Kids Home For Summer? You Can Still Hit the Gym

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you can hit the gym even with kids home for summer

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It’s not easy to carve out time to exercise. Not for anyone that I know.

People have to make choices and prioritize what is important to them. And people tend to make the time to do the things they like to do.

I have read a lot of weight loss success stories and they all seem to include finding an activity that will suit your individual interests. It might be hiking, running, biking or finding a gym that you like to go to.

As a busy parent of three boys, I get a lot of physical activity with them but it doesn’t seem to balance out my food and drink indulgences.

I applaud people that begin their day with an hour hike or bike ride.

I can appreciate the tranquility of the early morning air and satisfaction of feeling it moving through your lungs as your heart pumps blood through your veins waking up all the cells of your body. How it must clear the mind to prepare for the day and all it has to bring.

Yes, that sounds nice. However, it does not fit into my schedule.

I wake up to three hungry little faces and start my day feeling needed. I like that. And I have found a different way to enjoy exercise.

I belong to a gym and have favorite weekly classes that I attend. For me, this works.

Get in and get out. But continue to have fun doing it. I don’t have to force myself to go to the gym because I look forward to the classes that I take.

I can fit the classes that I enjoy around school schedules and everyone is happy. But summer is coming and that means that my children will be joining me at the gym.

Since they are now older, it is much easier than it used to be. The gym offers kid’s fitness classes, rock climbing, and provides activities, movies and plenty of things to keep them interested in coming back.

Still, when you are parent and your children are in the child care, you dread the sight of a child care employee walking into an exercise class that has already begun.

I was in my favorite Zumba class. We were past the warm up and into the third choreographed song.

I was dancing with full energy. I may or may not have been singing out loud.

The entire class was so into the song that we didn’t immediately notice the large glass door open and the child care employee enter.

But almost as if we could sense it, about 15 heads (mine included) snapped to the side of the room to watch her walk up front. We nervously looked around at each other wondering who she was coming for.

She scanned the large, open floor for the face of the parent that she needed. She slowly extended her hand and pointed into the crowd.

I gasped and whispered a silent, “Oh, no.” She was pointing right at me!

But it wasn’t me that she was looking for. It was the dancer in front of me. Several sighs of relief could be heard, including mine.

Sadly, it was my friend that had just returned to the gym after a few week suspension due to her son’s behavior in the child care. She quickly followed the employee and we continued into the next dance. Another workout obstacle to overcome.

Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.