What’s It’s Like to Work Out With a 10-Month-Old
I work out with my 10-month-old twice a week, sometimes three times a week. She is literally at the gym, by my side. I tell people this and they are all like …
And it is nutty at times. Because, as all moms know, it takes a village. Thankfully, one of my villages (in addition to family and mom friends) is my gym. And, with their help, it’s doable. Crazy, but doable.
Here’s how a typical workout with my 10-month-old goes …
Step one: Set up what we at the gym affectionately call the “Gwen pen.” It’s an elaborate design of perfectly positioned mats, padded boxes and toys.
Step two: Set up the gear I need for my workout, and attempt to warm up. Realize there’s a hole in the Gwen pen.
Step three: Act fast to seal it up. Bust out more toys.
Step four: Begin workout.
Step five: Rush back over to baby to pick up dropped toys. Give her a snack.
Step six: Melt when she cheers me on with a “mama” and hand clap.
Step seven: Baby gets fussy/bored. Enlist the help of others (thanks, Nicole, Tina, Erika and Sheryl!).
Step eight: Hurriedly push through my workout as quickly as possible to avoid total meltdown by 10-month-old.
Step nine: Cool down next to her, snuggle — and then offer her up as weight for others working out.
Step 10: Pick up our mess! (Otherwise, I’m not sure we’d be welcome back, haha!)
Like I said, it takes a village and it isn’t always easy. I’ve stopped workouts to soothe, find a binky, get her favorite blanket from the car, wipe a nose and nurse. But it’s all worth it. Happy healthy mama, happy healthy baby.
Do you work out with your little one? What steps does it take? I can’t imagine how much this will change when she’s full-out walking, which could be any day now … —Jenn