Do you still exercise as much as you did before you became a parent? Unfortunately, many of us do not. The New York Times recently ran the story, "All Child-Play and No Workouts Make Dad an Unfit Boy" which examines how parents who were once-fit and at the top of their exercise game are now on the verge of becoming an overweight and unhealthy group.
The University of Pittsburgh recently conducted a study which shows that being a parent reduces physical activity greatly. Over 500 participants were followed for two years and it was found that couples who became parents and had infants and toddlers (dads, in particular) lost over three hours of physical activity, compared to half-an-hour of those without children.
Dr. Harvey Simon, of Harvard Medical School, states heart-healthy exercise doesn't necessarily mean 45 minutes on a treadmill or bike. Gardening, car washing, stair climbing -- or even just taking the baby for walk can be beneficial.
Back when we lived in Minneapolis, the proper Hip Urban Daddy pastime was to rollerblade at high speed around Lake of the Isles while pushing one of those racing strollers. The expressions of mixed joy and terror on the babies' faces were wondrous to behold.
view wende in the twin cities's profile
The expressions of mixed joy and terror on the babies' faces were wondrous to behold.
Wende in Phoenix, that line, may have made my day...
view Alex's profile
I would say since having my son my exercise time has changed. Before baby, I would bicycle 25-30 miles a day. Now, I walk with him in a stroller every where.
view molly_DC's profile
I go to the gym less (ok, never) but get so much more exercise. I really feel like physical activity is integrated into my day instead of another obligation now. I wear her everywhere and walk a lot, so all the walking plus a 20 lb weight on me at all times=plenty of exercise (though I recommend something more ergonomic than a Bjorn). Oh, and, once they are mobile, you will never sit still again. I'm wondering how they measured activity, since having a toddler means constant movement.
view lb's profile
i think i exercise about the same amount, i just do different things. i took my baby to baby boot camp until she wouldn't sit in a stroller anymore. now i workout (without her) in the morning before she gets up.
view poopmama's profile
I did yoga and circuit training 5-6x a week until I got put on pelvic rest for most of my pregnancy. Now I rarely, if ever, exercise, unless walking from my car to my house and vice versa counts.
view tgray99's profile
wende in phoenix-
we used to spend those days around Lake Calhoun too!
view dcmom's profile
I worked out more after I had my first. Then came our second, who (at 10 months) rarely sleeps through the night, wakes up at 5am, and barely naps. Between two young ones, a job, and everything else, it seems that no matter how hard I try to get back to it, it never quite works out. We walk everywhere, but it's not enough. Frustrating.
view dcmom's profile
I'll be the odd mom out, here. I actually exercise more now than pre-kids. Pre-kids, I didn't walk nearly as many places as I do now, took the subway more. Pre-kids the idea of a lunchtime stroll was highly unlikely, but now it's a great way to get my daughter to nap. Baby carriers meant it was easier to "lift weights" by carrying my daughter everywhere rather than shlepping a stroller too, etc. She loved the bicycle, and biking on the West Side Highway is fun! I bet that's somewhat unique to NYC and urban centers, though. And to people like me who didn't do gym or heavy-duty workouts before.
view KatieD's profile