Kathy Salmon-Farstad has been my personal training client for almost a year now. Over the course of the past several months we have talked through many things: fluctuating energy levels, holiday workout plans, goal setting, and overcoming Kathy's personal barriers to exercise.
For Kathy, motivation has rarely been an issue. As an ex-Olympian she knows what is required of an effective health and fitness regime. For those of you who have been following Kathy's inspiring transition, you know that she has effectively reduced her busy work schedule, addressed many of her nutrition weaknesses, and learned once again how to prioritize regular exercise. Even in the best of times this hasn't been easy, especially when you consider that she also has three active children who need her time and attention. How do you effectively fit in fitness when life seems overflowing with demands of childcare? Whether you have a new baby, young children or teens, there is a way! It's not really about the exercises you choose, it's about creating a successful plan for fitting exercise into your schedule.
Since I'm not a mom, I asked my twin sister Christine (who has a 7-month-old girl) and Kathy (who has an eight-year-old daughter and 6-year-old twin boys), to share their realistic tips for getting and staying active while parenting.
7 ways to fit fitness into your life
1. Be change sensitive (and I'm not talking diapers)
Your life changed the moment you had kids, so plan to approach your exercise plan differently as well. You may not be able to fit in as much activity as you did pre-kids, but that doesn't mean you should do nothing. Whether you're getting back in shape after your first baby, or starting back at it after the last one has started kindergarten, the demands of parenting are ongoing, and you need to take care of yourself through it. Your exercise plan should grow with your kids. As their independence increases, so too will your free time. Plug away at what you CAN do, and gradually add to your regime as time becomes available.
2. Choose your focus
Quality time with kids won't happen during your workout, and quality workouts won't happen with your kids. Kathy tells me that if she plans her workouts to involve her children she knows she won't work as hard, but the trade-off is some fun with the kids. While she enjoys these occasional "family fitness outings," for the most part Kathy chooses to work out on her own so she can get more bang for her buck.
Page 1 of 2 – Hey, moms: It's good to do something entirely for yourselves. Still feeling guilty? See Tip 3 on page 2.
