Today's topic is exercise, or the lack thereof. Every woman thinks about it. We worry if we aren't doing enough. Sometimes we do too much. And if we have kids, we wonder when on earth we can fit in 10 minutes to ourselves. And do we really want to spend it sweating?

My answer is YES! You know it's good for you. And you know even 10 minutes of light yoga or stretching can improve your overall mood. Not to mention ladies, after popping out a kid or two, you know your lady lumps aren't all still in the right places.  

Easier said than done, right? Yes and no. I have people ask me all the time how I have the energy, time, and motivation to work out every day. Well, in the words of my good friend MAJ (who is a kick a$$ triathlete and marathoner,) "If you really want to do it, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not Superwoman. There are days when I don't even get out of sweat pants. I have wasted hours sitting on the couch shoving food in my face while the kids played. I have opened a bottle of wine instead of going for a run. I have chosen nachos over a salad. That's life. I can't be perfect and no one expects you to be either. But for the sake of your family, you should do SOMETHING, no matter how small.

So here are a few things I've done to get in shape after having my kids:

* Take baby steps. Literally. Take your baby for a walk in one of those slings or carriers. Believe me, you will feel the burn. If your baby or toddler is a little older, put her in the stroller and walk to the store instead of driving. Baby will love the scenery and you will kill two birds with one stone. Groceries and a workout!

* Start slowly. You can't just jump off the couch one day and decide to run 5 miles. I know it's frustrating, but you have to build your fitness level back up first so that you don't hurt yourself. I learned this lesson when I was out of commission for about two weeks with a foot injury because I was trying to do too much too soon. I couldn't even run a mile a year ago, after having Dino. Now I can run 7 (so far.) 

* Use baby as a weight. I used to do what I called Baby Crunches and Baby Presses. I would lay down with bent knees, sit Dino on my stomach with her back against my legs, hold her hands, and crunch up. She would giggle and think it was a game. I would also lay her on my chest, then lift her up and back down, like the airplane game, but with my arms instead of legs. She liked that one too. You can play and tone at the same time.

* Have a dance party in your living room! I did this with Belle and Dino a couple months ago. I turned on some pop music and they both boogied with me for about an hour. I was sweating by the end of our little party, and the girls got some exercise too. It was super fun and Belle thought I was such a "cool mom" for playing Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez and Britney Spears.

* Last but not least, by far the easiest of them all, work out when the kids nap (if they are little) or are in school (if they are not so little.) You will be able to focus more on YOU and how your body feels. And who cares if you end up not having time to shower. Your kids will love you, stinky and all. 

I really hope you can find a use for these tips in your lives. Exercise is so important for your health. You asked what motivates me and I will tell you. Belle and Dino need their mommy, and I REFUSE to get sick and die young from a preventable disease. I want to see them grow up, graduate college, get married, have their own Belles and Baby Dinos. And I need to be a good example for them so they they will be good examples to their kids. For once, I want a good cycle in my life, not a vicious one. And it starts with me.