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5 Ways to Turn Routine Chores into Exercise

Wake up and shower, get the kids dressed, make breakfast, pack lunches, find the missing homework, drive the kids to school, go grocery shopping...all before 9 a.m.! We know everything mothers can do. At times it seems they have "super mommy strength," but sometimes moms neglect to take time for themselves—to exercise their bodies and maintain their health. With such busy schedules, where is there time to fit in exercise routines? It's simple: At home.

Movement can be fun, and you don't have to sacrifice your exercise to do household chores. Just combine housework and workouts in a daily movement routine. You can even get your kids involved to help them built active, healthy habits. Incorporating five simple movements while doing routine chores will help you to take the term "super mom" to a new level.

1. Grocery Squats

Strengthen and tone your legs after a big grocery shopping trip. Keep your back straight and squat deeply by bending your knees to grab groceries from the bag and raise them to the counter. If you want an extra challenge, hold for 30 seconds and feel the burn.

2. Milk Gallon Bicep Curls

Work toward tank-top arms while preparing breakfast for your family. Adding milk to your coffee or pouring a bowl of cereal? Grab the milk gallon from the fridge and perform 10 bicep curls per arm. (A full gallon of milk weighs 8 to 9 pounds.)

3. Clean Sweep

Did you know you can burn 80 calories for every 20 minutes of sweeping? Get the kids involved by creating a game to see who can sweep the best and fastest.

4. Towel Twist

Work your abs and get those towels folded. Sit next to a full basket of laundry and twist at the waist to grab an item from the basket. Twist to the other side to lay the folded item on a pile. Continue until your laundry is finished.

5. Lunge It Out

Heading out to run some errands? Do walking lunges out the door. If you have a young child, hold her in your arms for a greater challenge.

Alejandro Chabán is a certified nutrition consultant and the CEO and creator of the Yes You Can! Diet Plan, the first and only diet plan with a Latin flavor. The plan is based on Chabán's life experience and focuses on natural supplements, nutrition, emotional health and movement. Chaban is an author and motivational speaker who dedicates his time to sharing his life experience of battling obesity, anorexia and bulimia during his teenage years and how he was able to transform himself. He has had a recurring role on Spanish-language TV's No. 1 morning show "Despierta América" (Univision) and has been featured in a number of English- and Spanish-language magazines.