Working Out... With Kids

Now that my surrogacy is behind me and I've successfully completed four pregnancies, I'm faced with the forever-irritating task of losing the baby weight.

Four pregnancies in seven years has, ahem, really not done my body any favors.

The massive mountain of Girl Scout cookies lining my dining room hall is also not helping the situation.

So last week I decided to stop making excuses and start working out again. Because I want an option that allows me to bring my kiddos, I tried out Stroller Strides/Fit4Mom of Arlington/Mansfield.

I attended class Wednesday morning (because Tuesday I was too sore from a 3-mile run up the blasted Arkansas Ln. hill with my running group) without my kiddos. I was actually nervous it would be weird to show up to a kid-friendly workout sans kiddos, but everyone was very welcoming and friendly and seemed indifferent to my missing stroller. We started with a warm-up and introductions and then proceeded to jogging around Veteran's Park, stopping intermittently to do body-weight exercises. During each exercise we sang songs to keep kiddos entertained, although it was not unusual for a mom to have to stop and tend to a cranky baby or fussy toddler. No one even batted an eyelash! The workout lasted a full hour- and that hour flew by! 

My favorite part about this workout, besides being able to bring my kiddos (or not), was that it can be as easy or as hard as I make it. The workout incorporates resistance bands and weights (I borrowed some, although I do have my own weights I could bring), which means I can make it harder on days I'm feeling it and easier on days I'm not. (I was pretty sore Thursday, so I effectively worked those muscles for sure!)

Friday the workout was moved indoors because it was chilly in the morning, and I brought my girls. They sat with snacks on the bleachers at Dottie Lynn, occasionally jumping in the stroller when they saw us running laps around the gym ("faster mom! Go faster!). They socialized with other kids and came to ask me a silly question on more than one instance- and, because we are all moms, no one was bothered by their interruptions.

Besides getting in a great workout two days last week, I met some great moms! Everyone is at a different stage of motherhood- some have infants, some have older children, some (like me) are right in the middle. But every mama is there to take an hour and focus on her own well-being, which is so, so important. It is also beyond important to have an awesome support group of moms you can turn to for anything- and these women seemed to have formed an awesome group!

Stroller Strides/Fit4Mom of Arlington/Mansfield is owned by awesome local mama Lauren Galipp. Lauren is a mom of three who lives in Arlington. Any questions? Email her at laurengalipp@fit4mom.com