by Cristy Friedrich

Created on: February 03, 2009   Last Updated: February 08, 2009

Too Busy to Exercise

So many women think that they don't have time to exercise-especially moms. I am here to show you that you do have time to get into shape if you really want to!

I am a 32 year old mother of three, and I am in the best shape of my life. My kids are 8, 7, and 1, and they are heavily involved in sports and after school activities. I work full-time as a high school teacher and I train and compete in triathlons. How do I do it? It takes planning and dedication, but it can be done.

I have been involved in sports since I was 6 years old. I played sports throughout high school and college, and once I graduated and entered the "real" world, I really didn't know how to stay in shape. I got pregnant with my first child right out of college, and then had my second daughter 18 months later. I became complacent, thinking that I was just going to have to accept the fact that I would never be the svelte, muscular woman I once was. When I was getting ready to turn 30 I decided to take control of my life and to quit making excuses. I decided to start walking.

I started by walking 30 minutes most days of the week. I think that anyone can find 30 minutes in their day to fit in exercise. After I got used to walking, I decided to try jogging. I would wear my mp3 player and play a game with myself. I would walk for a song, jog for a song. I would go back and forth for 30 minutes. Eventually I was able to jog for two songs, walk for one, then jog for 3 songs, walk for one and so on. Before I knew it I could run 3 miles without stopping. Jogging is a form of exercise that gets easier very quickly, and the results from jogging are almost immediate. It is one of the best cardiovascular exercises that a person can perform.

Once I felt good about jogging, I decided to train for a 1/2 marathon. Within 2 months I could run 6 miles! I was excited about running in the 1/2 marathon, but unfortunately, I suffered an ankle sprain. I was frustrated and off of my feet for the first time in months. This gave me a chance to come up with a better fitness plan. My husband, who is a certified trainer, and I decided to try sprint triathlons (the distances are much shorter). I hadn't been on a bike since college, and I hadn't really done any swimming since college either, but I thought it would be a great challenge.

So, how was I supposed to fit training for a triathlon into my busy schedule? A usual day for me begins at 5:00 a.m. I get myself ready, my two girls ready, and my son ready

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