The Forgotten “Gym”

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SUMMER TIME!!!!!! Especially here in Texas means lots of water activities. The first part of summer was pretty busy for us this year but I try to get to our neighborhood pool with the babes at least once a week. Of course the pool is a ton of fun and the kids love it, but you can also get some serious low impact exercise in at the same time.  Additionally, you are able to do things that normally hurt outside of the water.  My husband is a military veteran who suffered several orthopedic injuries resulting in back surgery and multiple knee surgeries.  For him personally, water exercise allows him to work on flexibility and full range of motion without the pain of high impact exercises.  There is no better place to get in a quick workout than the water.  Don’t just soak either, you need to get moving around. Stretch, relax, swim, repeat. As much and as often as you can.  Some days this is our workout, other days it’s an opportunity to put in more work towards my current goals. I can burn between  150-300 calories just in a a 30 min- 1 hour play sesh with my family. Here are some of the ways I get my pump on in the water: 

For legs and cardio, I like to tread water aka “egg beaters”.  I do several sets until muscle failure, but always strive for a minimum of 60 seconds as many times as I can throughout our time there. 

Full body, both my husband I enjoy a chance to swim some laps so we take turns watching the littles and do as many laps as our lungs allow.

Arms, I like to superset with push outs and under water arm circles as many times as I can. Push-Outs are just as they sound; when you are in the water facing the wall of the pool, you just put your hands on the edge directly inline with your shoulders and with as little to no jumping if possible, push yourself up and out of the water. Fully extend your arms if you can. I also do wall crawls or spider crawls with the kiddos. Hold onto the edge of the pool and with your feet off the wall treading water start creeping around the entire pool. Do as many laps as you can.  

Ultimately, exercise and therapy aside, there are always lots of smiles from the whole family. I sort of let go and my playful mom side gets to come out, knowing we have a soft landing and no chance of skinned knees when I chase my babies around, in the water of course.  So next time you are not really feeling like working out, go have some water fun and enjoy some highly beneficial and low impact water exercise and extra smile time with your littles.  

QUICK PSA- please please please always practice proper water safety and always, always, watch babies and children like a hawk near any body of water!


What part of this beautiful world are you from? What’s your favorite way to workout and have fun with your family at the same time? 

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