The other day one of my girlfriends asked me if I’m back to the gym working out yet.
(All moms of kids 12 months and under, insert smile here.)
In a word, no.
But though I’m not physically at the gym, I am working out, every day, all day.
My daily routine (pre-kids vs. post-kids)?
– 30 minutes of jogging on the treadmill is now chasing 2 little toddlers around the house all morning, all afternoon, all night.
– 20 minutes of power walking is now strolling around our neighborhood, wearing Benjamin and pulling the boys in our wagon.
– 15 minutes of stair master is now running up and down the stairs 50 times per day, putting the boys down for naps, gathering laundry, cleaning rooms, etc.
– Ab work is now getting in and out of bed throughout the night to check on the baby and the boys.
– A set of bicep curls is now lifting Benjamin throughout the day.
– A set of leg lifts is now playing “airplane” with two 30 lb. boys.
And then there’s all the cross-training throughout the day: shoulder rides, piggy-back rides, swinging the boys around, bending down to build Lego castles and robots, squatting down to help the boys build their train track towns, cleaning the floors of food and crayon marks all day… and everything else that goes along with “Mommy Exercise!”
Back at the gym!?
I’m at the gym all day!
OK! You finally justified it for me 🙂 I have been thinking about going back to the gym, but why? Like you my gym is with me all day long!! Best work out ever I must say!!
I hear you! People ask me how I can be so skinny with a baby in the house. I tell them, running around after the kids is like being in the gym 24 hours a day!
The Mommy Workout is the #1 workout in the world and highly effective. And for me it’s is intensified with uncounted trips up and down stairs to and from the laundry room with heavy loads of laundry daily.
Great post!
To add to all of that, my family is now in Norway for 3 months so I walk all day long to run errands. Walking a mile pushing a stroller withyour toddler and groceries is quite a workout.
well your new gym is more fun, because you’re surrounded by your cute sons, AUdrey =)
Oooh, Cute benjamin. I love your wall color too. Like a sunshine inside the house
The only advantage to the gym is the child care. I mean “play date” as I like to justify it!
Airplane rides with 30 pounders are fun. Crusher’s about 35 lbs now. He needs a private jet!
Oh, I can relate!! Funny because I posted my “mommy-fied” housecleaning schedule today!
Steph
Too true! 🙂
I love it! I totally agree too. We are always on the go!!!
I simply adore you, Audrey. Here’s to a good workout this morning for ya! xo
You’re hilarious!
I should be a twig with all of the “excersize” that I do all day long! 🙂
lol That is SO very true
How true it is. You have more of a workout now than ever.
Yea, 30 pound weights are lifted all day long! 🙂 Just because they can walk doesn’t mean they do! Great post!
that is so true!
funny thing, when i went to the doctor for a chk-up, she said chasing a toddler didn’t count as exercise. what??! why not?? it’s exercise to me! 😉
So true!! I only wish that exercise was enough for me to ditch this baby weight… yup.. I am still blaming the baby for MY extra 10 lbs.
I agree with you…I “work out” more now than ever before…but, I do try to get a good vigerous walk in daily pushing my two boys in a double stroller. That has really firmed things up for me 🙂
Could not agree more!
Amen, it is a workout isn’t it? Well, you may not be at the gym, but your “mommy workout” looks like it is doing the trick. I am with likeastar, I am still blaming my extra 10 lbs on my 16 month old!!! Pathetic I know. Your post made me laugh!
Getting in and out of bed all night counts as ab work? Oh, how I love this post!!!!
Yes, moms do work very hard – now why do I still look like I’m 6 months pregnant and my last baby was born 3 years ago? Nevermind, I blame the chocolate. 🙂
You just summed up why I am so tired at 8:00 pm everynight! Thanks for helping me realize I do workout during the day and I can’t do everything!
I can’t understand how I don’t have any bicep muscles after lifting my kiddos all day for so many years. Sigh. I haven’t made it to the gym in years and my youngest is almost 3!
Preach, sister!
That explains why i can fit back into almost all my pre-pregnancy clothes and Bella is only 4 wks old today! I am so busy chasing my 3 and 2 yr old boys, wearing the baby, up and down our stairs. Its a BIG time workout!