Exercise with your kids.
Exercise doesn't have to be a chore. You can make it fun and include your kids at the same time. Play soccer in the yard, go for bike rides or hikes, create an obstacle course or do push-ups and planks while watching TV. Plus, kids can make excellent substitutes for weight equipment. Miler uses her 25 and 35 pounders (a.k.a. her kids!) for squats, bridge ups, chest presses and lunges. "For cardio, my babies act as lions chasing after me--their roars scare me right into tuck jumps over and over again," she says.
Work out while your kids practice.
If your kids play sports, use their practice time for your workout time. "Oftentimes parents bring chairs and sit for hours," certified personal trainer Pam Sherman says. So skip the chair and use that time to go for a walk or jog around the area. If they are practicing on a field, use the outside of the field to do your exercise. This lets you get your fitness in and still catch a glimpse of your child's practice.
Squeeze in a quick bodyweight workout.
When you're trying to ease back into a fitness routine, it can be challenging to commit to large chunks of time. That's why certified personal trainer Esther Avant says the less time exercise takes, the more likely you are to be consistent--the key to success. "Once you see how much you can accomplish in a short amount of time, you're more likely to find time for your workouts day after day, and you'll be back in a routine before you know it," Avant says. Here's a quick workout to get you started.
Remember your "why."
As parents, it's easy to get caught up in your kids' lives and forget why you matter. When it comes to exercise, knowing your "why" will help you start--and stick to--a routine. Lagree says to remind yourself of what made you lace up your shoes in the first place. Maybe you want to have more energy to play with your kids or be able to keep up when you play soccer in the yard with your toddler. Regardless of your reason, Lagree says that reminding yourself of your "why" will give you that boost of motivation you need to push through any barriers that may come your way.
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