he charmed his way out of the stroller with that key phrase and now walks with me. Since he walks at a snail’s pace and must inspect every blade of grass along the way, I have decided to do walking lunges, squats, frog jumps, and yes….even push ups during our walk.
The neighbors may point and laugh but all I can say is that mommy needs to get her exercise too!
So if you see us lunging and jumping our way through the neighborhood, feel free to join in on the fun.
Have you had to adapt a workout because of thanks to your children?
photo credit: sean dreilinger
{ 26 comments }
Great idea!
It’s funny, I’m afraid I might feel too self-conscious to do this (especially since I don’t have kids, so pushing an empty stroller and carrying on a conversation with my imaginary offspring might raise eyebrows).
But if I saw you doing it, I’d be thinking “you go girl!” And what a great example for your kids.
Crabby McSlacker’s last blog post..The buck stops… down the road a bit
lol at previous.
Well, fortunately and unfortunately, I have two 2 year olds and so getting out of the stroller means pure disaster. They have to stay in. Lucky for me, they are quite reasonable girls. My friend just yesterday told me that she tells her boys that they will walk for a little while and then after they can play on the playground. I think that is a great idea and may steal that idea.
But, how have I adapted my exercise. Well, I wasn’t exercising at all so that’s a start! And, going walking by myself is the answer. I actually don’t believe in exercising with children anymore. It was a great idea, but it’s not the same, I don’t feel as good after. I do, however, take long, long walks around our home in the city. They love those and it’s good exercise for me.
Shawn’s last blog post..Need activities for your bored kids?
Yes, this is the fall out from teaching your children how important exercise is and how HAPPY it makes you. Of course, they want a piece of that! My almost 5-yr-old McKenna has become almost OCD about it, always asking me, “Is this exercise?” “Mom, am I exercising?” Then there’s her twin, Kendall, who just wants to race and beat the pants off anyone who challenges her. I’m afraid we’ve created little monsters. For Shawn, since I’m about 3 years ahead of you, I remember those days. I’d let the girls take “walking breaks,” point out something ahead and tell them we’d have to get back in the stroller once we got there (like baby fartleks:-) But I agree, convincing yourself you’re getting a workout is hard. But Lisa is on to something, something I wish I had done. You could do push ups or jumping jacks while the kids are getting in and out of the stroller! As for my great workout adaption? Putting my bike trainer on my driveway (this doesn’t work in Minnesota winters, however;-) and riding my bike “outside” while the girls play in the front yard or ride “with me.”
Kara from Mama Sweat’s last blog post..Will there be a triathlon for me this weekend?
Oh! I always have a hard time walking with my slowpoke 7-year-old (I still put my 1-year-old in an Ergo front pack). I *never* thought of doing clever things like lunges while she’s checking out the caterpillars. Love it!
syd’s last blog post..i will survive
You are one awesome mamma! This is such a great idea, seriously! I have adapted along the way and totally make working out part of their routines. My toddler loves to run the first couple blocks with me- we race while I push my 15 month old in the stroller. She loves the race and it is a game for her. Then she is tired and jumps in and we continue on. I LOVE the idea of doing lunges or squats.
Inside, I made an exercise poster game for her to do while I do my strength training. Her lunges are hilarious and the jumping jacks. Make it fun and they will follow. Plus- I love it that my girls get to see me making it work, that exercise is just as much a part of our day as eating lunch or cleaning up. It is just what we do.
Hannah’s last blog post..Holy Crap
shawn-i know what you mean, I much prefer to exercise alone these days. (ahhh, peace and quiet!) my stroller walk workouts are just an added bonus to my day.
kara: baby fartleks–love it! thanks for the bike on the trainer in the driveway idea.
syd: do some squats with your little one in the ergo. Your legs will be having a party!
hannah-love your exercise poster idea.
as always, great ideas and suggestions from everyone, thank you!
Routines certainly do change once we have kids, huh?
Great idea to do lunges, etc., during the walk! Who cares if people laugh?
Like Shawn, I mostly exercise without my son. I thought about getting a jogging stroller and pushing him while I run but I realized I need my time alone. So, I run when my husband is there to watch my son. But, I do go on walks around the neighborhood, pushing my little guy in the stroller. I also try to sneak in squats throughout the day. I make it fun (and a weight workout) by holding my son while doing the squats, plies, and — when I’m really rolling — lunges. He laughs and laughs from all the up and down!
Felice’s last blog post..Oh, running. Why must you hurt us so?
Aww that is so cute!! Kids are adorable when they’re at the “I want to be just like you!” phase. Good thinking on doing the lunges and push ups during your walk.
