The start of this school year, like most others, was met in our house by groans, nervous stomachs, and mixed feelings of dread and anticipation. But one of the positive things about school being in session again is that it forces my family to get on a better schedule – something we’ve needed to do for quite a while now. The lazy routine of summer is gone, and we find ourselves having to work that inner, unseen muscle called self-discipline…stronger in some of us than in others.
This year, my daughter has to catch a too-early (in my opinion) bus to the junior high, and because I’m a mom and it’s what I do, I get up with her. At this time of year, though, it’s still dark outside when my alarm clock beeps and getting up at that moment feels unnatural…and that’s an understatement.
Getting up before the birds means I have to go to bed sooner than I’d like to. For me, that means no more late-night snuggle time with my husband watching Frasier and Jay Leno, and it also means no more late-night Exercise TV workouts. I’d grown accustomed to putting my youngest to bed and then getting in a few 10- to 20-minute workouts in front of the family room TV. But being a new member of the early-to-rise club means I now have to join the early-to-bed club. My night owl schedule was really wearing on me, so I know this will be a good thing! (And I keep telling myself that over and over and over….)
But, you know, I’ve decided I like this new way of doing things. Once my daughter is on her bus, and my son catches his about an hour later, there’s no going back to bed for me. I’m forced to be disciplined, so I spend the morning hours working on my home business, catching up on housework, and exercising. My four-year-old is usually up shortly after her brother leaves, so this morning I decided I was going to get her started in a health habit that I’m hoping will last a lifetime.
I told her I was going to work out and — just as I expected — she said she wanted to work out with me (she’s my shadow and loves doing anything I do). First, we had to find her “stretchy clothes,” as she calls them, then we went to the family room for our workout. Once the coffee table was yanked and shoved out of the way and my yoga mat was in place, she got her mat: my grandmother’s quilt. (I’m thinking I should get her a yoga mat of her own!)
We did the “Pilates Fit” workout by Tandy Guitierrez, and Bethany made it about halfway through. Next up was the “2 Mile Walk” with Leslie Sansone. (In my opinion, putting these two workouts together is a great combo – you get to tone your muscles with Tandy’s workout and burn calories with Leslie’s.)
Bethany joined me again off and on during the “2 Mile Walk,” and that included running circles around me while I tried to keep from running into her. She thought it was hysterical each time I pretended to try to step on her feet during the side steps, and she even attempted to get her arms moving during the power walk. She never quite got the rhythm down, but she was moving and having fun, and that’s what it’s all about: having a fun time getting fit.
If you’re a parent with little ones at home, get them involved in your workouts! It’s a fantastic way to teach them healthy living by example. When they’re young, they don’t always pay attention to what we say, but they do watch us – like hawks. Eat right, get the sleep you need, exercise, and have them do it, too (and cut down on time spent in front of the TV – unless you’re doing a work out, of course). Starting healthy habits in our kids while they’re young will go a long way toward ensuring those habits stick with them when they’re grown.
By the way, did you know that Exercise TV on Comcast On Demand has a section just for working out with your kids? It’s called “Kids Fun Fitness.” Definitely check it out!
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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief here at CrazyBusyMama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sdinius, and come join the CrazyBusy Mama Facebook page by clicking here.
You know how, when you’re going through something that’s even just mildly traumatic, it seems to happen in slow motion? That’s how it happened for me, and I remember every detail: a) My feet caught, b) I tried to right myself but couldn’t, then c) I made some very hard contact with the ground. My right knee took the brunt of it, followed by my right hip, right elbow, right shoulder, then both hands. The only good thing was that my head didn’t hit the pavement, too.
workout, but until my knee is completely healed, I’m laying off the lunges. Depending on your pain level, either forgo the lunges or just don’t lunge as far. This applies to squats, as well. Only go as low as is comfortable for your knee.
