Mom's guide to fitness multitasking

Moms are masters at multitasking

Women are natural multitaskers, able to tackle multiple projects at once without thinking twice. And when it comes to exercise, there are many ways to apply that multitasking talent. Just think: your heart pumping, muscles working, calories burning, all while you accomplish other things that need to be done. Here are four efficient ways to fit fitness into your day.

Gardening

Maintaining the outside of your home is something you have to do, but it's also something that burns a good amount of calories. From raking the lawn to planting and weeding, gardening is a great way to exercise.

Crystal Brown-Tatum, owner of Crystal Clear Communications, started gardening while undergoing treatment for breast cancer (she's a two-year survivor!). "During my treatment which included a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, I often did not feel well enough for physical exercise or strenuous exercise so I decided to start a garden," explains Brown-Tatum. "It was therapeutic but I soon found it was a real workout [with the] stretching, bending, pulling weeds, arranging displays, laying down mulch, watering, etc."

Not only does this master of multitasking have a lovely yard and shapely arms now, she is also getting a good dose of vitamin D, and even working up a sweat, she says.

Playing with kids

Believe it or not, playing with your kids is good exercise. You can create fun memories with your children and work off that afternoon snack at the same time. So, instead of calling the babysitter while you hit the gym, take the kids outside and play tag, catch, kickball or some other fun game. Too cold or rainy for the outdoors? Turn up the music and get dancing with the children.

Alethea Smock chooses kid-involved exercises over the gym all the time. Her favorite? Swimming with her kids, Annika, 5, and Henderick, 3. "It's a good upper arm workout throwing (Annika) into the water and pulling (Henderick) through the water so he can practice swimming," says Smock. "For the summer it keeps us cool, and keeps me in shape." In the winter, they have another routine: Sledding. "They sled down and I pull them up the hill while they take a ride," the mom of two explains. "I now make the five-year old walk up but I'll pull her sled for her. The three-year old still gets a full pass up the hill. I use snowshoes to help keep me upright. That is as good as a hike any day."

Another fun way Smock incorporates her kids into her workout is by pushing them in the double stroller to the library, store and other places. "What I typically do is find a destination that is doable for either walking or riding the bike and that holds an interest for the kids, like an ice cream shop, the lake, the library, Target, a park, etc., she says. "Then we either pack up the stroller or bike and head for the destination, they play, I take a break and then we head for home again. That way they get a little fun time and I get to fit in a workout."

In addition to the exercise and the fun for the kids, Smock says there is one more bonus accomplishment: "They also get to see me taking care of myself and making exercise a priority."

Cleaning the house

One of the ultimates in multitasking is cleaning the house. Having a clean house is important, since cleanliness is good for the mind ... but it's also good for the body. It's no coincidence that washing the windows can make your arms ache. It really is a workout.

Katalin Goencz counts her cleaning as part of her exercise. She says that she can work up a sweat vacuuming. "Scrubbing and active work with hands and walking, kneeling does give me the general tiredness as exercise does," she adds.

Say Wii!

When the Wii was introduced in 2006, it changed video gaming. Forget controllers and joysticks, Wii allows users to get up and really move with just the basic sports package. But add in a Wii Fit or an EA Active and you can have a total body workout. And, it's also a lot of fun.

Denise Gideon, host and producer at Southern Gothic Productions, says that she's had some serious results working out with the Wii. "I have lost over 10 pounds and inches around my waist," says Gideon. "Because with the EA Active you can create your own workout with what you want to work on, and with the varying sports, I can target the aspects of my body I would like to tone. So, because I am trying to lose weight around my middle, I work a lot of upper body and cardio."

Rely on your talent to multitask and fit fitness into your day -- you'll improve your health, boost your fitness and feel more accomplished.

More ways to fit fitness into your day

• 10 Ways to fit exercise into your day
• Home fitness: Fitness DVDs to get you fit
• The unexpected workout: Work out without even trying
• Health tips for new moms
• 5 Fitness tips for new moms