Sloth much?
April 25, 2011 1:27 PM Subscribe
How can I be more active in my daily life?
I'm a stay-at-home mom. I'd like to be more active in my every day living. What complicates this is that I do tend to stay home the majority of the time (so parking far away and the walking to the store ideas don't really apply).
I want to incorporate more activity into my daily living.
I do not want to go to a gym.
I do not want to have to find a sitter for my little guy while I go out and be active.
I already jog/shuffle (I call it running) three days a week.
What simple things can I incorporate into my day that would classify me as active?
I'm a stay-at-home mom. I'd like to be more active in my every day living. What complicates this is that I do tend to stay home the majority of the time (so parking far away and the walking to the store ideas don't really apply).
I want to incorporate more activity into my daily living.
I do not want to go to a gym.
I do not want to have to find a sitter for my little guy while I go out and be active.
I already jog/shuffle (I call it running) three days a week.
What simple things can I incorporate into my day that would classify me as active?
Best answer: Here are a few ideas:
Take more walks (with the little guy.)
Garden.
Do some home projects like house cleaning, plumbing, painting, and/or repairs.
Pick up some free weights and a yoga mat and some rubber tubing and videos and exercise at home.
Use a pedometer (if you can swing it, a Fitbit) to make you aware of and increase the amount you move around the house.
posted by bearwife at 1:35 PM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Take more walks (with the little guy.)
Garden.
Do some home projects like house cleaning, plumbing, painting, and/or repairs.
Pick up some free weights and a yoga mat and some rubber tubing and videos and exercise at home.
Use a pedometer (if you can swing it, a Fitbit) to make you aware of and increase the amount you move around the house.
posted by bearwife at 1:35 PM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
"Earn" watching TV by doing squats or traveling lunges during the commercial breaks. Or, if you prefer, crunches.
Even buying one of those plastic step things that aerobics classes use and stepping on and off of it during the ad break would be great for you!
(On preview: decathecting's stroller walks is a great idea.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 1:35 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Even buying one of those plastic step things that aerobics classes use and stepping on and off of it during the ad break would be great for you!
(On preview: decathecting's stroller walks is a great idea.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 1:35 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's spring. No reason to stay home, ever. Go out, walk, find fun museums.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:36 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:36 PM on April 25, 2011
I focus on walking because it's such a good way to trick myself into being active, without having to put on special clothes or shower afterwards.
I find it hard to "go for a walk", but easy to walk to the store, or to a friend's house, or to run an errand. Are there tasks that you can do in your daily life on foot or on a bike rather than by car? But you said you don't leave the house much, so that may not help all that much to start with.
Another good way for me to get myself out and walking is to have a friend over for tea and a walk. Walking is boring. Walking and gossipping is awesome.
posted by rosa at 1:37 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I find it hard to "go for a walk", but easy to walk to the store, or to a friend's house, or to run an errand. Are there tasks that you can do in your daily life on foot or on a bike rather than by car? But you said you don't leave the house much, so that may not help all that much to start with.
Another good way for me to get myself out and walking is to have a friend over for tea and a walk. Walking is boring. Walking and gossipping is awesome.
posted by rosa at 1:37 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding walking to a destination. I can make myself do that but not just walk around the block. Also, do you have a bike with a kid seat on it? Some people don't trust their safety but we used one and I got pretty good at some long rides with the kiddo when she was smaller.
posted by dawkins_7 at 1:42 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dawkins_7 at 1:42 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Clean.
Stand.
If you use a laptop put it on the kitchen counter instead of sitting down in a living room chair. If you spend most of your time in the kitchen you'll clean more, be more aware of what is happening with your kid, etc. I have kids and I find it to be true for me.
posted by Fairchild at 1:43 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Stand.
If you use a laptop put it on the kitchen counter instead of sitting down in a living room chair. If you spend most of your time in the kitchen you'll clean more, be more aware of what is happening with your kid, etc. I have kids and I find it to be true for me.
posted by Fairchild at 1:43 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Heard of "neat"? Non-exercise activity thermogenesis. I'm a big fan, sue me. In simple terms I'll just tell you - stop optimizing. Make more trips. I'll share with you the ways I do it.
When you're bringing groceries into the house, do you try to grab all 18 handles of the bags so you don't have to make multiple trips (especially with your child)? Don't do that. Make multiple trips as needed. It'll seem stupid, it'll seem repetitive, well at least at first.
