Getting Fit With the Fam!

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At one point or another every mom has thought about their fitness goals. Whether it be to lose a few pounds, increase our stamina for chasing children around, or build some muscles to help ease the pain of pushing a grocery cart or stroller! We all have something in mind. For many of us, the issue with meeting our goals is that there never seems to be enough hours in the day to make “me time”. It’s hard enough to fit in three meals, drink enough water, and take a shower. So how are we supposed to get a thirty minute workout in?

I’ll tell you how. We need to start working smarter, not harder! Your fitness goals don’t have to be yours alone. Take this opportunity to help improve your family’s overall health. Now in no way am I suggesting that you begin kettle-bell training with your toddler! So what can an entire family do together? Walk! Have the little ones put on some comfy gear and lace up those sneakers. Put baby in a carrier or in a stroller and get moving.

One of my favorite family fitness activities to do is take a good long walk. There have been days where my little ones were restless and I was totally out of ideas. One day I threw some snacks in my diaper bag, got them dressed, strapped baby boy to my chest, put my little girl in the stroller and I literally ran out the door! Not even a full ten minutes later and they were both sleeping. The beauty was that I actually had a moment to take in the scenery. I noticed a local garden which I drive past every morning and never paid any attention to. I also realized how close I lived  to an awesome walking trail .

I walked for 45 minutes that afternoon and it all counted towards exercise; helping me reach my fitness goals. I was so pleased with my new found love for walking that I told my husband he needed to join me and we should make it a family activity for the weekend. We all had a blast! At one point my preteen and I even kicked the power walk up a notch into a jog; giving dad a little alone time with our “two under two”. 

Westchester county is home to some beautiful trails and there are so many great resources right at our fingertips. Check out some of Westchester’s best hiking and biking trails and find one near you !

If you are a mama with little ones not quite ready to lace up their shoes and walk alongside you, just know that you’re in good company! A local mom created this site as a guide for “babywearing friendly” hikes. Where there’s a will there’s a way!

A brisk walk is considered to be a low impact cardiovascular activity. You can move at your own pace and take it easy or kick it up a notch by boosting the intensity and power walking! Fitness does not need to include an intense workout regimen. It can be as simple as making a conscious effort to get moving. So make an effort to do so. Nothing is more exciting as a child than a change of scenery. Take a stroll down memory lane and get fit with the whole fam!