When we say "run like a mother" we're not talking about running to the bathroom for five minutes of alone time.
No, we're talking actual running (or spinning, lifting, stretching). Like. A. Mother.
It might not seem like it, because how are we supposed to fit one more thing into our already packed schedule, but it's totally possible to get some exercise time in.
Nailing down very specific and manageable time frames rather than saying "oh I'm gonna work out this week" is what worked for Tia Accetta, running coach for The Workout Group, when her kids were babies. Also, she said going first thing in the morning before anybody was up ensured she got her running in.
"I think the best method for me was to pick two days a week that my running was a priority," Acetta said. "That's what I did when I was working full time and had babies...As long as I really had those two days nailed down I didn't really care what happened the rest of the week. I just plugged it in and made sure it was relaxing and thearapeutic and didn't stress if I didn't do it..."
Obviously, if you're training to run races, you have to run more than twice a week, so those runs just happened when she could get them in, like when her husband got home.
If you feel guilty about it, just remind yourself of the therapeutic benefits of running and realize you're not ruining anybody's life by going out for a half hour by yourself, Acetta says.
"Really knowing that 20 or 30 minutes that you're gonna go out and jog will benefit everybody in your house, including you," Acetta said. "That's really helpful."
Tia Accetta, left, chats with friends while walking down Tumamoc Hill.
Tia and her husband Randy lead a running group for people of all abilities called The Workout Group that meets twice a week to run. For more info, click here.
We chatted with several other Tucson moms who have found a way to squeeze in their exercise time, despite the hectic mom life.
Here's how they do it:
Katie Keating is a 34-year-old mom of a 10-month-old baby and works full time on signal processing algorithms outside of the house.
Katie Keating and her baby, Goldie, after Katie ran the Run n' Roll. Keating says having running buddies helps keep you motivated when you're trying to get and stay in shape.
How she does it: Well, the support of my husband Jared is pretty essential! I fit in a lot of my running when the baby is asleep. I run during her naps on weekends and after she goes to bed at night, so that requires him to be home at certain times...One day a week I run with The Workout Group that Randy and Tia Acetta are coaches for. I do that for the social aspect and to get my butt kicked in a way that I just can't manage when I'm on my own. It really keeps me motivated day in and day out to have that one day at The Workout Group. I know I can't slack off or I won't be able to keep up on Tuesday nights! It's a really great time for Goldie and Jared to bond, too. I think it's great for their relationship to have that special time together.
Advice: It has been really hard to get in shape after pregnancy and giving birth and then caring for a baby. I really underestimated the number the whole thing would do on my body and the time and effort required to care for a baby and the effect of sleep deprivation. It took me a good six months after she was born to get back into a routine, so I would encourage new moms to just take it easy on yourself and know that things will get a lot more manageable, little by little.
As far as getting in shape, just be patient and as consistent as possible and just keep getting out there day after day and it will come...It really helps a lot to have other people to run with...
Linnley Sweeney is the 27-year-old mother of an 8-month-old daughter. She works part time as an aquatics coordinator and is a personal trainer.
On fitting it all in: With my busy schedule it's all about fitting my workouts in whatever "mom cracks" I can get. Between meetings, before or after work or even waking up a little earlier, I do what I can to fit at least 20 minutes in my day for me...Most days I wake up extra early to get in a run. It doesn't always work, especially when I've been up through the night, but I make a big effort to make it happen. Days like today when it didn't happen I have an amazing support system of friends that are willing to play with her while I get out for a half hour...Marley and my family are my focus, but to be focused I need time for me. Mom it's okay to spend that time on you. I find those days that I don't get something in I am way less patient and feel less of an attentive mom. So I feel it's essential to make it happen for you.
On staying motivated: What motivates me is how I feel when I have taken that time. I am a runner and enjoy weight lifting as well. I train not to just stay in shape, but to race in marathons and half marathons.
Advice: Make it a priority. It's certainly not the end of the world if you don't do it, but I can promise you, you'll feel like a million bucks if you take at least 20 minutes a day for your fitness. Start small and simple like going for a walk, do squats and lunges on the grass at the park, take your kids and make a game out of it. Have your child be your weight. Trust me they think it's fun. Find friends with common goals and train together. Getting that mommy time to vent, share and laugh is essential and will help you be more motivated to make it happen.