Get the clothes out of the dryer and plop them down on the living room furniture. Grab two pieces, fold them, take them into the bedroom, put them in the drawers or hang them in the closet. Go back for a couple more items, fold them, walk back into the bedroom.
Having a child, I'm sure you can think of a bunch more ways you try to optimize, that you can cut out. Toys strewn all over the floor after your child goes to bed? Don't try to grab as many as you can and plunk them all into the toy box at once. Grab 3 or 4 and dump them. Go back. Grab 3 or 4 more.
Those little pieces of food, or ripped paper, or some other thing mini-Sassyfras decided to wing across the room? Pick them up by hand instead of sweeping or vacuuming.
We've all gotten ourselves ready to have dinner, plopped down and realize we forgot something in the kitchen, like salt, or pepper. It's easy to say forget it, because you already made multiple trips to carry the plates, the drinks, the forks and the accouterments. Nope. Get up. Go back. Get whatever it is you forgot.
If your home has stairs, it's even better. Walked downstairs with Sassyfras-lite to get something and forgot what it was? Get back upstairs and remember? Go back. Take mini-you with you, again.
Getting the picture?
posted by cashman at 1:44 PM on April 25, 2011 [8 favorites]
When you're bringing groceries into the house, do you try to grab all 18 handles of the bags so you don't have to make multiple trips (especially with your child)? Don't do that. Make multiple trips as needed. It'll seem stupid, it'll seem repetitive, well at least at first.
Get the clothes out of the dryer and plop them down on the living room furniture. Grab two pieces, fold them, take them into the bedroom, put them in the drawers or hang them in the closet. Go back for a couple more items, fold them, walk back into the bedroom.
Having a child, I'm sure you can think of a bunch more ways you try to optimize, that you can cut out. Toys strewn all over the floor after your child goes to bed? Don't try to grab as many as you can and plunk them all into the toy box at once. Grab 3 or 4 and dump them. Go back. Grab 3 or 4 more.
Those little pieces of food, or ripped paper, or some other thing mini-Sassyfras decided to wing across the room? Pick them up by hand instead of sweeping or vacuuming.
We've all gotten ourselves ready to have dinner, plopped down and realize we forgot something in the kitchen, like salt, or pepper. It's easy to say forget it, because you already made multiple trips to carry the plates, the drinks, the forks and the accouterments. Nope. Get up. Go back. Get whatever it is you forgot.
If your home has stairs, it's even better. Walked downstairs with Sassyfras-lite to get something and forgot what it was? Get back upstairs and remember? Go back. Take mini-you with you, again.
Getting the picture?
posted by cashman at 1:44 PM on April 25, 2011 [8 favorites]
Best answer: Seconding the pedometer idea. Figure out an average step count and then seek to exceed it, little by little.
Get rid of your computer chair if you can and either substitute a yoga ball or stand up. Try to sit less (yes, you're a mother and you probably don't get to sit down, but you know what I mean).
Can you hang laundry outside? Lifting and stretching, if only a little.
When my kids were smaller, I'd do quick sets of baby curls (curling them into my arms and then extending them out again. The kids thought this was great fun, and it definitely used a few muscles. I would also balance them on my shins and lift them into the air.
Strollers are fine, but backpacks and slings will force you to carry extra weight while walking. Even carrying your wee one around the house to name objects can be a mini-workout.
Plan a thorough spring cleaning and work your butt off to get it done. Doing it right will be tiring, but worth it.
Good luck.
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:47 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Get rid of your computer chair if you can and either substitute a yoga ball or stand up. Try to sit less (yes, you're a mother and you probably don't get to sit down, but you know what I mean).
Can you hang laundry outside? Lifting and stretching, if only a little.
When my kids were smaller, I'd do quick sets of baby curls (curling them into my arms and then extending them out again. The kids thought this was great fun, and it definitely used a few muscles. I would also balance them on my shins and lift them into the air.
Strollers are fine, but backpacks and slings will force you to carry extra weight while walking. Even carrying your wee one around the house to name objects can be a mini-workout.
Plan a thorough spring cleaning and work your butt off to get it done. Doing it right will be tiring, but worth it.
Good luck.
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:47 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't know how old your kids are, but try to do the same things they do, e.g.
