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SALT LAKE CITY — I know I’m not the only one who is still feeling those postpartum pounds, but it feels like it sometimes. My thighs rub together when I walk, my stomach rolls multiple times over my waistband, and my arms jiggle as I order my kids around the house. It’s pretty depressing.
Most people in my situation would come up with a diet and exercise plan. They would start reading labels and counting calories. They would do what the Mayo Clinic tells them to do: eat smaller portions, eat more fruits and vegetables, and only eat when they're hungry. The diet part I can follow. I can handle that.
The exercise part I wasn't so sure about. If I did what everyone else was doing, I’d maybe have to actually ride the exercise bike that is taking up space in our spare bedroom.
I'm not like everyone else, though. I’m a mother — and motherhood comes with a built-in weight-loss program: Momsercising.
#poll
My most effective workout to date is something that could be done daily, if you were up to it. I just went today. It’s amazing really. My arms and legs were burning. Sweat was dripping across my forehead and upper lip. My sons were cheering me on, saying, “You can do it, Mommy. Just a bit further!”
The workout? A trip to the grocery store.
Yup, you heard me right. After spending almost an hour walking around the warehouse store with a 4- and 2-year-old in the cart, along with the growing pile of bulk items, and a 16-pound baby strapped to my chest, I was exhausted! It was literally an uphill climb to my car, more than 100 yards away, and the wind was blowing 15 miles an hour in the opposite direction of where I was headed.
I told my boys we weren’t going to make it home that day. It just wasn’t happening. The little guys cheered me through it, though, and I lived to give my recommendation: best exercise errand ever!
I’m telling you, grocery aerobics are the next big thing.
When getting to the store isn’t an option, these activities are next in line in getting my heart rate up:
- Vacuum the stairs.
- Give piggy-back rides (3 reps of 3 minutes each child).
- Wash sliding glass door with your 1-year-old (you won’t finish in under half an hour).
- Chase your kids around trying to get on their pajamas, brush their teeth and put them in bed.
- Lay on the floor to relax and end up doing superman leg lifts for an hour.
Bitterpoison.com takes Momsercising to a whole new level. It has a calculator on its website that will tell you how many calories you burn during each household activity. From ironing to mopping, it will give you personalized numbers on how your Momsercising is going.
Being a mother involves physical activity every day. Who needs an actual workout?
My cool-down for the day? Changing bunk bed sheets.
Tara Creel is a Logan native and mother of three boys. Contact her at taracreel@gmail.com.
