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We can use our infant strollers as exercise machines as part of a fitness routine. The following exercises designed to be used with your stroller.
Consult with your physician before exercising if you have not done any exercise in a long time. Before any exercise, it is a pretty good idea to stretch your muscles for 5 minutes to reduce the risk of damaging them. Do a warm up routine first.
Try to carry modest fitness weights, fitness stretch bands etc with you in carrier bag. These can be useful for exercising your arms. It can be a good idea to take other exercise equipment along and use it as you see fit.
It takes about 20 minutes to complete these exercises. Feel free to vary this time to suit yourself nonetheless the main thing is to try and get yourself breathing harder. Do not exercise so hard that you struggle to breath.
I use a jogging stroller when running but there are very good reviews on the Uppababy Vista and Stokke Xplory 2012 for power walking. The Stokke Xplory stroller however is very expensive.
Walking
Start off with your shoulders back and keep the stroller close to prevent you from hunching forward which should be avoided.
Warm up for, give or take 5 minutes.
Power walk for 2 minutes.
Stroller Squat for 1 minute
Start with your feet hip width apart.
Arms and stroller should be close to your body.
Assume the squat position.
Whilst doing this, push the stroller forward.
Pull the stroller back, then forward.
Keep your thighs parallel to ground.
Use your heels to take most of the weight.
Stand up straight.
Repeat for 1 minute.
Abs 1 minute
Stand erect and put both of your arms above your head.
Bend forward from waist approximately ninety degrees.
Try to keep the muscles in your abdomen tight.
Straighten up again
Do the same on the left hand side.
Repeat for the other side.
Repeat for 1 minute.
Power walk for 2 minutes.
Stroller lunge 1 minute
Stand upright.
Start by facing feet forward and hip width apart.
Split stance - take 1 large step forward.
Keep your back straight and your shoulders back.
Bend your legs and lower your body until your knee is one inch from the ground.
Move your body upright and forward again until both feet are together.
Repeat with the other leg.
Try not to lean too heavy on the stroller handlebar.
Power walk for 2 minutes.
Kickback
Stand straight with your shoulders back.
Your feet should be at hip width apart and facing forward.
From a standing position, kick back with the left leg and bring both feet together again.
Repeat 15 times at 1 sec intervals.
Repeat for right leg.
Repeat 8 times at 1 sec intervals.
Repeat for right leg.
Repeat 4 times at 1 sec intervals.
Repeat for right leg.
Leg lift
Push your stroller at a regular walking pace.
While walking, lift each leg until the thigh is horizontal.
Proceed for 2 minutes.
Push-ups
Find an empty park bench.
Stand behind bench.
Take 1 big step back.
Lean towards the bench and hold on to it.
Start pushups.
Ten push ups is a good starting target.
Increase this number as your fitness level increases.
Curb Step ups
Find a curb that is away from traffic.
Step up and down on the curbing to work the leg muscles.
Proceed for 2 minutes.
Bench step ups
If the kerb is not working you enough, use park benches instead.
Stretching/Cooldown
If possible, try and spend about twenty seconds stretching on each muscle during the cool down.
It will take about 20 minutes to complete all of the exercises. Whenever you get fitter, you may want to step-up this time to suit your fitness level.
Further information may be found at Stokke Xplory 2012 and Stokke Xplory Stroller.
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