The baby workout? A myth.
I had this notion that if you had kids, you were always working out. After all they are heavy and keep getting heavier. And when not staring slack-jawed at the Teletubbies, kids must be chased! But, according to a recent New York Times article, if you really want to stay in shape, don't become a parent.
[LINK]THEY count among their ranks former marathoners and Ironmen, beached surfers and scuba divers. They lay off red meat and trans fats. They stay current on annual physicals and take their medications as prescribed.
And yet, this group of the once-fit finds itself at risk of becoming unhealthy and stacking on the pounds, because of one threat to their physical fitness: 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.
