Mommy Fitness...

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By Melissa Reynolds

I remember talking to a doctor when my daughter was about 7 months old and he asked me what I did for exercise. I listed the various things we did all week, swimming, Gymboree, walking for miles so I could get her to sleep, hauling her stroller up and down stairs at the subway station and at home, hauling laundry up and down the stairs, the list was endless. I remember that this doctor replied with something along the lines of, "That's just being a mom, what do you do for exercise?" I remember the outrage I felt at this blasé question. The end of every day brought exhaustion from taking care of my baby, when would I possibly have the time, or the energy, to work out?

Well, it is actually a bit of a relief to know that I'm not alone! A study published recently in the Journal Women and Health, co-authored by University of Victoria exercise psychologist Ryan Rhodes, shows that mothers of young children had to reduce their physical activity by 80 minutes a week on average. In addition, these mothers were a mix of both stay-at-home and working moms.

I wasn't the fittest person before I had a child; I always felt that I never had the time. Now I realize, I had free time that I really took for granted. Motherhood, for me anyway, brought a lot of couch time in the beginning. Sitting and holding her while she slept, sitting quietly while she slept upstairs. It's not like I was out running a marathon while she napped. I don't regret all of the time I spend with my daughter, not at all. Even though I don't have a lot of time to call my own, that doesn't mean there are not ways to work fitness into your schedule.

Give stroller fit a try. An hour to an hour and a half long workout of running, lunges and taking hills all while pushing your baby in the stroller. It is one of the toughest workouts I have ever experienced. Either www.mommyandbabyfitness.com or www.babyandmefitness.com offer great programs not to mention your local community center.

I introduced my baby to the water at an early age, five months, and it turned out to be a great experience for both of us! A half hour of aqua fit while my baby floated next to me with a half hour of baby time after was a great workout. Think about lifting a 20-pound weight over your head repeatedly and you'll see what I mean. H2O Fit, www.h2ofit.com, was a great choice for us.

FitMom Canada, www.fitmomcanada.com, offers workouts while having your baby or toddler with you. Some health clubs offer on-site child care while you work out, check out Pure Fitness Canada, www.purefitnesscanada.com. My final advice? Don't begrudge your child the time you spend with them that may be time you're not being as physically active as you want to be. Find ways to put the two together and have a great time doing it.