Wednesday Workout Wrapup - With a Note to Moms of Littles

Another week of workouts in the book.  I feel compelled to disclose that if you are a mom with young children and you are wondering how on earth you can find time or energy to exercise, I see you and hear you and feel you.  Sleepless nights are literally torture and being away from a breastfeeding baby is hard to plan and childcare or a gym membership may not be financially available right now.  

I am able to fit in these walks and workouts because all of my children are in school, I have built-in babysitters to be able to walk the dog at night with my husband, and we have a family gym membership at half price at the YMCA because we qualify for financial aid.  

When the first four kids were little, I joined a gym that included childcare for $19.99/month and I would take them four times a week and they played while I worked out and it was great.  Before that, I would wait for Phil to get home from work and we would take turns going for a quick run or walk.  Sometimes I would just do workouts at home while someone was napping or after they went to bed (anyone remember the P90X dvds or Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred?).   Other days, the best I could do was pop the toddler in the stroller and strap the baby on my body and walk.

Declan (age 2) and Brendan (age newbie)

What I'm saying is that I have always found a way to squeeze in exercise because I craaaave the benefits, but it has looked very different throughout the years.  I try to walk the very fine line between keeping myself healthy without interfering with the family's needs.  Can it appear selfish to take an hour away from family to workout alone?  Yes.  But would it also be selfish to not take care of one's health when so many lives are dependent on it? Yes.  

I once heard Fr. Mike Schmitz explaining the way he grew up in a fit and active family, and he said the question of the day would be WHEN or WHAT the workout was today and never IF they would workout.  I think our kids have grown up this way too, seeing Mom and Dad exercise daily and joining in when they can/want to, and that makes me feel proud and not guilty at all.

Let's review, shall we?

Wednesday, January 17: 

3 mile Walk at lunch

1 mile Run on treadmill + 45 minute Strength Class (while Xander was at swim practice)

Thursday, January 18: 

45 minutes on Stair Stepper at home before work

3 mile Walk at lunch

1 mile Walk with dog at night

Friday, January 19: 

5:30 am Boot Camp Class (we slept in until 5:01 and made it just in time!)

The workout was four rounds of these 1 minute stations:

1 mile Walk with dog in evening

Saturday, January 20: 

4 mile run

1 mile Walk with dog

Sunday, January 21: 

1 mile run on treadmill + 45 minute cardio/weight class at gym

1 mile walk with dog

Monday, January 22: 

Day off - I do this whenever my body feels very sore or tired.

3 mile walk at lunch 

1 mile walk with dog in evening

Tuesday, January 23: 

45 minutes on Stair Stepper at home before work

3 mile Walk at lunch