Staying in Shape

Working out is the key to keeping the weight off and feeling good. Aerobic activity and light weight lifting lifting can do the trick. Whether it's going to the gym or sweating it out at home to a video..the important thing is to keep it moving.

You are what you eat..It's hard to eat healthy with kids around. Don't give up the fight . Learn how to eat low fat and try some cool substitutes for some old favorites.

Why It's Important

Having children later in life has its advantages. Most midlife moms are accomplished in their careers and used to the negotiating in the work day world. The flip side is that the daily routine is harder on a 42 year old body than on a 22 or 32 year old one. Fatigue strikes sooner and hits harder. We get hungry, and the one thing we're constantly reminded of is we can no longer eat anything and not gain weight.

What'sYour BMI?

Short for body mass index, which can be an important indicator of health. If yours is too high, you're at risk for developing certain diseases.

It Never Hurts to Break a Sweat

I'm no fitness expert but any kind of aerobic activity that makes you break into a
sweat can keep you in shape
and up with your kids. You start slowly and work into keeping your heart rate up for at least twenty minutes, in a range appropriate to your age. If step classes are not your thing, just some time on a treadmill, exercise bike or swim in the pool will do the trick.

The most effective workouts are done at a lower intensity for a longer duration of time. If you exercise too hard you don't burn fat, you burn glucose, or sugar.

Having a little trouble getting inspired?

Joining a health club is a perfect way to work out and catch up on some reading. Most clubs provide around two hours of free or minimum cost child care . The kids get some playtime and you get a well deserved break.

Getting Strong

The biggest advantage to lifting weights is building more lean muscle mass. The more muscle you have the, more efficiently your fat burners work. Muscle weighs more than fat, but clothes fit better because your body is tighter. It's great to feel strong, and helps when carrying those three and four year olds around. Weight lifting also helps prevent osteoporosis. It's never too late..Gypsy was over fifty and a grandmother, when she started pumping iron.

Gypsy writes,"when we are young we look for the ideal body.As you mature you realize that though the body can't be perfected, it can be changed. Nothing you do will keep your body in a permanent state. Your body will change no matter what you do. If you are overweight and out of shape you can change that with a good workout program. If you "feel weak and want to get stronger a weight lifting program can help you on your way."

Maybe you'd rather stay home

Exercise videos are another way to go. It never worked for me, the refrigerator is too close to the TV. But some people like the privacy and convenience of working out at home. If you're having trouble choosing a video workout partner, never fear., the web is near. Reviews of popular fitness videos, including speciality tapes on strength training or working out during pregnancy are available online at Video Fitness. Have a favorite tape? Post a review and share your opinion with other fitness fans.

Summing It Up

The main thing is to do something physical and do it often. It helps with fatigue and can be an ally in the fight against depression. The better we feel about ourselves as older moms the more energy we have. As midlife moms we live in two worlds. One where our kids play and grow and we run around doing all the same things women in their twenties and thirties are doing.

In the other, life is passing on the inevitable changes in weight and energy level that go along we getting older. If age brings wisdom, then it seems wise to optimize on our good health while we have it. Our kids can keep us young, and we can keep ourselves in shape.