Trailing Three Kids

The sometimes-fickle-bone in my body makes the whole process of getting into a true fitness routine a bit of a stretch. I reach for it but that nasty bone just gets in the way, offering excuses that would talk Joan of Arc down from the burning pier.

The reason to avoid sweating that most often crops up and allows me to cross exercise off my to-do list is: my children. Either directly - we're too busy, have no baby-sitter or they need me for something else - or indirectly - I'm too tired, too moody, too fried or all three - this excuse enables me to wimp out a lot.

It doesn't help that working out doesn't come naturally to me. I'm a reader not a runner. It's not that I didn't grow up spending lots of time outside, it's just that I was orchestrating backyard cousin concerts and pretend Indian encampments, not footraces and field-days.

I feel a lot like an elephant when I run.

Thump, thump, thump.

And while elephants are amazing creatures and my favorite animal... I don't want to look like one!

The flip-side is that I feel great when I make myself workout and I am certainly pleased when the efforts and results prove positive. So this year as I made my list of Summer goals I tried to be realistic about how to incorporate some mommy-movement into our sunshiny days.

Now, I did try (twice) to take my two oldest with me to Jazzercise. This went reasonably well considering they thought they were being given front row seats to a MTV music-video screening. Unfortunately I'm not sure any of the women there really appreciated an audience, including me. Moves Like a Gazelle was not my Indian name.

'Observe Nature' was one of the goals I wrote down for this Summer and it seems to work well with the fitness bit. We are lucky enough to have a beautiful walking/bike trail not far from where we live. It winds around the edge of town, criss-crossing a creek, in and around stands of trees and there are glimpses of wildlife to be seen quite frequently if you are watching.

So we walk. I push the stroller or let Pip run. The older two sometimes bring their bikes and the babble of my littlest boy is a sweet and hearty anthem for our stroll. My only complaints are the sudden bursts of mosquitoes and the occasional penchant of my older son to ride too far ahead.

We all benefit from our evening outing. They are full of excitement over whatever bit of nature they witnessed as well as tired-out and easily enticed to get in their beds. I have the new-found shot of happy energy it takes to execute the bedtime ritual with the patience of Ma Ingalls and maybe even have enough left over to get something done when the house is all quiet.

It's a good thing.

I tell you, working out with children can work out.

Love,

On the Trail in NE

P.S. Another way I hope to add some calorie burning to my daily agenda is by playing more outdoor games with my kids... That said, I don't even want to know what kind of animal I look like while playing soccer or chasing a Frisbee! I'm not sure I'll take pictures of that one.

A few more ideas for fitting in fitness:

Frantic housework (invite someone over, that always works)

Gardening (bonus: healthy veggies)

Walking to other activities (library, pool, etc)

How do you fit it in?