Exercising with 3 Kids–WFMW

Today’s Works For Me Wednesday is actually going to build on my Body After Baby.  Way to marry two blog hops, huh? 

How do I exercise with three kids?  Well before Patrice was born, I had a membership to an actual gym, but with her coming and back to nursing full-time, I knew I would not want to take the time, in addition to work,  being away from the kidlets.  So we undertook a big project…we cleaned our basement and claimed it for exercise space.  Hubby and I had his and her exercise equipment before we got married.  I had a recumbant bike and he an eliptical machine, and our anniversary present to each other this year was a treadmill.  And one Christmas I got the girls a mini trampoline.  So we have all the equipment, we just have to get on it. 

The bike, treadmill, eliptical and trampoline, known as a jump jump around here, are set up in front of the TV.  That way we can watch something as we exercise.  The  girls think it is an extra special treat to go to “Our Gym.”  And when they get bored I can turn on a cartoon for them.  We also have some of their bigger doll toys down there, so they can play with the high chair, swing and dolly strollers while mommy and daddy exercise.  And for Patrice, that is where we have the little “exersaucer” set up for her enjoyment.

I am finding running on the treadmill to be more challenging than outside, but I LOVE running outside.  That is a little trickier to do with the girls.  Caitlyn loves to run with mommy and she is quick.  On days that I have a little bit of time, I start with her and she does the first block with me.  We do a mix of run and walk.  She is always so proud to jog with mommy.  I so want to cultivate that in the girls.  With the cold, it takes lots of bundling to get Patrice ready to go.  Last week it was about 35 degrees when she went with me.  I had her in a warm sleeper, hat and mittens, then a snow sack over her sleeper and a wearable blanket over that.  I am going to make a blanket I can tie on to the stroller as well.

Sometimes it takes me three separate tries to get my exercise in, but every little bit helps and that is what Works for Me Wednesday.  There are more ideas over at We Are That Family.  Check it out!