Swing on Monkey Bars
Baby Crawls
Leapfrog (over a suitable size and stable obstacle)
You might want to search for bodyweight exercises which don't require any equipment. You can get a kick ass workout in a hotel room by doing these without any weights.
posted by benzenedream at 2:06 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Swing on Monkey Bars
Baby Crawls
Leapfrog (over a suitable size and stable obstacle)
You might want to search for bodyweight exercises which don't require any equipment. You can get a kick ass workout in a hotel room by doing these without any weights.
posted by benzenedream at 2:06 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding the suggestion for a FitBit. It will tell you exactly how active you are, and I can vouch for the idea that it encourages activity- I will make a point of moving around more just to make the little flower thingie get bigger.
That which is measured, improves.
posted by ambrosia at 2:07 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
That which is measured, improves.
posted by ambrosia at 2:07 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Park as far away from the store/mall/whatever as you can.
Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.
posted by TooFewShoes at 2:32 PM on April 25, 2011
Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.
posted by TooFewShoes at 2:32 PM on April 25, 2011
Jumping jacks, pushups, crunches, squats ... some good ideas from stumptuous.com are here:
No Weights No Problem
posted by bunderful at 3:18 PM on April 25, 2011
No Weights No Problem
posted by bunderful at 3:18 PM on April 25, 2011
Also, if your kids are old enough and into it, crank up some tunes and have an enthusiastic dance party. If you have a yard or access to a park, you can play hide-n-seek, kick ball, tag, and other games with them.
posted by bunderful at 3:49 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by bunderful at 3:49 PM on April 25, 2011
Have you thought about investing in a personal trainer for a couple of sessions and she could teaching you some exercises that you can do at home in your space time. My partner's a trainer and people like her can teach you simple tips and tricks to do when you have time and in your home. Obviously, they likely specialize in a gym setting but I'm sure you could find someone for a few sessions to either come to your home or to learn some exercises outside of your home and then incorporate them in your daily life. You'll have to keep switching things every few weeks/months because eventually your body will get used to what you're doing and you'll need a new challenge (ie. heavier weights, more challenging exercises etc.).
Good luck :)
posted by DorothySmith at 4:57 PM on April 25, 2011
Good luck :)
posted by DorothySmith at 4:57 PM on April 25, 2011
Stash some dumbbells in areas around the house where the kid can't reach them. If you're on the phone more than a minute, pick up those dumbbells. Or substitute a canned good.
Do some stretches each time you need to boil water or while you need to wait for something else to finish. Something I try sometimes--read Metafilter standing up and stretch before I click another topic.
posted by dragonplayer at 5:26 PM on April 25, 2011
Do some stretches each time you need to boil water or while you need to wait for something else to finish. Something I try sometimes--read Metafilter standing up and stretch before I click another topic.
posted by dragonplayer at 5:26 PM on April 25, 2011
Best answer: First, I'd argue that if you are a stay-at-home mom, and you're doing housework/playing with your kid, you're probably more active than you think.
I'm not a stay at home mom, but I do work from home. I get in a formal exercise session almost every day, but I also try to do little things throughout the work day to keep me active. These are just some of the things that work for me, really it's a matter of using your imagination and there is always something new to do. On days where I am really being good, I'll set a timer and do 2 minutes of intense activity every half hour. You can do anything for two minutes, and after ten hours you've gotten 40 minutes of exercise in. I realize this might be harder if your child is really little and napping a lot, but hopefully you get the idea.
- When making toast or otherwise cooking, I jog in place or do jumping jacks while I wait for something to finish.
- Burpees. These are hard! Do them for one minute every hour on the hour.
- I have a pull-up bar with an assist band over my door. Every time I leave the bathroom, I do ten pull-ups. Other exercises you can do this way: push-ups/planks/squats/dips off of a chair.
- Walking Lunges. If I'm putting something away on the other side of the house, I'll do walking lunges on my way there and back.
- I walk my dog twice a day, for 20 minutes each time. Sometimes we do hill sprints (run up the hill, walk down. repeat five times). Not sure how old your kid is, but if he's stroller age, you can do the same thing.
- You can get a kettlebell relatively cheap and do kettlebell swings. This is a full body exercise (you will probably want to make sure your kid is not wandering around while you do these). The kettlebell is also nice because you can do a number of other weight training exercises with it. There are a number of resources out there, I think GoFit sells a DVD with their version, to get you started.
posted by smalls at 5:54 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not a stay at home mom, but I do work from home. I get in a formal exercise session almost every day, but I also try to do little things throughout the work day to keep me active. These are just some of the things that work for me, really it's a matter of using your imagination and there is always something new to do. On days where I am really being good, I'll set a timer and do 2 minutes of intense activity every half hour. You can do anything for two minutes, and after ten hours you've gotten 40 minutes of exercise in. I realize this might be harder if your child is really little and napping a lot, but hopefully you get the idea.
