Workout with your Kids: The Warm Up

As a mother, I know it is hard to find the time and energy to workout. I also know that when you do, it often leads to feelings of guilt for ignoring your kids long enough to get in some fat burning. The solution? Combine play time with workout time! Over the next few weeks I will be showing you some of the things I do with my girls in order to accomplish this feat, but I will start you off today with our simple warm up.

All you really need to get your heart pumping and your blood flowing is a ten minute cardio routine. Here is what we do: First, I blast ten minutes worth of our favorite dance tunes on the iPod. Second, I release my children in the living room with instructions to dance their hearts out and to keep moving until the music stops. Third, I copy everything they do... as vigourously as they do it! Fourth, I pull out my hidden chearleading talents when the kids start to poop out and encourage them to keep going by doing my own crazy dance moves.

OK. I understand that this might seem like a strange idea, but I get WAY more of a workout mimicking my girls for ten minutes then I do running on a treadmill or elliptical for the same amount of time. Plus its fun for everyone! You get to play a super fun game with your kids while simultaneously burning some serious calories and prepping your body for the workout to come. Give it a try. You'll be surprised at how fun it can be :)

Here is a little clip of my girls dancing. When I dance with them I try to copy everything they do, including the wild arm swings and running back and forth across the room. I would have done a video with me in it, but alas, I was holding the camera :)



And just for fun, here is a video of Brooklyn dancing before Lily figured out what was going on. The girl has an endless supply of energy!