weightloss wednesday: what to do with the kids

i don't know about you guys but i am not lucky enough to use my nap time as exercise time. landon is a 60 minute on the dot kind of napper [he knows that's my minimum] and by the time that rolls around [11am] i am ready for some me-time. and by me time, i mean fbsing, catching up on my shows, or cleaning the bathroom without little paws trying to play in the toilet water.

i don't condone this behavior
but i've got to give her props

so typically i try to exercise a bit after breakfast but before nap time [thus, securing my selfish time] so around 9am. lately i have been HATING exercise videos - hate hate hating. i'd rather poke my eyeballs out. so i go running. now here's the kicker, i have to time it right so he doesn't fall asleep on the run [which he really tries to do bc he wakes up at 6am] or else it reeks havoc on his morning nap. so i'll run a little less then a mile to the park - let him play the run back, getting a little bit of a mile run. then we play at that park. now it's not much but it's about all he can handle. then when i'm feeling motivated, i'll throw in some crunches/push ups/leg lifts at home. so it's not much but it's exercise.

what do you do to keep the kids occupied? does everyone else do it when they nap? am i the only selfish cow out there?

i found some tips here- and added some of my own

- if your kids are old enough, get them involved. ride bikes together, go rollerblading [all the cool kids do], or play with your wii. anyone try just dance 4 yet?! i'm waiting for xmas for my copy.
- if your baby is small enough, strap them to your body and do a walking/low impact video. do some lunges.
- go to the gym. paying sucks but it's free childcare! my friend who is a mother of twins would even sometimes use the daycare then take a quick nap in the yoga room on stressful days. so you're really getting your moneys worth.
- trade off with a friend. let her go to a class one morning then you go another day.
- MOVE with them! i've noticed sometimes i just lay on the floor like a blob and push around a car hoping landon is amused. what he really loves is when i run around on my hands and knees, when i chase him or play hide and seek, when we go running outside. and his favorite thing is when i dance around him in his highchair. seriously, he can't get enough of my grooves.
- and last but not least, i am no stranger to bribing good behavior with a video. sometime i'll set up my computer to play baby einstein on the couch so i can get a 30 min shred in. what ever works.