Parental Fitness

Hey, MFT parents – how do you make the time to work out while juggling life, work, and your kids? A new study from the University of Pittsburgh found that having kids made both men and women less likely to exercise. Though it’s intuitive that new mothers have less time to work out due to demanding infant feeding and sleeping schedules, new dads also must fight the battle of the bulge because of dwindling workout time. Although new fathers got about two hours more exercise, on average, than new mothers, the fathers’ workout time was cut in half after their children were born. New moms, on the other hand, lost approximately one-third of workout time.

Do you use a jogging stroller, take a swimming class with your toddler, or go for walks and runs with older children? Experts agree that the best way to combat the stress of new parenting is by continuing to get healthy, regular workouts whatever way you can. For example, although 30 minutes is recommended three to four times per week, if you can only get 10 minutes of uninterrupted time, work out for 10 minutes, then sneak another 10 later, and the final 10 minutes whenever you can. Three brief workouts is far preferable to zero workouts. As your kids age, one of the healthiest examples you can set for them is by making exercise a priority. So though you might need to cut back on computer time, play dates, or television viewing, remember that what you are doing is not only in your best interest – it’s in the best interest of your kids.

Busy MFT members find creative ways to keep their fitness at top levels while managing busy lives. Share your tips in the comments section on how you make time to work out, strategies that you have used, and whether or not you work out with your children.

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