Pros and Cons of Working Out as a Mom

Right after I had my first baby, I felt discouraged as I tried to work out, and she would scream and cry. Or I would try to work out when she was sleeping, and my body would be too tired from lack of sleep. I quickly realized why most moms have a lot of extra weight on them. I could not blame them for "letting go of themselves". It seems near impossible to stay up with the demands of kids and staying healthy.

After five years of experimenting with what works and going on and off of working out, I decided to write the pros and cons of working out as a mom.

Pros of Working Out as a Mom

1. If you can't take care of yourself, it is hard to take care of others. This is still the case with kids, but it has gotten better. I often tell my husband I can do two of four essential things: eat, sleep, work out, or shower. Which two I want to do during the day is up to me.
2. Sometimes as a mom, you have a lot of crazy stress. It helps to have an extra boost to do with the day-to-day craziness. When you can exercise, you're able to increase endorphins which ultimately helps!
3. You feel better about yourself when you can take care of your body by exercising. Your self-esteem also increases. This is extremely helpful when we live in a society that constantly judges moms. 
4. You are able to build the muscles that you need to use throughout the day. My kids are chunky. They are all in the 90th percentile for height, weight, and all that jazz. Carrying around my kids has been exhausting. When I'm able to exercise and build more stamina, it helps my body cope with heavy lifting throughout the day.
5. You were able to get out and see people. If you are part of a workout group or go to a gym, you can associate with adults for an hour or so every day. This may not be the case if you're working out at home alone, but it is a significant benefit if you get out to work out.
6. If you want your kids to enjoy exercising, you might want to teach them by example the importance of taking care of their bodies. If you never exercise and are constantly telling your kids to get off the couch and go outside, it seems a little hypocritical. 

Cons of Working Out as a Mom

1. Sometimes moms can be too into working out, where it becomes unhealthy. I have heard of many moms deciding that they are going to only focus on becoming models. The sacrifice of doing this is having your kids stuck in a gym daycare or neglected. In other words, moderation is good in everything you do. Working out is one of them.
2. If you plan to have a large family working out becomes a roller coaster. From losing weight, getting back into shape, and getting pregnant, the cycle will just continue to repeat. It is hard to keep losing weight and get back in shape every time you have a baby; it takes a lot of self-discipline! 
3. Workout clothes can be degrading. Are you just making your body an object to be viewed? Or hope that you can draw some attention to yourself? 
4. Sometimes you have to let go of other things to find the time to work out. Does this mean waking up earlier or not being able to shower, or do your kids watch an extra 45 minutes of TV daily? What are you willing to sacrifice?

"Our goal is to help the world make decisions with a list of Pros and Cons. We invite all to add to our lists to help others make the most educated decision possible. We are all in this world together to help each other and learn from what others have learned from their lives journey." 

-Pros and Cons Team

Written by: Sarah