Skip the gym and reap the benefits of exercising at home! When it comes to getting fit (or just staying sane) there are quite a few advantages to working out at home.- especially for busy moms. Working out at home makes it easy to fit fitness into your schedule (learn more about making time for fitness) and is just one of the benefits of exercising at home.
The Biggest Fitness Struggle For Busy moms
As a busy mom, I'm sure you're aware that making it to the gym is an official event. Truly! If you have littles the to-do list to leave the house is brutally long.
Likewise, not only do you need to find someone to put on baby duty, you need to find a time that works to do so. Between feedings and work schedules. Unfortunately, that "time" is normally later at night when you're exhausted after having been a mom all day, Factor in packing a gym bag (here are my minimalist gym bag essentials), travel time, and dressing. It's an event.
Now do that three times per week- umm nope!
I hear yah.
The biggest struggle I hear as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist from busy moms is that getting to the gym is hard. Thus, it becomes the last thing on the list and often gets overlooked.
Benefits Of Exercising At Home
Fitness should be a priority and not something on the backburner. This is why learning to exercise at home can be beneficial. While it can seem daunting at first (you're not sure what to do, which programs to follow, or how to start), it can also be the best choice you'll make.
You can even listen to this podcast with another fit mom on why she loves to work out at home!
The advantages of working out at home are endless. However, the top five should convince you 😉
You Can Work Out At Any Time
One of the biggest struggles moms face is finding the time to schedule in their fitness program. One of the benefits of exercising at home is that you can squeeze it in any time!
Is it still hectic? Yes. But it's far easier than trying to schedule it.
The advantage of working out at home is that you can do it when the time arises and not have to cram it into a schedule. Your workout will get split up due to naps, bum changes, or feeding. However, that's fine! It still gets done.
Working Out With Your Kids
It's no secret that I am a huge advocate for working out with your kids (read more about why you should include your kids in your workout). I do it every single day and while it's crazy sometimes it's also effective.
Working out with your kids solves any childcare issues. While it might make the workout a little crazy and not fully "you" time, it still makes you more consistent than if you were to try and hit the gym.
Here are some great tips on keeping toddlers entertained while you work out. If you have a younger babe, simply include them as much as possible. Lots of stories between sets, kisses, and giggles.
Feeding/Napping/To-Do It Can All Be Planned Around
The list won't end just because you need to get a workout in. But, one of the benefits of exercising at home means that you can schedule around the list a little bit easier.
Instead of forcing babe to eat at a certain time so you can get out the door to the gym, you can go with the flow a bit more: feed then hop into your workout (and then probably feed a bit more haha).
It makes to-do lists and schedules far more simple when you're not planning on leaving the house.
You Save Time
Be practical, an outing at the gym takes about 90 minutes to two hours. You need to factor in:
- travel time
- parking
- changing
- the actual workout
Now do that multiple times per week. Didn't think so.
I have yet to meet a mom that has an extra 6 hours per week of "wiggle room". It just doesn't happen. And that's not to say that you're not dedicated, simply that leaving the house with young kids is a thing.
Save your time (and sanity) and turn that two hour trip into a 30-40 minute sweat session at home.
The BIGGEST Advantage To Working Out At Home - Consistency
The reason most fitness goals aren't achieved isn't due to a lack of knowledge. Something is always better than nothing. It's due to a lack of consistency. Sporadically hitting the gym twice once a week, once the next and three the following won't due you any favors.
Exercising at home helps busy moms stay consistent because it eliminates all the struggles (time, childcare, travel, etc).
The more consistent you are the better results you'll see. Always.
Exercising At Home - How To Do It
There's a lot of benefits to exercising at home (hello, no fancy workout clothes needed- pajamas are where it's at!), but you still need to figure out how to get it done. When people ask me how I fit in five workouts each week I tell them two things:
The first is that I enjoy working out. Seriously. I love being in the gym and smashing a workout isn't a "task" for me. I wished I loved cleaning as much (HA). You don't need to work out a lot I just like to.
The second is that I work out at home. It truly makes a huge difference in consistency and ability. And below are a few pointers
- You don't need fancy equipment. Your body and some bands is more than enough. However, these are my favorite pieces of gym equipment for beginners. If you're serious about the benefits of exercising at home, you can set yourself up for under thirty bucks.
