This is a picture of what I look like trying to do yoga or any type of workout in my house. But, I think I'll choose it over than going to the gym for a while.
As I drove to the gym in the blizzard snow like conditions, complaining kids in hand, bulky winter coats, bags, water bottle, i-pod, earphones, and diapers, I just about had a nervous breakdown. We had to go because my daughter had swim lessons.
Once I got there the swim coach said, "Thank you for coming in. I know it's hard to come in when the weather is like this. Most people do not."
I smiled and agreed, but didn't think much of it. We had made a commitment and I was going to keep it as much as it was giving me a anxiety attack.
The gym we go to has a fantastic daycare center inside, which my son has finally gotten used to going in by himself. No more big crying scenes, so I'm thinking smooth sailing!
So as my daughter does her class, my son has his "play time" and I can workout.
All goes well.
I watch my daughter swim as I ride the bike. I pick the bike because I like to watch her swim and it's closest to the window. Problem is this swim class is only 30 minutes. So by the time I get her settled and get on the bike, I'm only really riding it maybe 20 minutes. In the end, I'm off to pick her up, not quite sure if I even got a workout in. But, at least I got 20 minutes of "quiet" time.
The times my daughter doesn't have a class, I have a hard time convincing her that she should go to the "play gym". This is what I call the daycare in the gym. Half the time I don't end up going because she doesn't want to go. I don't really want to force her to go, and I'm not to convinced I want to go myself. So, I concede, and say "OK, we won't."
After getting my daughter dressed (in a freezing locker room) after her swim lesson, I go to pick up my son. As I walk in the lady behind the desk tells me they have 90 kids in there! Yep, 90! There is a ratio limit, but geese, it's kinda out of control.
As I look up I see about 75-80 of them staring directly as the big screen television! They have the most gigantic television in this play center and it is playing 24/7. As I'm checking out, I'm wondering what in the heck are all these kids doing in here just watching television while their parents are working out? Yes, the parents are getting "alone" time, but while they are getting "in shape", their kids are sitting staring at Dora the Explorer.
I've experimented with doing at home workouts with my kids off and on since my daughter was born. Sometimes it's fun and sometimes it's like trying to hammer jello against a wall! Cats, dogs, kids, and interruptions galore are tripping me up! And again, I'm not sure if I'm really getting a workout.
But today before swimming my daughter asked me if I would do the yoga tape with her. I said no, not now because we were going to the gym.
How ridiculous is that?
My daughter wants to workout with me. Even my son is starting to get into it. At least he's trying instead of sitting staring at the TV in the "play gym".
So for at least for the winter we are quitting the gym and working out at home. Doing something together that benefits ALL of us. No crazy driving in the snow. No snow coats and bags. No big screen television to comatose my son while I "get in shape". And no dressing in freezing locker rooms after being in cold pools.
Once the outdoor pool opens I'm sure we'll be back. But, for now I think I'll take a cue from the exercise video library and get trampled on by cats, dogs and kids crawling on me while I "try" to workout. Maybe 60 minutes of "trying" to workout at home is equal to 30 minutes of actual workout at the gym. Or maybe I'll be burning more calories trying to get all these climbing kids and animals off of me while I do what I'm actually trying to do. At least it's time spent expelling excess energy by all!
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