5 Reasons Why Every Mom Needs To Exercise

Well… that’s one way for moms to exercise!  (image)

Okay, we get it. Fitting in exercise after having kids isn’t easy. You will be super busy, and your regular keep fit activities (assuming you had any), may become less of a priority in your life. Motherhood is time-consuming, and the exhaustion you feel will take away your inclination to do anything that constitutes as exercise. However…

 

Exercise needs to be a priority, above and beyond the energy you burn off doing your household chores and chasing around after the kids.  And these are the reasons why.

 

1. Exercise will help you lose weight after a pregnancy. You will lose the weight eventually, but you can burn it off sooner if you embark on a regular exercise plan. It’s not easy when you have a child to look after, but you can take the opportunity to exercise by going for a walk with your child in his/her stroller, or by keeping fit through a yoga weight plan when you get some downtime when your child is sleeping.

 

2. You will be a good role model to your kids. it’s a celebration when children learn how to walk, but there will be less of a celebration when all they do all day is sit. Whether it’s sitting in front of the tv or sitting staring at the screen of a smartphone, our kids can become lazy if we don’t do something about it. And the first thing you can do is model exercise yourself. Show your kids that you place it as a priority in your life, and they will hopefully follow your good example and follow suit.

 

3. Exercise is great for stress-relief. Being a mom is stressful. You don’t need us to tell you that if you’re a parent yourself. There will be times when your stress level reaches fever pitch, and no matter how much you love your kids, you may begin to wonder why you thought raising a family was a good idea in the first place. But this is where exercise is helpful. To keep your mood at an even keel, keeping fit will lower your stress levels, much to the relief of yourself and everybody else (including your kids) around you. You will then be able to cope better with whatever demands face you during the day.

 

4. Exercise will give you more energy. While it sounds counterintuitive, the more exercise you do, the more energised you will feel. And if you start early in the morning before the kids get up, you will be better prepared for the school run, your household chores, and their need to play and be entertained when they have come home from school.

 

5. You can bond with your kids. To ensure your children get their exercise quota, you can involve them in activities that will keep you all fit. Get everybody a bike and enjoy a cycle ride somewhere scenic. Pick up the best beginner climbing shoes and literally start climbing the walls, but outside on a rock face, rather than inside when your kids tell you they’re bored. Take a frisbee or a ball and play games together at the local park. There are loads of ways to keep fit with your kids, and the fun you all have will bring you all closer together.

 

So, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t exercised in a while, you now have the incentive to do so. Not only will it aid you, but it will benefit your children too. In the end, everybody wins!

*This is a contributed post.