Dads Gain Play Time But Lose Exercise Time
It is no doubt that after having 5 kids I have all the time in the world to play. I gain hours of reading time, coloring, and even stacking blocks. What else did I gain? A few pounds.
Though I have worked hard to lose weight I tend to bounce around which is actually not that good for you. It is that much better to remain a constant weight than to gain weight only to shed it 6 months later.
But a recent article supports that daddies are the most effected when it comes to children.
Parents have long griped that having children sidetracks their best-laid exercise plans. Now they have evidence.
A first-of-its-kind study released in May by the University of Pittsburgh concluded that parenthood demonstrably reduces physical activity, while marriage has only a negligible effect.
Just how big a hit do active parents take?
Roughly 525 participants were tracked for two years, as part of a 17-year study called the University of Pittsburgh Physical Activity Study.
Those who remained childless lost only a half hour of physical activity per week, while those who had children lost about three and a half hours.
Men, in particular, were affected.
Women, who exercised on average four hours before children, lost about 90 minutes a week once they became mothers. New fathers, who used to log just under eight hours of activity weekly, cut back a whopping four and a half hours.
This definitely supports my life style. Though I could probably shove all the kids in a wagon and pull them around all day. Kids get bored after 15 minutes and my 5 month old needs to stop and eat or get a diaper change. In other words, it isn’t as easy as it may sound. Going to bed when the kids do and waking up for a morning run might help. Personally, after losing about 30 pounds, and after my last daughter was born 5 months ago, I just can’t seem to coordinate time to just go for an evening walk.
Less exercise is definitely my largest factor. This means I can’t eat as much or I will balloon right up with excess weight.
Any dads out there who have experienced this first hand?
