5 WAYS MOMS CAN TURN ROUTINE CHORES INTO EXERCISE
Wake up and shower, get the kids dressed, make breakfast, pack lunches, find the missing homework, drive the kids to school, go grocery shopping... all before 9 a.m.! We know everything mothers can do. At times it seems they have “super mommy strength,” but sometimes moms neglect to take time for themselves – to exercise their bodies and maintain their health.
With such busy 30 seconds and feel the burn. schedules, where is there time to fit in exercise routines? Don’t have time to go to the gym? These exercises won’t necessarily make you buff, but they’ll help you burn a few more calories throughout your day, and that’s always good. Where to do it? It’s simple: At home.
Movement can be fun, and you don’t have to sacrifice your exercise to do household chores. Just combine housework and workouts in a daily movement routine. You can even get your kids involved to help them build active, healthy habits. Incorporating five simple movements while doing routine chores will help you to take the term “super mom” to a new level.
1. Grocery Squats.
Strengthen and tone your legs after a big grocery shopping trip. Keep your back straight and squat deeply by bending your knees to grab groceries from the bag and raise them to the counter. If you want an extra challenge, hold for
2. Milk Gallon Bicep Curls.
Work toward tanktop arms while preparing breakfast for your family. Adding milk to your coffee or pouring a bowl of cereal? Grab the milk gallon from the fridge and perform 10 bicep curls per arm. (A full gallon of milk weighs 8 to 9 pounds.)
3. Clean Sweep. Did you know you can burn 80 calories for every 20 minutes of sweeping? Get the kids involved by creating a game to see who can sweep the best and fastest.
4. Towel Twist. Work your abs and get those towels folded. Sit next to a full basket of laundry and twist at the waist to grab an item from the basket. Twist to the other side to lay the folded item on a pile. Continue until your laundry is finished.
5. Lunge It Out.
Heading out to run some errands? Do walking lunges out the door. If you have a young child, hold her in your arms for a greater challenge. (www.parenting.com)