Staying active as a single person was difficult enough. Add in a husband, kids all the other stuff that comes with adulting and it can seem virtually impossible. I try to stay as active as possible for my physical and mental health, but there are days when I just can’t seem to get to the gym. (Not a shock, right moms?) Here are a few things I do to sneak fitness in to each day.
Bump the jams. Whenever we put on high BPM music, the kids can’t help but dance and it’s not long before we join them. A dance session a few songs long can be 15-20 extra minutes of cardio which could add up to ~90 calories if you’re at a weight of 125 pounds. WAY more important than that though, you will create memories for the kids (and yourself!) that are absolutely priceless. Our favorite line up? We ask Alexa to play ‘Kid’s Radio’ or ‘Kids Bop’.
Family walks. We use family walks through our neighborhood as a way to catch up with one another. I’ve written about my love of walking before, but if it’s even remotely within walking distance, I am really hesitant to drive someplace. Pro tip (that’s somewhat obvious): Walking to the grocery store has the added benefit of working your upper body as you carry groceries on the way back.
Bake it into Date Night. My first few dates with Kaare were workouts. At the time, I was training for my first half-marathon so he would run with me and together, we’d stretch at yoga. 10 years and 2 kids later sneaking exercise to our couple time is even more important. A few things to note here: If you’re like us and tend to be highly-competitive, avoid competing with one another. Instead, make sure you’re communicating during your workouts. Use this time to share updates with one another and tell him how cute his butt looks when he deadlifts. 😉
Squat while you brush your teeth/plank when your kids brush. This might feel a little crazy, but after having Gunnar I began planking while Harlowe brushed her teeth and a friend suggested I squat while I brush mine. It’s a sneaky and super-easy way to get 3-4 extra minutes of effective exercise.
Keep your exercise equipment near the TV. Next time you are Netflix and chillin’ make it less of a guilty pleasure. I keep my foam roller by the TV and it’s helped me foam roll a lot more because I can do it passively while I binge on The Santa Clarita Diet each night. PS When is that coming back on?!
Refresh your workout clothes. I’m not advocating going on unnecessary shopping sprees (especially not this year!) but a fresh pair of running shoes or a new sports bra can make a huge difference when you’re feeling ‘bleh’ about your activewear. Those of you who have been following along for awhile now, I am a huge fan of Wantable for the time they save by having stylists pick clothes especially for you. I live in their workout clothes and love how personalized their selection is. If you need more workout clothes, I highly recommend you check out their Spring Wakeup promo where you can receive 7 items, all tailored to you, for just $10. I love saving time not shopping for myself so I can spend more of it doing all of the above with my family!
*This outfit is from my most recent Wantable Edit. I am fortunate to be an ambassador for them, so I do receive new clothes from them gratis! Thank you for supporting brands that help keep content coming your way!
Photos by Kara Coleen
PS I did a haul of one of my Wantable boxes awhile back. Check it out if you are interested in seeing more of the pieces you can expect from them.
