Busy moms choose fit
I interviewed six busy moms who successfully manage their careers and family life and still choose to stay fit and healthy. Find out how they do it!
Early Bird Gets to Run
Dana Westdorp of McBain, Mich., is an office manager and mother of two who runs the countryside bright and early. When the alarm goes off at 6am she laces up and heads out while the kids are still sleeping. “I like the quiet time that I get while running when everyone is sleeping. My mind has to get in a zone which is hard to do when the kids keep coming and talking to me.” Admittedly, she’s not a fan of early mornings but realizes that if she doesn’t take advantage of that time it will be harder to get a run in later and meet her mileage quota for the week; which includes longer runs on her days off. “When I get home from work I can find a million excuses not to run so if I don’t get up for a run I have to play catch up all week.”
Resolve to Stay Fit
Janet TenHove, a massage therapist and mother of three in Lansing made a resolution in 2009 to run a 5k every month – even the cold months. “I’m proud to say I stuck with it and did it,” says TenHove. That’s twelve T-shirts for the quilt she’s making. This year you’ll find her swimming at the MAC most mornings. “I drop the kids off at school and hit the pool. I like swimming alone because I don’t have to try and keep up with anyone else.” Now that spring weather is in full bloom she’ll also be biking and walking with the family. “Walking with my kids gives us a chance to talk and I love spending the time with them doing that.”
Fit in a New York Minute
Debbie Minerva, mother of two and a copy editor in New York City logs in a lot of walking during her workday. “I work in New York City, which is a walking town, so I get a lot of walking in just by getting around. I go up and down several sets of subway stairs a day and at work I take the stairs when going one floor above and one floor below mine,” says Minerva. During lunchtime she takes her beloved yoga class when her schedule permits. Now that spring has sprung she will in-line skate the 1.6 miles to the subway a few days a week. On the weekends she uses a bike trailer for the kids and trades pedaling time with hubby.
All in a Day’s Work
Lindsay Zuiderveen of Marion, Mich., and mother of one has a daily plan for fitness. “I go to the gym every day on my lunch hour and get a good solid 30 minutes in every day. I go with a game plan of what I will work on each day. Monday is upper body, Tuesday, cardio, etc.” Once she’s home she packs up her toddler son in the jogging stroller and runs a few miles. She completed her first 5k recently and has plans for more this summer.
When Mom is the P.E. Teacher
Julie Miller of Sand Springs, Okla., is homeschooling her two girls so gym class is included every day. “We go to the park, run around, jump on the trampoline, walk, and play baseball.” Boredom is her biggest hurdle so she mixes it up each week but sometimes it’s as simple as taking their 65-lb dog for a walk and using sidewalk chalk to draw what they saw on their walk. Once the girls are in bed, Miller focuses on her own workout.
Baby Bump on the Move
Jenny Eisenga of Tustin, Mich., is a busy mom of two, pregnant with her third and runs an in-home daycare. “At first I thought it was impossible to be fit; be a mom and work but it all boils down to priorities,” says Eisenga. “I had to make it one of my top priorities to exercise and I am a better mom because of it. I fit it in at night after my kids are in bed. That actually works as unwind time for me, so why not exercise while you are unwinding?” Being pregnant has it’s own issues, like tiring faster and morning sickness. Eisenga’s fortunate not to have morning sickness but she does find herself a bit more tired these days. Instead of putting her feet up and calling it a day she puts on her workout clothes. “At the end of the day, when I can’t imagine going downstairs to get on the treadmill for another half hour, I suck it up and do it and feel 100% better!” Eisenga is due in early November and still plans on running her first 5k on Memorial day!
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