running all over the place

I rarely stop. Just ask around. I'm always on the go. I'm always carrying something for someone and when I forget a bag, it's usually my own because I'm laden down with everyone else's stuff. Sound familiar? Ah yes, motherhood brings lots of exercise without even thinking about it. There's muscle tone with lifting little people, with or without their toys, and added strength training when lifting them to turn off lights, reach water fountains, holding them steady and precarious over a public potty so he can go because the seat is too icky to sit, you get the idea.

Then there's running when you rather walk but 3yr olds prefer to get there first and before you, no matter what. When you're not using the eyes in the back of your head, your neck gets a workout by twisting this way and that making sure the street is clear or perhaps finding a random snack that had fallen on the backseat during a red light. Not to mention the finding toys motion which your neck does on a regular basis behind a couch, under a bed, between bookcases and voila!, you always find your action figure, car, or block. Good job.

There's ab control too when your child runs and jumps on the couch to be with you, actually on you. Bouncing said child up and down on stomach surely has to count for some calorie loss. Am I grasping? I think not.

However, I haven't done my regular walking (just me, myself & I) in weeks, ok ... since the end of school. Yikes! Did I write that? That long? Swimming is good exercise but let's face it ... schlepping pool toys, towels, money for snacks, and children to the pool and then getting a few swim races in with older son while younger son floats nearby until realizing you are not holding him, doesn't really break down to 20 swims in the lap pool.

As a bonus, (lucky you!) there's meditation and precision breathing when walking through older child's room as you make certain to not lose your footing or then you'll lose your balance and fall on random lego creations, sharp metal planes, or "mess up" the baseball card inventory, on the floor, of course!

So tomorrow I'm back to the gym and my morning weekday routine. Wish me luck. I think I'll need it. I hope I remember my iPod ... it's not that heavy.

"Run mad as often as you chuse, but do not faint”
-Jane Austen