Updated: Feb. 12, 2021
Originally Published: May 6, 2016
When I started tracking my activity with a fitness tracker, I was shocked to discover just how much I move around my home. I’m not just shuffling from room to room; I’m clocking in nearly 6 miles a day and burning hundreds of calories without even realizing it! All those moments spent cleaning up spills and wrangling toddlers turned out to be a full-on workout. Who knew that scrubbing floors could feel like a mini-marathon?
Here are 20 exercises I didn’t even know I was doing as a parent:
- Laundry Lifting
Picture this: a laundry basket in one arm, a toddler in the other, and a mini monkey clinging to your leg. It’s a full-body workout and a balancing act at the same time. - Kid Chasing
No professional athlete could catch a speedy toddler who just discovered a half-eaten snack from the trash. Talk about a sprint! - Tantrum Transportation
Safely lifting and stabilizing a flailing child takes serious strength. This is a skill I bet you won’t find in any fitness video! - Meal Prep Madness
Cooking isn’t just about the food; it’s an obstacle course as I dodge two kids zooming around like they’re on a sugar high, while one wraps around my leg like a tiny snake. - Toy Pick-Up Squats
All day long, I’m in a squat position picking up toys, achieving at least 20 reps without even stepping foot in a gym. - Get-Out-the-Door Drill
Getting everyone ready to leave the house is like a game of pinball. The rush and rising stress levels are basically a cardio session. - Coffee Search Expedition
Looking for misplaced coffee is more of a slow-paced wander, but the confusion can feel like a marathon as I search for that elusive cup. - Bedtime Climb
When you earn a Fitbit badge for ascending 500 feet of stairs, it’s a sign that your kids need to start getting their own things after bedtime. - Sweeping Sprint
The difficulty of this workout depends on how messy the floor is and how quickly I need to clean before nap time ends. - Child-Location Walks
While searching for my coffee, I often briskly walk around the house looking for children who have wandered into forbidden zones. - Grocery Shopping Chaos
Without a list, I’m like a headless chicken running through the store, hoping to find what I need amid the chaos. - Outdoor Adventures
If you happen to have that one child who enjoys walking for the sake of it, you can easily rack up the miles while playing outside. - Kid Transporting
Whether it’s carrying, piggybacking, or toting them in a pack, all forms of transporting kids count as exercise! - Lovey Recovery Missions
The quest for a missing stuffed animal often starts late at night with the familiar cry, “Mommy, where’s Bunny?” - Clothes Folding
Folding clothes is like trying to gather papers during a windstorm, as I battle against the odds of kids tossing them everywhere. - Object Removal from Toddlers
Getting items out of a toddler’s vice-like grip requires strength and agility—bonus points if you avoid getting bitten in the process. - Child Redirection
Redirecting children is a full-body workout that happens repeatedly throughout the day, often right after you sit down for a moment. - Tickle Monster Races
Playing Tickle Monster involves a lot of running and quick crawling to catch your child before they faceplant into the floor. - Food Scrubbing Sessions
Cleaning up unidentified food messes requires serious effort. If you do this while dressed in Spanx, you deserve a week off! - Fight Interventions
Breaking up squabbles means lifting one child off another, and sometimes, it’s a two-for-one deal.
So, grab that laundry basket and a toddler or two, and create your own obstacle course at home. You can tackle chores while simultaneously working toward your fitness goals. Who knew parenting could also be a workout regime?
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In summary, parenting is a workout in disguise. From chasing kids to cleaning up messes, every task is a chance to stay active while managing the delightful chaos of family life.
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