Are you a new or young mom? Are there days when getting a workout in seems impossible? Inevitably there will be days when you can’t so much as leave the house, much less make it to the gym. Scheduling conflicts, your spouse working late and bad weather are just a few conflicts that come up all the time. We’ve all been there.
That said, making time for exercise is important. Not only is it great for your physical health, it’s also an amazing way to help maintain your sanity, relieve stress, get the endorphins flowing and more! That’s why it’s important to have a few go-to workouts saved that you can do right at home! I have a few of these saved in what I call my “nap time file”.
With a little advanced planning, the kiddo’s nap time can be the perfect time to sneak in a workout on a busy day!
Here are a few tips to help make sure you maximize your workout time:
1) Have your workout clothes on before the kiddos go to sleep. This is a simple step that will save time in the long run.
2) Pick out your workout ahead of time. There’s nothing worse than successfully getting the kids to sleep and then having to spend 15 minutes searching for a workout that you feel like doing. Decide on your workout and have any equipment you might need in place and ready to go before naptime.
3) Choose quality over quantity. There’s no need to spend an entire hour of nap time working out. Choose short, effective workouts to get the blood pumping!
I put together this workout I call Nap Time Nines for you to try:
It requires a pair of dumbbells but can still be done quietly in a small area to avoid waking the kids! Choose a weight that allows you to complete all the exercises with correct form but still challenges you.
To make it easier, you can do the squats, lunges and wall sits without dumbbells. To make it harder you can use the dumbbells for all exercises. If you can’t hold a wall sit for 90 seconds, hold it as long as you can and make it a goal to work up to 90 seconds!
If you have extra space, try jumping rope for 3-5 minutes before and after the workout!
As you know, it’s important to refuel after a workout. Since you’ll probably be trying to eat as the kids are waking up, why not make a healthy, kid-friendly snack that they can enjoy right along with you?
These Wild Blueberry Mini Muffins are packed with antioxidants thanks to the Wild Blueberries, protein from the nut butter and yogurt and are perfect for little hands!
Here are a few things you should know about Wild Blueberries compared to regular blueberries:
- They have twice the amount of antioxidants and more protective phytochemicals.
- They’re frozen at harvest, which locks in their nutrients and taste.
- They contain less water than regular blueberries, which makes them ideal for baking! Use them straight out of the freezer- no thawing required!
- They’re available year round in the freezer section of many grocery stores and they’re a super convenient way to have this antioxidant-rich superfruit on hand at all times!
