We live in a very different world then we once did. We once lived in a world full of physical labor. Now we are sitting all the time. Men used to work the fields, work with their hands. Women would get down and scrub the floor on their hands and knees and wash the laundry by hand. People once walked to the places they needed to go, not anymore! Now we have vehicles, sit at desks all day, just to come home and sit at the dinner table and then move to go sit on the couch. I am glad we have the modern convinces we do but unfortunately, one of the things that was lost with more technology was the necessity to be active. We now have to work to be active, we now call being active "working out". I do not know if I am the only one, but working out that is more difficult then I would like it to be. Not only do I find the time hard to come by but also the motivation to do it! It just makes so much more sense to have activity built around your day like it once was then to isolate "activity" to 3 hr. a week (or whatever it may be for you). Now don't get me wrong, I do not think there is anything wrong with having a workout routine, going to the gym, or for a run, in fact, I would greatly encourage that! I just know that regularly heading to the gym or going for a run can be hard to keep up with. Especially if you are a Mama. Do you workout in the evening so your husband can watch the kids? That can cut into family time and when does he get to workout? Do you try to do it in the day? How a Mom of three or more kids goes for a run (or has time to workout at all) is completely beyond my comprehension! (Please, fill me in on how you make this happen!) Some gyms provide childcare, but what if you can't afford a gym?
How is a Mom supposed to get the opportunity to work out? Between dirty diapers and laundry it can get to be kind of challenging.
I think somethings are as simple as "take the stairs". I have also been trying to be good at doing "walking dates" either with my husband or instead of grabbing coffee with a friend we put on our walking shoes and go walk at a park. If you are a Mama you are probably up and moving just trying to keep up with your little one(s)! I also try to stand as much as possible and opt out of sitting as often as I can. One way I try to do that is on my computer. I set my computer on something high (so my back isn't hunched funky). Right now I have my computer at my kitchen cupboard so I can write standing instead of sitting. This is an interesting little side note: certain companies are now moving towards having "standing desks" since our bodies were made to stand for extended periods of time and meant to sit for only short stints.
One good way I have started being active is a group of ladies from my church meet Friday mornings and workout for 30 minutes to an hour. It is a great way to combine visiting, play date, and working out! One of the ladies houses it in her basement we bring toys and snacks for the kids to keep them entertained and we workout together. It is fun and encouraging to be working out with buddies.
I think it is great if you do a workout regularly but don't minimize those nature walks with your kids or carrying your 25 lb baby up the stairs. Be active! In whatever form that looks like for you.
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