One of the most common complaints I hear from harassed housewifes and mothers is that they don’t have the time to do any exercise because they are with the children all day. I have great news. A young child is the perfect exercise tool. I present you with, at absolutely no charge or membership fee, my exclusive Leonardo workout.
It began like this. His teacher was ill so he had to come home from school. First he got into his Spiderman pyjamas and then he was ready for action. For forty-five minutes we jumped up and down on the trampoline (great leg and buttock workout). Then he wanted me to push him on the swings (great arm work-out). This was followed by a game where I was his horse (perfect opportunity to do some press-ups with him on my back, my arms ached after two). Then we had the ‘throw me on the sofa four hundred times while I pretend to fly’ game, another amazing arm and shoulder workout. After this you might think he’d be ready for a DVD (I know I was) but no – it was time for a bike ride.
As he has only just mastered riding a bike this entails me running alongside him just in case I have to catch him (great cardio, who needs a treadmill?) The only thing we didn’t cover was abs but I have since developed a technique whereby Leonardo sits on my legs counting to one hundred as I heave myself up from the floor to be greeted by his smiling face.
So there you have it. Those of you with more than one child at home will be able to enjoy the workout even more as you repeat it with each child. It might get a tad dull, but just think how toned you will be. And in plenty of time for the beach.
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2008
Don’t you wish you could bottle that excess energy and sell it?
Two minutes ago my son had a spoonful of cherries from a dessert that he was running around the house with, and of course making a mess. My husband took it away which made Toddler Man very upset. I showed him your picture of Leo, and he giggled and was happy again.