Workouts with Friends

Sometimes it’s hard to hold ourselves accountable, especially in the winter when we don’t really feel like going outside to run, or driving through the snow to get to the gym…what better way for a friend to support you than to say “come on, let’s do it together!” We came up with a plan this winter that worked so well for all of us, kids included. We met in my basement and set up a circuit for our workout. The kids joined us for part of the workout, then when they lost interest, they played with toys and each other. It’s sort of like an exercise playdate. I have one treadmill and we set up stations with a yoga ball, arm band, and a mat. We spent 10 minutes at each station doing sit-ups, leg lifts and planks on the mat, balancing on the ball (stomach down, back leg extension raises), and different strengthening exercises for the arms. It was a great way for both Kalina and I to get in a workout with just one set of exercise accessories, to chat with each other, and to allow our kids to socialize while watching us get fit. We alternated houses and invited other friends to join us. You don’t need fancy equipment or weight machines to set up circuits like this. If you have stairs, one station can be calf raises, a baby can be a weight to hold while doing lunges, a playground ball can be something you roll around your body while sitting with legs stretched out front of you. Get creative, see if your kids can come up with exercises for you!