- Your workouts don't need to be sixty minutes. Cut that mindset and learn more about tabatas (4-minute workouts!) or find some wicked 15-20 minute home workouts (like the one below). I have 50+ at-home workouts on this website (with video demos) and even more on my YouTube Channel. You got this mama.
Need a more done-for-you, follow along approach? Check out my E-book "How To Get Strong At Home". It featured four months' worth of at-home workouts that progress you from a complete beginner through to a seasoned fit mom.
Don't Forget To Pin These Benefits Of Exercising At Home
Shelby aka Mama Bear
Caitlin
I love this. I have a 3 year old and 1 year old twins, and have YET to exercise ONCE since my twins were born. This is coming from someone who used to workout 5-6 times a week regularly. I'm looking forward to following your blog and getting more tips and inspiration to get back into working on my fitness! Thank you 🙂
Caitlin
http://www.rogerspartyof5.com
fitasamamabear
Hey Caitlin! I'm pretty sure twins are a whole different BALLGAME haha. My best friend has twins and I give you kudos! It's definitely hard to adjust going from loving workouts to not having time for them but you'll get back into it 🙂 The hardest part (I think) is finding a system! So any small stuff you can do at home, even if it's only 1-2 exercises at a time is still a huge stepping stone! Besides, I bet all the kids keep you on your feet plenty 😉
lola
i love this, i used to workout in the gym but after having my daughter last year i wasn't able to find that time to commit to driving to the gym before or after work. So now i workout at home plus like you said i get to involve her in it somedays and its really fun!!!
fitasamamabear
Making a trip to the gym on a regular basis is HARD. It just seems to always get pushed to the back of the to-do list. It's definitely fun watching them try to mimic your workouts (my daughter comes up with crazy things some days!) and it's awesome because you still get the workouts in, laughter and all. It makes life simpler (to me anyways!)
Mary
Hi! I saw your blog link on mommy bloggers club. Nice website! I really could use work out tips. I make a lot of excuses to work out, but now I'm trying to do something - anything - to get into shape by May! I'll have to check out your home exercise equipment recommendations. I need to stop being lazy. That's my biggest hurdle. LOL Thanks for the tips!
fitasamamabear
Hey Mary! Glad you stopped by! I think everyone has to overcome the lazy hurdle haha until you get to be a nerd like me 😛 The easiest way is two fold: just start (anywhere!) & make it easy on yourself. Don't commit to anything crazy and make it easy to workout (which is why home workouts kind of rock). But the hardest part is getting started- you can do it!
Larissa
This is such a great idea, and really good reasons! I'm not a mom, but I can imagine how difficult it would be finding time to go to the gym.
fitasamamabear
It's definitely a bit more difficutl when trying to coordinate toddlers!
Mary Leigh
These are really great tips! I actually dropped my gym membership after having Little because I learned that I was so much more able to work out at home rather than having to pack everything up and hope he did ok in the childcare at the gym.
fitasamamabear
It's sooo much easier to work out at home! Getting to the gym with a little one (while nice) is an EVENT. Working out at home makes you stay consistent and adaptable 🙂
Dani
I love your dedication. With everything that we do...it's so important that we change our perspective...the results we want will follow. I have 3 little ones...although it was difficult at times...I always made it my business to take care of myself. I started with eating habits which was easier ..then I joined a gym with childcare. It was the best thing for me. I personally prefer to workout in a new place and have my children at the care . This is a great read for my friends who prefer to workout at home!
fitasamamabear
I love this! First off- congrats on staying consistent with self care (nutrition/maintenance) that alone is amazing with three little ones. But I agree, part of it is just definitely what we prioritize! There are definitely perks to working out sans kids (mainly sanity) but for moms where that's not an option at home gives them a shot at being consistent. The trick either way I think is just to find what works for YOU and YOUR schedule/routine and rock it! Thanks for stopping by and dropping a comment!
Mishelle Milne
Very helpful for new mums.
Aarika
Great post! I will share with my sister-in-law, although she has 3 kiddos 4 years-old and under, so it may take some epic skill to keep them all occupied while she works out at home. haha. Keep on being awesome!
fitasamamabear
Haha yes the more kids the more chasing becomes the workout.... 😉 But the biggest thing is that ANYTHING counts. it doesn't have to be a full workout or overly intense- just something 🙂