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Raising kids is stressful, even in two parent families, but doing it on your own is harder still. How do we find the time to give ourselves and our bodies the much needed relief of regular exercise? How do we keep fit and our bodies healthy while overloaded with the many other responsibilities of parenthood?

Tip 1: Prioritize
It's important to value your time and your fitness. Sometimes it can be easy to make yourself the least important responsibility you have. It's vital to never forget that you' are priority one. Without you the family would fail to function. Time to exercise is a huge part of keeping you relaxed and happy. Without this vital element of your every day life you would become frazzled and lack the energy and enthusiasm for every other area, even your kids.

Tip 2: Include
Moments when the kids aren't underfoot are so rare that it is almost impossible to set aside fifteen, thirty, or sixty minutes to work out. If you can spare this time away from the children it would be better spent in pursuits they must be excluded from, like enjoying a movie or reading a book. Kids need exercise too so don't be afraid to include them. Children have fun' getting fit. There are all sorts of activities you can do that burn the calories but feel more like an energetic playtime than physical fitness.

Tip 3: Enthusiasm
Make sure you choose fitness activities you will enjoy. If you enjoy it, you'll want' to do it. If you hate every moment then there isn't much incentive to make the time and your kids won't want to be involved either. Keep smiling, keep breathing, and remember why you do this, for yourself, and for everyone important to you.

The following activities are easy things you can fit into any schedule.

1: Dance Chores From folding laundry, to vacuuming you can add movement to all the chores a single parent has to do each day. Dance! Groove! Put on some music and swing your hips or prance across the living room. You might feel silly but who cares? No one can see you, except maybe your kids, and if you get them involved they'll be helping with the housework and having fun at the same time.

2: Walk, Run or Ride The car has become an established member of the family. It's time to give it a break. Choose to walk, run or ride to school. Most children go to a school within their district. If you have to go further, drive, but park a few blocks away and walk the remainder. These ten, fifteen or twenty minute walks accumulate; you're doing each of them twice, two times a

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