exercise

The Friday Seven: Back to School & Linky Fun

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I’m back to working out intensely twice a week. I took most of the summer off, so this is week 2. Butt = kicked.

It’s zumba, a sort of Latin dance thing (there’s a video here, and I look about like the guy in the back). We are a bunch of moms, not one of us under 30 (I think), except for the kids who get dragged along. I never would have expected to like it, but there are a couple of factors keeping me going back:

(1) A good friend and I call or text each other. If one of us misses, the other is haranguing her. Accountability is a good thing.

(2) The instructor is really laid back. In fact, she’s a lot of fun. In fact, I like her. Even though she causes me a lot of pain.

(3) The sweating isn’t so bad. The pain isn’t so bad. The laughing is great. I know all the ladies (it’s a group from our parish), and when I feel like it’s too much, I just look over at the 72-year-old lady beside me and realize I could slow down, take a drink, and start over.

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I haven’t noticed that exercise is good for my mental health. I know the facts support that, but I think having a routine will help me more than the exercise, to be honest. And next week, school starts.

School = routine.

Yay!

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Speaking of school, I thought we were all set with school supplies and such. Then my husband looked at me, a bit shocked, and declared that our six-year-old, who will be entering first grade, needed a new outfit. And probably new shoes.

Said six-year-old was in complete agreement.

So, on Wednesday, I sucked it up, found an aunt to take the three-year-old, and took her to the store.

Where I bought her a new outfit and new shoes.

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Those shoes? They were SIZE FIVE!

I’m still in shock. She’s tall, yes, but SIZE FIVE?!?

And then a friend of mine told me that it probably translates into a women’s size seven.

I need a fainting couch.

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My nieces have been cleaning out their closets, and it’s with much rejoicing that I find myself as the aunt who can take hand-me-downs from nieces who are taller and more stylish than me.

That does not, however, make me fabulous, though a writer who I admire very much interviewed me recently and flattered me by calling me just that in her title. Do stop over to see the interesting questions Ginny Kubitz Moyer of Random Acts of Momness posed for me.

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Back to school for kids means back to a stricter writing schedule for me (and the acknowledgement of a looming deadline). Is that why I’m pondering where my office really is on the latest Mary in the Kitchen on the Catholic Foodie podcast? Maybe. Or maybe I’m just in my kitchen a lot.

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Arwen, Lisa, and I discussed girlfriends and mom survival this week on the Faith & Family podcast, and I’d love to hear what you think about these topics. I’m not in survival mode the way Arwen is, but I’m in a tough stretch lately, all the same. Listen in and let us know what you think!

Be sure to visit Jen at Conversion Diary for Quick Takes Friday!

Guest Post: Exercise for Busy Moms, by Peggy Bowes

I first “met” Peggy Bowes when I received a review copy of her e-book The Rosary Workout (which I loved). Since then, The Rosary Workout has been published in hard copy (yay!) and Peggy has started blogging. She remains one of my favorite authors for her encouraging tone and her optimism. Exercise is no easy thing for me, but Peggy takes me past that. Today, she graciously agreed to share some tips for those of us who find ourselves, so often, too busy to bother.

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As the mother of two and a former homeschooler, I am no stranger to the challenges of fitting exercise into a busy and hectic day. Yet as a personal trainer and fitness expert, I know that it’s crucial for my health AND my sanity. Here are three different approaches to making exercise a priority for multi-tasking moms.

The first approach is to include your children in your exercise or to work around their schedule. One idea is to put the child(ren) in a stroller and power walk or run. Running strollers are fairly affordable, but any type of stroller will do. If the weather is bad, walk in a mall. Most malls open before or after hours for this purpose. If your children are too big for a stroller, get out the bikes, roller skates, or other wheeled apparatus or have them walk beside you. Granted, this may be a short outing, but at least you all get a little fresh air and exercise. You’re also building good exercise habits, and the day will quickly come when they shout, “Come ON, Mom, keep up!” Other ideas include playing outside, dancing in the living room, or going to a park or playground together.

Working around your children’s schedule may be a bit easier, especially when they’re very little. You can buy a treadmill, elliptical, step, weights, stretch cords, etc. to use after bedtime, early in the morning or during naps. You can find a huge variety of exercise DVDs and videos to buy or rent. I like this site.

The second approach to finding exercise time is to join a gym or health club with supervised child care. Your children may complain, cry, and otherwise induce guilt, but most will adapt quickly. Gym child care has come a long way in recent years, and you may find that the children don’t want to leave. Some facilities even offer classes for children, especially YMCAs and community centers. To make it easier on everyone, find a friend (or friends) with children to join you. Not only will you have a workout partner and companions for your children, but you can often barter a better deal on membership for two or more.

Finally, enlist the support of your family, friends and community. Can your husband or another family member watch the children while you go for a quick run or power walk? Perhaps you can find a friend who wants to trade off babysitting and workout time. Consider hiring a teen in your neighborhood or parish to watch the children for an hour. If funds are low, you might negotiate childcare in return for homemade goodies, tutoring, or some other service.

Even if you have to “mix and match” these approaches, do find time to exercise. You’ll benefit from increased energy, better health, and stress relief so that you might better fulfill your vocation as wife and mother.

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Thanks, Peggy, for sharing your wisdom here with us today!

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