There are many days when I rattle around the house with Noah for hours on end, stopping only to check my email or shovel a handful of crackers down my throat. I noticed one day recently that if I took it more seriously I could give myself a little mini-workout, or at least a few stretches and strength moves. For example:
1. Reaching under the coffee table to retrieve a lost shape for the shape sorter toy: do a squat before you reach for the toy.
2. While wiping up the floor under the highchair, lean first into a downward dog Yoga position to help reach ALL of the crumbs. As you push back up to a standing position, do that thing where you curl up your spine, and really feel the stretch.
3. While you sit on the floor playing with MegaBloks, do some crunches.
4. Bring your balance ball upstairs so that you can do a 10 Minute Fitness Solution workout while the baby eats lunch in his high chair. Decide later it feels better to eat spoonfuls of icing out of the container along with your salad for lunch and abandon all hope of using the ball for exercise. Later, The next day, when you chatting with your husband, use the ball for push-ups.
5. Lay on the floor ticking the baby, decide to break it up by playing, Baby In The Air!, lift the baby up and down against your chest working those triceps and biceps. Also, lay flat on the floor on your back, knees curled into your chest. Rest the 25 lbs CHILD on your shins and do some butt lifts, working the lower abs. For added breathlessness, do this while singing some dumb lullaby about Humpty or Jack or the Itsy Bitsy Spider.
