Be a Fit Fam
As a busy mom it is often difficult to catch a moment to get a workout in, even when I have help. This leaves us with the constant need to develop a workout that we can do at home while the kids are sleeping, at school or occupied. That is great, where possible, but why not incorporate the little ones into your fitness regime so that you can show them the importance of physical exercise, tire them out and bond?
If you check out my Instagram page you will see that I have brought my kids with me to the gym and my eldest son loves to do exercises on my balcony at home while his mommy and daddy trains. Fitness is a huge part of my life (and my job), so it’s natural that my kids are a part of it. Hopefully, I can instil the love of movement into them as it is beneficial to their health.
These are my top three exercises and activities I love to do with my boys. Try it if you are looking to make fitness a family activity.
Catch Me If You Can, Mum!
For this ‘game’, I head down to an open field and run after my boys while I carry the other one. This is great cardio due to the running, but also is strength training at the same time because of the weight of my other son. It’s like wearing a weighted vest, only this one is for free.
If your children are already teenagers then going for a run around your area or on the promenade together could be great to get the endorphins flowing! Perhaps play tag. Or do partner carries.
Lift me baby
The next thing I love to do is weight training with my boys. All you need to do is keep your child as a weight as you do the movements. If you have more than one toddler is it also great as they vary in weight. Lifting can also translate into walking, hiking and running pushing your kids in a jogger pram was one of my favourite new mom things to do. Hiking you could just strap your baby in a carrier and go!
These can include:
- Squats and lunges
- Squat and press
- Planks and push ups with your child on your back
Also take a look at my Bodyweight Series here.
These guides are priced at an affordable R110 and are designed for those looking to train using body weight, but you can also complete some of the exercises with your child as a weight. It will give you a great selection of exercises to do for any body part you want to train. They are also great guides for moms with teenage children who want to include their teens in outdoor training sessions! I created these for vacation, travelling and to get your workout in out on the grass or barefoot in the sand.
Family refresh
Kids can get restless when they are all cooped up at home. I have always loved hikes, stairs and beach training and have always recommended it when I trained Glow Girls at my Women’s Gym.
I still love to do my training on the slopes of a mountain, because you come back refreshed and the terrain helps to build the glutes. Make it a family thing by taking the kids with you on jogs, hikes or walks on the promenade.
Once the training is done, fill up their tummies
When we’re back home, I love to prepare some healthy snacks, smoothies or juices. If your kids are old enough, they can even assist you in the kitchen. Alternatively, you could try a combination of all the above exercises (start with a warm up of running after the kids, then a few sets of strength moves, followed by a leisurely walk), then pack some snacks for a picnic.
There are great healthy snacks in my e-books that you can try. You can prepare any of them. My favourites for healthy snack options for the whole family includes; Hulk Juice, Muscle Pancakes, Glow balls, pizza, The Hero Juice, brownies, hummus and veggie sticks, popcorn, healthy sarmies and boiled eggs.
These recipes mentioned above are available in my Winter Glow Cleanse, Glow Cleanse, Mamma Glow and the teen nutritional guides. The e-books range from R450 upwards and are available for purchase here. I also have a wonderful FREE RECIPE selection under FIT FOOD on my website, under EDUCATION.
I hope you try these recipes and outdoor activities with your kids. Healthy living and exercise should be part of your daily life as a family. Try to find exciting ways of sneaking in workouts with your kids. A soccer, basketball or cricket game, wrestling match, Saturday morning hike, taking the kids to a community Zumba class or walking the whole mall flat with your daughter to find that perfect dress, can all be great ways to stay fit. If you nurture the ideologies of healthy living and the benefits of exercise and good nutrition, they will grow up to be mindful of this in the future.
Love,
Rushda