I have been doing an outdoor workout since the snow melted.  It’s so nice to exercise in the fresh air, watch your child enjoy the outdoors and just be together.  Accomplishing something for mommy is a bonus too.

This can be done simply in your own driveway as well.  You don’t need any equipment.  Just make use of your natural surroundings.

At the playground:

Slide –
Stand at the bottom of the slide, and see how many push-ups you can do off the incline of the slide before your child reaches the bottom.  Catch them.  As they run around to repeat, turn and do tricep dips off the bottom of the slide.  Continue this repetition until your arms tire or your child moves onto something else.

Jungle Gym –
Hang off rungs for a great back and arm stretch

Try to perform pull-ups or chin-ups depending on the width of the rungs or “walk across” with your hands

Swings –
For every push do a squat as the swing returns, and a lunge on the return alternating legs

Picnic bench –
Use for step ups on the bench and for elevated lunges or incline push-ups like the slide

Rotate all of these exercises.   If you mind the occasional stares (I’ve gotten a few) have your friend workout with you.  Do a tag-team approach.  While one follows the children around keeping an eye on them, you do a set or two of exercises, then switch.  Bring along water, juice and snacks for all.  At the end, go down that tube, crawl through the tunnel, and let out a hoot of delight!

In your driveway:

Walk the length and return in lunges taking giant steps with no pause in between. 

• On  a lawn chair, face the seat and do push-ups off the arms.  Continue until fatigue.
• Turn around and do tricep dips off the seat.  Place chair against a wall for security.
• Do jump rope in between intervals or resistance exercises.
• Use a broom, and place across shoulders for in place squats.  Place a bucket under yours (ha ha) and try to reach the upside down turned rim as you descend each time.
• Use an exercise tube around a basketball stand or a tree for standing back rows.
• Thread exercise tube through garage door handle or tree limb for standing tricep presses.
• Grab a couple of buckets of water for bicep curls, taking care in slowly curling aiming not to spill water or sand in them.

Your kids will love to watch, and help you with your equipment.  Do this at a “boring” time of day.  Keep it light, as you will be interrupted many times throughout.  I bring music and snacks out with me to keep it fun and interesting.  I also throw is some landscaping chores in between sets.  This can be done with an infant in a sling or front/back pack as well as toddlers

Run to the mailbox, bring out the trash, play hide and seek around the back of your home.  Keep moving.  Lead by example.  The more often you incorporate exercise into your day, your family will see the mainstays of persevering with health as a priority.

If you would like to meet Lynne at the playground to learn more about an outdoor workout, she’d love to help out.

Lynne Leary-Khater, a personal trainer, Pilates instructor, writer, and former fitness model, her husband George, and 3.5 y.o. son Colin recently welcomed the arrival of their new baby girl Erika. Lynne welcomes your thoughts and feedback. You can reach her at lkhater@comcast.net or visit her on her website