Editor's Note: Welcome to The Great Escape, our weekly moment of zen for parents and other busy people. Each week, we'll show you a different way to make some time for yourself in your hectic schedule. First up: Local fitness guru and Moms in Motion organizer Wendy Hoag shares her tips for making exercise fun (hint: It's hard to do alone.)
Physical exercise, while incredibly important to our health, can be one of the hardest things for a busy mom to work into her schedule. We know moving will help us reduce chances of disease and illness and help us fit into our pants. It’s just not always easy to motivate on your own.
There’s always a load of laundry to fold, another bill to pay, someone who needs your immediate attention and good ole mom guilt. But in reality, taking time for yourself, improving your health and gaining mental clarity will actually make you a happier mom. That happiness, my friend, will trickle down to your family.
That’s why you need an exercise buddy. Your buddy is someone who keeps you on the straight and narrow, who holds you accountable if you don’t meet your fitness goals. Studies show that people who plan their workouts with someone else—whether that means walking side by side, making a regular tennis date or taking a class together—are more likely to stick to their fitness regimen.
Who are we kidding? We moms don’t need a study to tell us we are more likely to show up when a friend is waiting to listen to and encourage us. Women are social beings, as any husband will tell you. We even go to the restroom together for heaven’s sake! So it only makes sense that we’ll be more successful with exercise when it’s social. Having someone to chat with during a run, a trainer to challenge you to do a few more squats, or a team to cheer you on makes a huge difference. If you miss a workout, you can bet one of your buddies will be giving you a call to check in. You don’t get that kind of support exercising by yourself.
Read to find a workout buddy or team? Consider this:
• Find someone with similar interests. You want to have something to talk about when you are running/walking/working out.
• Find someone who has a similar schedule. You want to be able to set times and dates that you can stick with.
• Find someone who will motivate you and will not intimidate you. This also applies to your exercise instructor or team leader.
• Don’t be afraid to meet new people when joining a group. I have met some of my best friends through fitness.
Places to find workout buddies:
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• If you don’t belong to a gym, try posting that you are looking for a workout buddy on meetup.com or Elk Grove Patch.
• Ask the staff at your gym or workout class if they know of any members with similar goals to yours.
• Check out classes where there are people with similar interests.
• Consider training with a team for a fitness event. Try a 5K or a triathlon!
Whatever you decide, remember this: The best exercise is the one you’ll do. Good luck reaching your own fitness goals, and keep movin' mama!
Wendy Hoag is the owner of Moms in Motion, an AFFA certified fitness instructor and a mother of two. For more exercise tips and to connect with other Elk Grove women reaching their fitness goals, visit her blog, Moms With Muscle.