- When making toast or otherwise cooking, I jog in place or do jumping jacks while I wait for something to finish.
- Burpees. These are hard! Do them for one minute every hour on the hour.
- I have a pull-up bar with an assist band over my door. Every time I leave the bathroom, I do ten pull-ups. Other exercises you can do this way: push-ups/planks/squats/dips off of a chair.
- Walking Lunges. If I'm putting something away on the other side of the house, I'll do walking lunges on my way there and back.
- I walk my dog twice a day, for 20 minutes each time. Sometimes we do hill sprints (run up the hill, walk down. repeat five times). Not sure how old your kid is, but if he's stroller age, you can do the same thing.
- You can get a kettlebell relatively cheap and do kettlebell swings. This is a full body exercise (you will probably want to make sure your kid is not wandering around while you do these). The kettlebell is also nice because you can do a number of other weight training exercises with it. There are a number of resources out there, I think GoFit sells a DVD with their version, to get you started.
posted by smalls at 5:54 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
In the winter (and I mean WINTER! -20 for 5 months straight) we have an exercise routine involving the Wiggles. It's cheesy, it's funny, and I would rather be dead than be walked in on while doing the "cold spaghetti" but my son and I had great fun. It saved our minds (and bodies) when we were cooped up in the house during blizzards.
You might want to rethink that gym idea. If you get a family membership, child-care is usually included for up to two hours. If you have older kids, some of the bigger gyms even have game-based work-out areas like rock climbing walls and Dance Dance Revolution. When we were in TO, our family membership included two adults, two youths (7+, I think), child-minding for two toddlers for up to two hours at a time. It was a great way to workout AND get away from the kids.
posted by Sallysings at 7:00 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
You might want to rethink that gym idea. If you get a family membership, child-care is usually included for up to two hours. If you have older kids, some of the bigger gyms even have game-based work-out areas like rock climbing walls and Dance Dance Revolution. When we were in TO, our family membership included two adults, two youths (7+, I think), child-minding for two toddlers for up to two hours at a time. It was a great way to workout AND get away from the kids.
posted by Sallysings at 7:00 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Clean your floors by hand - rags and bucket, with a rinse, changing water frequently. For bonus points, don't roll your pants up, and do the whole thing in a crouch, rather than kneeling. And then your floors are really, really clean!
posted by palliser at 7:49 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by palliser at 7:49 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Skip rope. One of the best aerobic exercises around.
posted by lahersedor at 5:22 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by lahersedor at 5:22 AM on April 26, 2011
Our 1.5 y.o. toddler loves her bicycle trailer, and I love riding around town with her - small errands and bike path jaunts are right up our alley.
It doesn't feel like a workout, it feels like fun.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:15 AM on April 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
It doesn't feel like a workout, it feels like fun.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:15 AM on April 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Do you have a jogging stroller? A good one? You could take your little guy out with you for long walks. Time it right and the kid will fall asleep (if still of napping age) and you can listen to podcasts while you trot.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:31 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:31 AM on April 26, 2011
We have a Baby Jogger stroller (an older version of this one) and it's held up really well. Mr Corpse has run marathons with it, we've taken it hiking up mountains, we've rolled it down the stairs at subway stations, and I still use it several times a week. It fits into the back of our minivan (with the third row flat) without having to be folded, so I can drive to a trail and walk there when I get bored with our neighborhood. It might seem expensive but it'll last for years; my tall five-year-old fits in it just fine.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:41 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:41 AM on April 26, 2011
I am not a gym person, or a running person, but I have had success incorporating large amounts of exercise into my life by traveling almost exclusively by bicycle. Biking for errands and commuting can make a huge difference. With the right kind of bike and attachments, you can get outfitted to run almost any errand on your bike. Go talk to a knowledgeable shop and they will get you set up. Plus, they make all sorts of trailers/seats so you can tote the little guy along with you.
posted by soy_renfield at 8:06 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by soy_renfield at 8:06 AM on April 26, 2011
Here's a great article I found recently. Print it out and hang it up somewhere for inspiration.
posted by Ryogen at 2:53 PM on April 26, 2011
posted by Ryogen at 2:53 PM on April 26, 2011
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posted by decathecting at 1:34 PM on April 25, 2011 [4 favorites]