Sagan’s last blog post..Links for Body Confidence and Self-Exams
again- no kids (im 21, not barren) but a client of mine always brings her 3 year old in to visit me when i have down time at work, and he always yells, “watch me do my exercises!” and does the stretches i have his mother do for her back. its the most adorable thing i have ever seen.
and then he tells me he loves me before he leaves and i melt into a little puddle.
http://www.groundedfitness.com
Every Gym’s Nightmare’s last blog post..As if You Needed Another Reason to Eat Chocolate
My two year old is only good in the stoller for about a half hour and then she is screaming to get out and “Mama, I walk too.” At that point it’s a very slow pace getting back home but it sure is nice to see the details of what she sees. It’s a whole new way of enjoying my walks.
Big Girl’s last blog post..Still A Long Way to Go
Well, I don’t have kids, so the answer would be no, but this sounds very cute. And he is definitely a smart one!
Missicat’s last blog post..Nom nom nom
Cute! If you guys lived in my neighborhood I would totally join in!
My kids are pretty good about being in the stroller. We have a double stroller/bike trainer combo and a sit-n-stand. They LOVE being on the back of the bike! But we also take them walking without the stroller, and they love to swim. It’s a lot of fun to swim with them, ’cause now we have an excuse to play and not just swim laps, lol!
I LOVE it!! How smart is your 2 year old! And for that matter, all of your children (commenters) seem to “get” it. It’s very refreshing to see that in today’s world. Kudos to all the parents!
Cynthia – Healthy Hollywood’s last blog post..How Khloe Kardashian is Dropping the Pounds
What a fabulous post! I say that because we too have a little toddler who is now 15 months old. He has been walking for weeks, and is like the energizer bunny, he never stops! (Even at night while we try to sleep!)
So while reading this, I visualized the three of you in the neighborhood, stroller at hand, your oldest inspecting bugs in a yard – and you doing push ups in the street! I thought to myself, “She has to have one strong self image to be doing that!”
Who cares what the neighbors think. Just Do It!
Paul Eilers’s last blog post..Are Multivitamins an Insurance Policy for Good Health?
I’ve had to change the time of my work outs several times!!!
KFJ’s last blog post..’80’s Fix Wednesday
I love this story (very funny). Yes, I’ve had to adapt my workout around my little 15 month old. My daughter and I do the ‘Slim in 6′ workout, when I get home from work, while my 15 year old son babysits the little one. I’m headed home now to get started!
You go girl. I’m right there with you.
Rachel’s last blog post..Taking a moment to be grateful
Well, a lot of the times, I end up working out on the elliptical trainer to Dora or Diego instead of my preference, What Not To Wear.
Luckily my girls prefer the stroller when I walk them to school, which makes it enjoyable. The grocery cart at Target, however, is another story altogether…
Slacker Mama’s last blog post..ain’t no denying that i’m her mama
My kids are runners. If there is any open space they will run in it. Malls, sidewalks, or grocery stores, it doesn’t matter.
I get a great a workout chasing them picking them up and lift the extra 40 pounds back to the cart.
Maybe I should include some lunges on the way back.
Steve @ Weightlossweapons.com’s last blog post..When Is The Best Time To Weigh Yourself
That is too cute! I need exercise too!
I hate letting the kids walk though and I know they get plenty of exercise without it.
TB–Milwaukee’s last blog post..Journaling
The latest to date has been pushing Jonny, my 6 year old, along the swim lane. I just throw a life jacket on him, get flippers and here we go doing laps. I also will have him on my back and run at the shallower end of the pool.
This is awesome. I must start doing more like this with my boys! I’m not sure about the push ups while 30 weeks preggy, but the walking I can probably do!
Steph
Adventures In Babywearing’s last blog post..5 Minutes Is All I Have
Does wearing an iPod on full blast whilst pushing the double jog stroller count as “adapting”?! It really does drown out all the whining and complaining!
In the Trenches of Mommyhood’s last blog post..Dear Diary
I wonder what Dara Torres’ 2 year old has to say? To compete at that level you have to have a lot of help that the rest of us don’t have. It is amazing that at age 41 with a two year old she is breaking records and made the Olympic swim team.
http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/18459.asp
What a brilliant work-around! I never thought of doing something like that… but I think I might be too self-conscious… oh heck, maybe I’ll give it a go during my next walk.
Susan (5 Minutes for Mom)’s last blog post..The Sampler – Mother of Boys
That’s a smart 2-year-old! He knows exactly what to say to get out of that stroller.
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