Tips for Multitasking Mamas: Part 1

Get great childcare so you can fully enjoy your workout. Credit: lululemon athletica

Like most women, I am insanely busy. When the baby arrived, I wasn’t sure how there were going to be enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done! Luckily, there are other multitasking mamas who have already paved the way, like Kristy DiScipio, area group fitness manager at Equinox, and mother of two energetic boys.

In this two-part post, Kristy shares the tips that have helped her lose the baby weight, fight off seasonal colds, reduce stress, and balance home and work life.

Fit Tips for Busy Moms

Schedule It. As a mom, you are the ultimate multitasker, NASA practically comes to you for advice on how to run the Command Center. But, do you put everyone else’s needs ahead of your own? Put yourself on the top of the to-do list, and schedule your workouts on the calendar just like any other commitment. Make an appointment with yourself and keep it.

Find a Kid-Friendly Health Club. Before you join a health club, make sure it has child care that’s safe and fun for your little one and that will also keep them entertained as they get older. Be sure to ask about age ranges, as some clubs begin accepting babies as young as 3 months (others may have you wait until 6 months).

Typically, gyms set a two-hour maximum on babysitting. While your little ones are happily playing, aim to exercise three to five times a week for 30 to 60 minutes each time and do a combination of cardio and strength work. Or better yet, take a class. Get your heart pumping with cycling, boxing boot camp, a cardio/sculpt workout, or get your daily dose of Zen with a yoga class.

Express Yourself. Get your vogue on and dance. Dancing is a super calorie burner and cardio workout. Crank up your iPod, toss in a DVD, or take a dance class at your gym or dance studio. The key ingredient is to keep moving. Not only do fitness centers offer dance classes, but there are also lots of community and recreational centers that offer adult dance classes. According to the Mayo Clinic, a 140-pound woman burns about 300 calories in one hour of dancing.

Downdog Push-Ups. Whether you are a yogi or just want to get down and play, try the downdog push-up. From downward-facing dog, push up with one leg lifted. Keep the elbows in, hips high, lower your chest to the floor between your hands on the exhale and inhale back up to down-dog split—five on each side. It’s ROUGH, but very efficient if you have about 30 seconds.

Give these tips a try and then tune in next week for more awesome tips from the pros at Equinox! They’re full of it—in a good way, of course. —Erin