running late?

Can you remember a time when leaving the house meant grabbing your keys, your bag and nothing more? Remember when you could just get in the car and go? Well, then I'm sure you've noticed that since you became a mom, leaving the house is never that simple.

It's a hard adjustment to make. Having children means packing up a lot of stuff, not to mention a lot of people. For me to make it to Stroller Strides in the morning, I need to get everyone (all four of us), fed, dressed and out the door. Add in the bathroom breaks, the crying fits and all of the gear I take (a triple stroller, tubing, a mat, Stroller Strides paperwork, three cups, three snacks, a water bottle, sunblock, sunglasses, three blankets (in case it's cold), diapers, pull ups, wipes, and three emergency outfits) and leaving the house can be an hour long ordeal.

But, how can you guarantee that you'll make it to Stroller Strides (or anywhere else for that matter) on time? It's easy. Give yourself "loading and unloading time." Think of it this way. If you were kid free and going to a doctor's appointment at 10 a.m. that is 15 minutes away from your home, you'd probably leave around 9:40-9:45. Well, with kids, you can't walk out of your door at 9:45, you'll never make your appointment.

BUT, if you walk out of your house at 9:30 you now gained 15 minutes of "loading and unloading time." This is the time you can use to buckle your little ones into the car, make the multiple trips back inside to get things you forgot, or just to give yourself a cushion so you don't feel so stressed while you are driving. Because honestly, nothing is guaranteed to make you late and ruin your day like getting a speeding ticket on the way.

So, tomorrow, when you are getting ready for Stroller Strides, keep this "loading and unloading time" in mind. Just remember that you need to give yourself a cushion to get there on time, but you'll also need to add in time for getting yourself and your baby ready for class once you arrive. Here's an example of how I would make this happen:

Class starts at 9:30.

So, if you need 10 minutes to prep for class once you arrive, you need to arrive at 9:20.

And, if you have a 15 minute drive to get to class, you need to pull out of your driveway at 9:05.

Which means, in order to give yourself 15 minutes of "loading time", you need to walk out of your door at 8:50.

Try it out! See how it works. I promise that you'll feel much less stressed and enjoy your workout more if you don't have to worry about running late ...

Top 10 Components Found at EVERY Stroller Strides Class!

I snagged this list from our November Stroller Strides Instructor Newsletter written by our amazing, incredible, inspirational National Fitness Director, Farel Hruska. I just want to remind everyone what they can expect at EVERY Stroller Strides class!

#10) An instructor presence and energy throughout the entire class

#9) A dynamic warm -up that is also fun and social

#8) A gradual start into each set of exercises

#7) 5-8 stations with cardio bursts at each one. This is to ensure we keep the strollers moving!

#6) SINGING! This is an integral part of Stroller Strides. We want to keep the babies happy while we get our workout!

#5) Mom and child interaction throughout class.

#4) Different levels for each exercise designed for all fitness levels.

#3) Resistance training of every major muscle group in EACH class. Stroller Strides is a one-stop fitness experience: cardio, strength and flexibility at every class.

#2) Communication about other Stroller Strides events like weekly playgroups, monthly Mom's Nights Out, and our community events.

#1) Support Group Fitness: As Stroller Strides instructors, we create a safe environment (both physically and emotionally) where moms feel comfortable, supported and challenged!

Every mom should experience all 10 of these components at each class. It is truly a fitness class like none you have ever taken!