7 ideas for exercising in winter (when you have kids to look after)
As the temperature drops, it’s very common for your exercise motivation to plummet as well. After all, if you have to choose between exercise vs staying indoors with a woolly jumper and a heater – it’s no contest really.
Find your WHY
A great way to ramp up that exercise mojo is to focus on the answer to this question – ‘why do I choose to exercise?’ It might be:
- To be a positive role model for my kids
- To be healthier and fitter
- To feel more like ‘me’ again
- To look better naked
- To clear my head
- To assist with reaching my weight loss goals
- To tone up
1. Work out in the sitting room
Grab an at-home exercise DVD and do a 10 or 15 minute session as often as you can squeeze in. Or try doing a session from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge app before the kids get up, while they nap, or while they’re occupied eating lunch.
2. Use equipment at home
If you’ve got anything like a treadmill, skipping rope, or some hand weights (even tins of tomatoes will work!) – pull those out and use them in the warmth of the house.
3. Head to a heated pool
If you live near an indoor heated pool, pack the kids up and head there in the cold weather. Jumping about in the warm water can burn calories while you play with the kids at the same time. You could even meet a friend there with their kids and take turns to do a few solo laps.
4. Run up and down the stairs
If you have stairs at home, spend ten minutes a few times a day just running up and down them. It’s a great way to boost your heart rate, and the interval style training is great for toning too.
5. Go to the shopping centre
A shopping centre is a great place to go when it’s cold outside. They’re heated, have parking out the front, and are free of wind/rain/snow so there’s no chance of blaming the elements for cancelling your workout. Pop the kids in a pram or trolley and go for a half hour walk around (it can be a good idea to give the kids a snack and a drink to keep them busy).
6. Add more incidental exercise to your day
Take your time doing tasks at home to boost your steps and general movement. For instance you could fold the washing and take each item of clothing to pack away one at a time. You could do squats while you wait for the microwave to beep. Do some lunges while you spoon-feed a baby. Everything you do burns calories – from gardening to housework.
7. Make a play date
If your kids play well with someone else’s children, try inviting them over to play while you and the other mum do some exercise. This way they are entertained enough to allow you to do a quick circuit (such as the HIIT exercises in our 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge!)
Feedback from mums who do the HIIT exercises on the 28 Day Challenge
“The workouts are fabulous! Everything you can do on the floor at home while you have a few spare minutes between loads of washing or while bub is napping- no excuses!” – Cat Christ
“I love that the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge exercises are so versatile. I can do them at home with very minimal equipment and at any time of the day, before the kids wake up, or even after they go to bed.” – Candice Plant
“The exercises got me out of my normal routine trying new combinations, got my heart rate up and fit in with my busy life as a mum.” – Laura Flannagan
Want to jump on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge bandwagon?
With over 4,000 recipes, 350 fat burning exercises and 24/7 support, The Healthy Mummy can help YOU hit your goal weight faster.
Our Challenge includes:
- 28 days of at home exercise routines (no gym needed) – with video instruction
- New CHALLENGE THEME each month – so you’ll NEVER get bored
- Customisable and breastfeeding friendly meal plans
- Time-efficient exercises for busy mums – under 30 mins
- Challenge combines Pilates exercises with interval and circuit
training (HIIT) - Suitable for basic to advanced fitness levels
- Home to thousands of EASY-TO-MAKE recipes!
Join the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge today!