Get your husband on board too. This is huge. He doesn't have to work out with you, although that's a bonus; having him behind you every step of the way is important for you to stay motivated. Becoming a fit mom isn't about a number on the scale or looking a certain way, it's having a positive outlook on your health; it's being a good example for your kids and about becoming a better healthier you.
Ashley Nowe is a 33-year-old mother of three kids, a nutrition coach and the founder of Get Mom Strong, a blog created to educate and motivate moms to be strong and healthy through exercise and nutrition advice.
Advice: Now is as good a time as any. What do I mean by that? There is no perfect time to work out. There will always be dishes in the sink, laundry that needs to be folded, a floor that need vacuuming, and a kid who didn't nap well. The thing I see most often with my mom clientele, is that they feel like they are juggling too much and are too run down to exercise. The thing is, exercise actually GIVES you energy. Just get started. That is the hardest part. You don't need a lot of time to feel the benefits of exercise. You just need 20 minutes. The result is more energy, more stamina, and some endorphins to keep you from losing your mommy mind. You don't need much equipment and you can get all the benefits from a quick home workout. Throw on a Paw Patrol, grab some dumbbells and take a little time for you.
Ashley Nowe gets help lifting from her two boys, Denver and Miles.
Alicia Larson is a registered nurse in a hospital emergency department and the mother of one child.
On fitting it in: I am extremely fortunate to have a spouse whose commitment to fitness equals my own. We make a point of sharing workout time. We also have only one child, and while I do work full time, I'm a registered nurse in a hospital emergency department, so I only work three (long!) days per week. That being said, fitting in workout times is often a puzzle. I frequently hit the floor at 4:45 a.m. to get in a quick three or four-mile run before getting ready for work. I bike commute to work, though my commute is under three miles. My four non-working days are when I get my longest workouts in, typically starting as late as 8:30 or 9:00, after I drop my kiddo off at school. Recently, I have been running pretty long, so once a week I've gotten up and left the house at 5, and my husband takes care of drop-off duty.
On making it happen: The best time is now. Just get out there and make it happen for yourself, because it won't if you don't make it. And realize that you are setting a tremendous example for your kids by being active.
Kerrie Green is a 36-year-old mother of one child and works full time.
On making choices: To some extent it has to be something you choose, which can mean unchoosing other things.
On fitting it in: I'm at the gym four days a week, three of those days before 6 a.m. Two of those days, I take my daughter with me in her jammies. She eats a small breakfast there while I work out, then we go home for real breakfast before school or she eats at school.
On being an example: I tell her all the time that it means so much to me that she comes with me. She loves that I work out and wants to be as strong as me. (So, character building for her, right?)
On starting small: What I do is a little intense, admittedly, but it started from small habits — hitting a daily step goal through the day. Walking up Tumamoc hill once or twice a week after my kid's bedtime. Drinking enough water. I kept adding on tiny manageable habits so nothing seemed extreme.
I build prepping for the gym (laying out clothes, having kiddo pick out her own), pre-making breakfast into the weekend. But I built up to that. I would have quit a long time ago if I started by trying to do all that I do right now. Above all, give yourself credit, challenge yourself to change one tiny thing in the direction of your goals right now.
Running buddies, Linda Portillo, Angela Pittenger and Renee Fullerton after the Tucson Marathon in December 2008.
Angela Pittenger (ME!) works full time for #ThisIsTucson and is the mom of one.
I trained for the Tucson Marathon when my son was about 18 months old. I was also working full time. Not gonna lie. It was hard. I was exhausted, sore and hungry all the time. I was a non-runner until that point. But, I did it and am so glad I did.
How I did it: I felt guilty spending so much time away from my baby at work, so the thought of hours of training was tough to swallow. So, I took advantage of the times I wouldn't be spending with him anyway. We (myself and my running bff Renee) would meet up with another friend and do our long runs super early on Sundays. Our mid-length runs were early before work and we did our short runs on our lunch breaks.
Advice: I cannot stress the value of a running buddy enough. Seriously. There were many mornings I would have not gone if it were just me. But, I couldn't let Renee down. We held each other accountable. She didn't have kids at the time, so she was much less likely to bail, which meant I couldn't either, unless my son was sick. Also, the shared experience of getting in shape together is a great bonding experience. It's time away from the family to regroup and focus on yourself. We solved many a problem on those long runs.
Also, treat yourself. Some mornings, the thought of pancakes at the end of a long run is what kept us going.
