No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

Bikin Mom — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:04:45 GMT

Well, now we know that for 17 years someone recorded what really happens when you have kids.... it doesn't sound to me that the parents are blaming anyone, just stating the fact that with children come all kinds of responsibilites that take us away from what we used to do. I bet they would all say it is worth the time and energy to take good care of those little ones. Other than the headline, I liked the tone of the summary which reminds people to excercise any time you can. Did these parents have a newborn AND toddler? Yep, your life is in a blender till that newborn is about 3 or 3 1/2.

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

Bikin Mom — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 02:27:04 GMT

Dear new parents: I know you need lots of support, especially if you ate lots of veggies during pregnancy and ended up with a strong lively baby. So, here is my support to you. Take care of yourself, rest when you can and ignore anyone that thinks you can do more when you really can't. Here are the ideas I would give myself if I could go back: 1. Just buy the best double Burley bike trailer you can. We tried to buy what we could "afford" and nicked and dimed ourselves through a bunch of miserable joggers. When we finally got the Burley double trailer, I had a wonderful trailer, but also an incredible jogger I could use every morning. It is so nice, I actually WANT to go use it in the morning. The kids stay dry and warm when needed and seem to really like it. The only benefit of getting a difficult jogger first is that you will know how nice the Burley is when you finally break down and get it. My husband wouldn't have believed me back then, but if I could go back in time I would really try to convince him. 2. Try to get up and walk or jog every morning. It helps my mental outlook and patience through the rest of the day, and I am dog tired all day either way. If you can get another adult to go with you, you get some adult conversation too, a major bonus. If any Dr.s out there have stat.s, please let us parents know if it is better for our health to set the alarm for later when we've been up in the night, or to forgo the sleep to get up and jog.

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

Greg Alario — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 01:54:18 GMT

It is well known that the job of taking care of the kids is time consuming, hectic, and can create a daily variance in schedule. Time restraints are the major reason for a large percentage of the population in getting in daily physical activity. This article is spot on in regards to "American all-or-nothing approach to fitness" and " Healthy exercise can happen anywhere" as a major problem and remedy.
I work with youth - professional athletes, as well as the general population in creating approaches to their competitive and fitness goals. Although the content varies greatly, my first recommendation is to incorporate a " Wake Up & Exercise Routine", whether that client be a college athlete or an active grandmother. Preparing the body and mind to start the day in this manner has many benefits. Increased metabolism, mental clarity, fat burning, flexibility, core strength, functional strength, and mobility can all be attained with the right mix of exercises. Find a good fitness consultant if you need help in designing a program and start your day with a positive physical impact.

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

Alisa_203 — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:03:06 GMT

When the parents are inactive, the children are inactive - which causes obesity in both. Strange, some people still make plenty of time to sit in front of the boob-tube and complain there is little time left for physical activity.

Remember: When pointing the finger, there are three fingers pointing right back.

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

Magnolia — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:20:51 GMT

This is just plain silly. I was an athlete in high school. Tennis, swimming, basketball, and horseback riding. And I did everything with a vengeance. I was competitive in the competitive sports, and rode to the hounds; fox hunting. That is very demanding.

Alas, college put a stop to that as my academic schedule squeezed out exercise. Then marriage and a first and second child brought exercise back. Mothering infants can be very vigorous, if you just take the little ones with you everywhere you go. Go on foot with a strap on carrier. Push a pram, like I did. I would put my 2 1/2 year old in with the baby and take a several mile walk with my gigantic pram. They would eventually fall asleep and when I got home, I'd just leave them in the pram in the bedroom so they could get a nice long nap. And I'd take a nap too.

As they grow, DO things with them. Challenge yourself and let them see you work out. Children love to emulate you. You'll be creating little exercise lovers, just like yourself. And promoting their health to boot. Be imaginative and resourceful. And stop whining that you can't do what you did BC (before children).

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

minnie-me — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 03:07:20 GMT

Unfortunately, this article is right on the button. My older daughter was a cross country champion and did crew in college, as well as after graduation. 12 years later, she has 4 kids in 3 different schools and a fulltime job. She is not only exhausted, but is loosing good lean, muscle. As a caring wife and remarkable mother, she is more beautiful than ever... but that doesn't minimize the risk she is putting her own health in. Since she has no time for proper sleep and excercise, I am more worried about her damaging her immune system than I am about her gaining weight. ...I didn't realize that this is becoming the national norm! I am sending her this article, to discourage her from falling into this trend. We need to take care of ourselves if we are going to be there for our children!

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

goldeneagle — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:44:25 GMT

This is were modern society missed it. You do not give up outdoor activity because of a child. The more you stay active, the better for you and your children teaching them from birth good living habits and skills. If you live in a concrete jungle, take the children to the country, fly a homemade kite, run through the grass barefoot, play horse shoes, or climb a tree. If a beach is near, build sand castles, running in water is great cardio and take mental pictures to talk about on the trip back home. We need to cut the T.V. and video baby sitters, get back to basics and build healthy bodies and minds.

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

mmc88121 — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:14:17 GMT

If something is important to you you will make time for it.

Mary

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

A.M.E. — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:17:42 GMT

How convenient. Let's do the American thing and blame somebody else for our actions or lack thereof! It is easy to get sucked into the habit of inactivity when you are busy with children; but, it is no excuse. I make my daughter work out with me. This helps us both and keeps her from being a couch potato.

re: No Time to Exercise? Blame the Kids

Russ Bianchi — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:20:01 GMT

Children are the problem? Hmmmm, sounds like all problems could be solved, alla Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, by just rounding up the children...The NY Pravda lost it on this one.