Get Moving – 5 Ways to Break the Sedentary Habit

modern mama get moving

Being active and finding time, or energy, to stay fit while juggling mom life can seem difficult. It can sometimes even feel impossible. As tough as it may be at times, we have to remind ourselves that being non-sedentary is vital for our health and well-being. It is recommended by national guidelines to get at least 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity in a day. This is needed for our circulation, muscles to get oxygen, increasing energy and stamina, as well as improving our mental health. It is needless to say, to get moving is important for us all.

Exercise doesn’t always have to mean hitting the gym for hours, if that is unreasonable for your lifestyle. Being a stay-at-home mom, or a busy mom on the go, all often sneak into our legitimate reasons of not having enough time in the day to get in that much needed physical activity. There is no doubt that it can be challenging, but not completely impossible…

Here are some ways that we can help break your sedentary and get moving again.

Modern Mama Get Moving

Take the baby for a walk or hike
Get the stroller out, or strap on a baby carrier and go for a leisurely stroll, jog, or, if accessible to you, hike. Pushing, or lifting some weight burns extra calories and is a fantastic workout. Just remember that if you opt to use a carrier, it is appropriate for the level of activity you are doing and offers enough support to avoid straining the back, neck or shoulders.

Get-up 30 to 40 minutes earlier
If time is of the essence, getting up early before anyone else may be your ticket. This extra time can allow you to get in a quick gym session, go for a morning jog, or even just do a home workout (i.e. a yoga routine in the morning can be very beneficial).

Check out local post-natal classes
If your baby is not yet mobile, check out the local class listings at a nearby community centre. A lot of centres now offer “Mommy and Me” classes or boot-camps where you can bring your child. If your child is mobile, most local communities are now also offering various stroller fitness programs that may work well.

Work out at home
Sometimes the best option may be to work out in the comfort of your own home. You could pop in an aerobics DVD, or a kickboxing DVD, or even try a workout on your gaming console such as WiFit or Kinect. There are also apps that are available that offer yoga or personal training routines on your mobile device.

Family Fit Time.
Make family time include movement for part of the day. It can be incorporated into things like having a dance party, a game of indoor hockey in the garage or shooting hoops, or just being silly and having fun races coupled with jumping jacks and more. Getting your heart rate up while having fun is exercise as well.

 

*All images in this post are courtesy of www.shutterstock.com

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