Good morning, and happy Friday, everyone!

Today is the last day of my vacation (sad), but I have one more great post to share with you all. This one is from Michelle and Mike, of 3 Cheap Runners. Their blog is new to me, but I’m already a huge fan! I thought I’d share the post Michelle sent to me today, because of Fitness Friday. 🙂

We are a married couple who are doing our best to juggle marriage, children, work and a healthy, fit lifestyle. We decided that for our guest post here at Liv Lives Life we would share some of the things we do to try and keep all aspects of our busy lives in order. So let’s just dive right in, shall we?

What would your advice be to working moms that want to get the most fulfillment out of their down time? Are there things you can do that incorporate family time and fitness together?

Michelle: I think realizing that time spent at home doesn’t have to be couch potato time.

Fitness starts at home!…so how can you find time for fitness? The key is to be flexible and make fitness a way of life. And remember all physical activity — not just formal exercise programs — counts to making a healthier you!

Here are just a few ideas on how to make the most of your time when you have to be at home with your kiddos:

Wake up early. This ensures that you don’t have all day to make excuses to “skip” your workout. Get up and get it done! If you have a dreadmill treadmill at home you could start your day with a brisk walk or run. Don’t have a treadmill, pick one of your workout dvds to get your heart rate up. What?!? don’t have any of those collecting dust on your shelves…no need to run out and spend $ then…just hit up youtube or a free fitness website like this one to get you started.

Make chores count. Mop the floor, scrub the bathtub or do other housework at a pace fast enough to get your heart pumping. Outdoor work counts, too. Mowing the lawn with a push mower is a great way to burn calories. Raking and hoeing strengthen your arms and back, and digging works your arms and legs.

Be active while watching TV. Use hand weights, ride a stationary bike or do a stretching routine during your favorite shows. Get off the couch to change the channel or adjust the volume.

Involve the whole family. Take group walks before or after dinner. Play catch. Ride your bikes. Go to the local pool and take turns with your spouse – one of you can hang with the kids while the other completes laps – and then switch. Get everyone involved and teach your kids by doing it yourself!

The best times are the times together…don’t let them pass you by

With so much importance placed on marriage, family and work, how hard is it to keep fitness as a priority? Any tips you can share that help keep yourself on track?

Mike: Like Michelle said, find ways to get the whole family involved. Not only is it fun, but it also helps to bring everyone closer together and sets a good example for the kids.

One thing that I have been doing for a while now is going for my run during my lunch break at work. I’m lucky enough to work downtown, which means there are lots of great running paths to choose from, and the building I work in also has a gym (with change rooms and most importantly, showers). I find that the lunch hour is a great time to get a run in and the only time it is taking away is potentially time chatting about work with coworkers over sandwiches. I would rather give that up than sacrifice time I could spend with my family (sorry to my work friends haha).

Another tip related to work is your daily commute…any chance you can walk or ride your bike? Some people are even getting into run commutes. I’d like to try that some time, but the idea of running with a laptop strapped to my back isn’t all that appealing.

Keeping your fitness goals on track is all about finding what works for you…these are just some of the tips that have worked for me. If you see a time in your day that you think could be better served by getting in a workout or run…give it a shot! You might surprise yourself with how much spare time you really have. Did you know that a one-hour workout only consumes about 4% of your day? It’s true! And who can’t spare 4% (or even just 2% for a half hour workout)?

Any tips you guys can share for finding time to keep the important things in your life going?

What sort of fitness activities do you get to enjoy as a family?

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Such a great post, and even better because it rounds out a full week of wonderful guest posts! I love all of the tips that Michelle and Mike give here. Why not make exercising and being active a family thing? Not only does it get everyone together, but it gets everyone in the healthy mindset. Thanks again, Michelle and Mike!

Have a great weekend, everyone! Be sure to come back next week for my recap(s) of my lovely vacation. 🙂