Fun Fitness Tips For The Working Mom

As I have officially been back to work for over a year now, I have come up with a list of ways for moms (and dads) to keep their fitness levels up while working.  Even though it can be hard to find the time to exercise, with a little planning, you can do it!  Here are my top fitness tips for working moms:

Drink Lots of Water – One way I lost the majority of my baby weight was to pretty much eliminate all beverages from my diet other than water (and coffee – there is NO WAY I am giving that up 🙂 ) .  That meant no sodas, juices or alcoholic beverages (no wine for mommy), other than on the very rare occasion.  It was amazing how quickly the weight dropped off as soon as I started drinking tons of water.  While at work, it can be very easy to grab a soda, particularly on days when lunch is provided during long meetings.  To prevent this, have a water bottle dedicated for work, and keep it there.  We have a small little kitchen common area, so I simply wash mine everyday before I leave.  I intentionally try to keep it full, so a lot of times I drink a whole bottle without really paying attention.  Having a cute water bottle is always fun, and it would make the perfect gift for the working mommy!  🙂

A brand of water bottles that I really like is Camelbak.   They come in really pretty and fun colors and are made of high quality materials.  They also make smaller versions for children, which are super cute!  It is nice that they are so durable too, because children have a tendency to drop things – LOL!  I love this one and this one for little ones.

Park Far Away – I intentionally park in a lot that has a massive flight of stairs you have to climb up in order to get through the front gate.  I also try to park in one of the back spots, which further increases the amount I have to walk.  Considering that I am also carrying a diaper  and computer bag (with a laptop), and I am definitely burning some extra calories before I even get to my desk.  Bonus!!!

Take The Stairs – This is one that can really help you.  As I said above, I park in a place where I have to climb stairs to get to the front gate.  My building has multiple levels, so I also do things that encourage me to go up and down steps all day.  If I need to run to the restroom, use the microwave during lunch, or grab a cup of coffee, I go to one on a different floor and take the stairs.  It only takes a few seconds longer and really helps me with my exercise regimen.

Keep Healthy Snacks At Your Desk – This one is major, because in many offices (including my own), there is food temptation  everywhere.  Anytime a lunch meeting has leftover food, it is all set out for anyone to grab.  If you are hungry and without food, then you can pretty much guarantee that you are going to grab that cookie or doughnut that you probably don’t even want.  If you keep healthy snacks at your desk, then you won’t be starving all day, and you have a better chance of not eating too many extra treats.  Now, I love sweets and goodies as much as the next person, so I am NOT SAYING to never eat treats (I actually have a REALLY good cookie recipe HERE – haha!!!).  Just eat them in moderation, and you will be fine!

Figure Out When & How You Can Fit In Exercise – My husband and I have worked out a pretty good system of taking turns exercising over the past year, and I would encourage you to do the same.  One of us will go running, while the other one puts Madeline down for the night.  I actually really enjoy running, so it is something I like to do at the end of the day to unwind.  Waiting to run at the end of the day (after Madeline has gone to bed) is one way that I have figured out how to fit exercise into my overall day.  You could also take turns and go for a run before you go to work.  I personally prefer to run at night, but the morning works great too!  If you are a single parent, then find alternative ways to exercise where you don’t have to leave your house.  Get workout videos from a yard sale, watch training routines on YouTube, etc.  If you really want to fit some exercise into your day, then you CAN figure it out!  You just might have to be a little creative.  🙂

One thing we did was to buy an elliptical machine, so I don’t have to run in the cold during the winter (I am a weenie, and I hate running in the cold – lol).  Indoor equipment is actually fantastic because you can exercise literally at any point during the day.  I always used the elliptical during nap time or when Madeline was already asleep for the night during our first year together.  Since the machine was in my house, I literally did not have an excuse.  We actually bought our machine used, which was a great way to get a piece of equipment for a fraction of the price!  Check yard sales, Craig’s List, etc, because they go on sale a lot!

Exercise When You Are Back At Home WITH Your Kids – I like to do sit ups while I am playing with Madeline, which she gets the biggest kick out of – LOL!  It is so cute, and it gives me a chance to get a little exercise in, while spending time with her.  Here is a picture of the princess crawling up on me while I was trying to do my sit ups…

Madeline loved to imitate me, as all babies do, and also thoroughly enjoyed trying a yoga pose or two – LOL!!  🙂

What things do you do throughout your day to fit in a little extra exercise?  Please let me know, because I love hearing from you all.  Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

 

 

P.S.  Please check out our Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest pages for more fun ideas from One Cheerful Mom!