Whatever Gets You Moving!

by Laurel
(New York)

My favorite kind of exercise changes depending on my mood. Some days it's quiet and contemplative and I need to be quiet so I don't wake the kids from nap. So it's a pilates day. Other days I'm bursting with energy so the kids and I turn on a mix CD and dance for a half hour straight, throwing our arms up and hopping all around.

Still other days are filled with errands and I welcome the task of strapping the boys into the double stroller and power walking to the drug store, butcher and dry cleaner. Every half hour of moderate walking burns 150 calories AND I'm crossing things off my to-do list while my children chat with me about everything they see in the neighborhood. That is some serious multitasking.

But when I'm not trying to fit exercise in around being a mom, I like to do dance aerobic videos or classes, like Zumba. It gets your body moving, your heart pumping and it's fun and distracting, so you don't have time to think about being tired. When you're done you not only feel exercised and energized, but also kind of accomplished in the sense that suddenly you feel like you can actually dance!

I think it's pretty important to work some weight lifting in, too, even if it's only one or two days a week. Even a little bit can make a difference. Losing weight and being healthy are of course most important, but women like to be toned, too!

I think it's important for exercise interests to change. At each stage in life schedules change, bodies ache and break and your health needs fluctuate as well. If you can roll with the punches and change things up to keep exercise fresh and exciting, you'll always be ready to sweat it out.