We all know we’re supposed to exercise. And yet, we’re busy, tired, exhausted, cranky, going insane, haven’t showered in a week, I don’t even know where my toothbrush is, moms!
Unfortunately, as usual, the work comes before the rewards. Research has shown that if you’re feeling fatigued, (excepting that 'woke up with my children five times last night' kind of fatigue) you’ll gain more energy by going for a walk than taking a nap. It’s true. My doctor says so. Well, WebMd does, which is the only doctor I have time to see these days.
Basically, when you exercise, your body releases endorphins which work as natural pain relievers and produce a feeling of well being. If you’ve ever heard the term “Runners High” it comes from endorphins.
The good news is that the more you exercise, the more energy you have. Then your jeans start fitting better, and then you notice none of your clothes fit anymore, and then... you’re hooked.
The bad news is you have to keep exercising. And darn it, that time spent just ‘relaxing’ might actually be counterproductive.
So strap your kids in a stroller, rope your husband into some together time, and go find out if you really do like taking long walks on the beach. Or on the sidewalk, next to the water in the gutter. (Maybe you’ll be so filled with endorphins, you won’t notice it’s not the beach!)
*Photo provided by stock.xchng
Amy Nelson is a running mom with a cycling husband and two boys.
