Today’s mum is a superhero! Being a mum, juggling chores, taking care of your other half, errands and admin plus working can play havoc on any exercise programme or prevent finding time to get fit.
Yet it can be done, without even realizing it. The key is the intensity of what you are doing. Now, you don't need to think 'pain'! What's key though is that you get a challenge, one that makes the 'activity' worth doing for you to see the benefits! Here's a great example:
I am always running late! I leave myself too many things to do before I get out of the door resulting in a rush. My son's nursery is a 20 minute walk but if I really power walk I can do it in fifteen. Plus he loves it when the buggy goes quicker.
Now I could just hop in the car and whizz him around and get there in about 5-10 minutes. However, with the traffic, the road bumps, pedestrians walking in front of 'amber' lights, the odd wobbly cyclist - i find it rather more stressful than walking really briskly, getting the fresh air, having my son get the fresh air and clearing my head ready to start the day! Plus as I do this journey four times a day (there and back and there and back to collect), I'm actually clocking up four miles a day, cardio (three times a week). If you do the maths, that's 12 miles a week - nearly a half marathon! That does wonders for your cardio-vascular fitness and for burning stored energy without really realising it.
Plus I find it ‘moving meditation’. The breathing and repetitive movement involved with really brisk walking or jogging promotes feelings of calm and tranquility and reduces stress. Being outdoors releases endorphins, natural hormones which promote a sense of feeling good. Increasing your pace means you burn more calories in less time (very important for a new mum).
So my message is, think about where you can make a small change to your routine and the benefits that would be associated with it. Think smart and try combining fitness with taking care of the baby at the same time!
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1 comment:
I just came across to your blog and reading your post this is very much impressive me Walking is literally the best exercise you can do. For a normal person with no great aspiration of athletic greatness, brisk walking is the best. It will lower your stress, help you to maintain or lower your weight and will make you feel just great! Walking is also a gentle exercise that won’t torment you too much if you hate exercise. Even if you start out with a gentle walk and work up to brisk walking, the walk itself will energize and uplift you. It will help lower your stress and give you a clearer mind to conquer the difficulties you encounter.
http://healthfreak2.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/brisk-walking-for-fitness/
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