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Running in Circles
How to Find Time to Exercise and Still Be a Great Dad
By I.J. Schecter
New fathers face plenty of challenges, from fastening little snaps to resisting demonstration of a curveball grip until at least age 2. Among these challenges is a particularly tough one: staying fit while still lending mom a hand and spending as much time as possible with the adorable little person around whom every activity is now scheduled.
Adapting your exercise routine to fatherhood can be complicated, but it is possible. Here are some common questions faced by in-shape fathers terrified of slipping out, and some answers to help you balance your needs with those of your newly expanded family.
You simply need to figure out how your current exercise routine can be adapted to the needs of your partner and your child. For instance, you might take the money you're spending on a gym membership and invest in a BowFlex or home free weights. If you don't want to buy free weights, use cans of soup or tomato juice instead, or do pushups; or curl your briefcase on days when you've got too much work (which will make all those backed-up files you're carrying seem worthwhile). Or buy a $10 rubber tube, with which you can replicate almost any exercise done at the gym.
At the gym, you enjoy the convenience of treadmills, StairMasters and elliptical trainers because they're there. But you don't need these machines for a good cardio workout. There are lots of alternatives: jogging; running up and down the stairs at home; skipping; plugging an aerobics tape into the VCR; bouncing along to one of the exercise programs on TV; or doing good old-fashioned jumping-jacks.
Think of the reputed father of the overload principle, Milo, a farmer in ancient Greece who it is said would lift larger and larger calves over his head each day to become increasingly strong. Milo didn't have a gym membership, but you can bet he had an impressive physique and energy to spare.
