Keeping up with exercise in summer

a quick little workout at the park with the kids

I get up early and go for a run, only way in hot weather...

I'm in South Florida...and honestly, I could never work out outside in the heat of the day. I also have 5 kids that are underfoot all summer long...so getting "me" time is near impossible. So in the summer, I wake up early and either run before the sun is fully up, or do an "living room" program...like P90X. I know it's summer, and we all want to sleep in...but my day is packed, too many people need my time...and if I don't take care of me, how am I gonna take care of them? It's a sacrifice to go to bed earlier so I can wake up earlier...but that's what this journey is about, right?

My definition of sacrifice is giving up something you want now for something better later. Working out everyday in the early morning is my summer sacrifice to not have to go back to bad habits, fat booties, and no energy.

Good Luck!!!

For me it is not a problem. In the winter it is exercise. In the summer it is "getting out and enjoying". Swimming, biking, hiking, jogging, kayaking. The hotter it is the more I do.

My problem is finding time to get household chores done.

I am a stay at home mom with three kids, so I definitely don't get to work out like I do during the school year! I can't even run as I got back into running, ran my first 5K and then got a training injury to my knee and the dr told me to back it off for awhile til it stops hurting. I am not an early morning workout kinda person, but if I can get out before my husband leaves for work, I try to do a fast walk in the morning before it's too hot and as much as I hate doing exercise dvds, I am working my way through the 30 day shred this summer. I miss the gym and have only been making it once, maybe twice a week, as my oldest is a girl and almost 13, I let her stay with her brothers for a couple of hours while I escape, but don't like doing that too often. We try to walk as a family in the evening right before the sun goes down, to burn off those extra calories.
Also, kettlbells burn off quite a few calories and I have some dumb bells I try to use a couple days a week, so I don't lose all my muscle I gained at the gym. Do what you can, enjoy your kids and they'll be back to school before you know it!

Exercise doesn't have to be in the form of running or causing you to pass out in the heat.

A gentle walk each day a few miles will do wonders . I walked 5 miles a day for 3 months and very much enjoyed the views, peace and change of pass from the normal day.

Alternatively biking is also great.

I try to plan my weekends and free time to be active to go see and do things. That way you are doing exercise without you even knowing it!

For me it is not a problem. In the winter it is exercise. In the summer it is "getting out and enjoying". Swimming, biking, hiking, jogging, kayaking. The hotter it is the more I do.

My problem is finding time to get household chores done.

This^ It's like the extra daylight and the heat produce this energy in the air that motivate me to get moving. I have a harder time in the winter when it's dark when I leave for work...and dark when I get home. Then there's the cold.

Don't consider it exersice, but find an activity you can take the kids along. Swim, hike, play catch, soccer. I often take my kids geocaching just to move and get out of the house.

If you want to get something really intense done and not have the kids along? 5am or 9pm is when I go....and right now there is still a little bit of daylight at those times.

I just change up what I do for a workout. During the colder months I do a lot of stair climbing, running and boxing but when it warms up I switch to cycling, kayaking and swimming. That way I don't get bored with a workout but I still get the exercise. As a bonus cycling and kayaking can be done with the kids to get them some exercise without them even knowing it.