The Mom Workout

I know I keep saying that I need to get into shape and start working out more.... but then I realized how much of a workout I can really get from a day with my son. This morning we woke up and walked the dog as usual, we'll consider this my warm up. We took a nice winding path through the apartments and ended with three flights of stairs, a little cardio. I then got my son breakfast, and started my cleaning rituals. I figure this can be considered some low impact cardio, as I go from one room to the other with random toys or things my son has thrown around the house. Thinking that I had to work later that day I was trying to do all of this very quickly, so I could come home to a clean house after work. Then I got a call, the little girl I watch was sick today so they didn't need me to come in. To me this is great news {not that she is sick, just that I am not working} I really wasn't "feeling" the whole go to work thing today {does anyone ever feel like working though?} As soon as I got my news I informed my friend that we needed to hang out. We then change our pace from cleaning to getting ready for a fun day with our best friends. And if you have ever tried to dress a 17 month old who does not want to wear clothes you know that this was indeed a workout. Once we are finally ready to head out the door {and down 3 flights of steps} I realize we should take out the trash when we leave. Toddler in one arm, trash in the other we make our way to the dumpster. We head over to our friends house to have some lunch and play. The boys play in the yard as we get lunch ready {more like my friend got lunch ready, since I was chasing my son around the yard} After lunch we decide to walk to the park. And we make the great decision to go to the park that is further from the house. We want to get more of a workout, which sounded great until we were half way up the big hill and my stroller suddenly felt much heavier. But we made it. And I am sure it was a good workout, it was a better workout than sitting at home I know that. After we run around the park, burning more calories, we start our journey home. Downhill is much easier {well not for my friend who by this point is carrying her 3 year old} We get back just in time for naps. And although I could take a nap, I don't. Not only are there way too many other things I need to get done, but I do not need to mess my sleep schedule up anymore. I figure I will run around cleaning some more, we will go on another walk with the dog, and I will end up climbing our 3 flights of stairs at least 4 more times today. So all in all I say I am going to get a pretty good workout without going to the gym. And if I do ever get my butt in gear and go to the gym I should be looking better really fast. But for now I figure I will just stay active with my son, and as my friend pointed out, that's easy to do in the summer. I have fun chasing my little man around and going down slides, I am just happy I am in good enough shape to fit down the slides with him! We had a great day so far, and we have so many fun things to look forward too this weekend I can't even count them. We start tomorrow with an Easter egg hunt with family and friends, and then we have a fun filled family weekend. When all my family comes to town we know how to make the best of it and we plan on doing just that this weekend. And of course Sunday is not only Easter, but yes, I get more coupons! But there will be no time for that on Sunday, it will have to wait until Monday. And of course I have already made plans to coupon clip and plan some shopping trips with my friend . I hope that my son keeps me so active that I get my bikini body in time for summer, I am sure the candy he gets tomorrow will help. Well... until he crashes, then the goal is that Mommy doesn't crash with him. Being a Mom is a mental and physical workout and I can't wait to reap the rewards!

Kelly Callahan