Nine News' Wendy Kingston on the reality of exercising as a mother

If I exercised as much as I thought about exercising, l would probably be some F45/Crossfit/world-dominating gym queen. But I'm not. 
 
I run. Up the stairs, chasing a toddler. I lift weights when one brother needs to be physically removed from the other brother before they kill each other. 
 
You get my drift. 

Listen to the latest episode of Honey Mums, now hosted by Nine's Deborah Knight. In this week's episode Deb talks to friend and The Footy Show host Erin Molan who is expecting her first baby any day:

I watch with envy those mums who effortlessly plank one-handed or bench press while their child sits beside them or on top of them for that extra fat-burning experience. 

RELATED: Meet the mum who used exercise to get through her labour
 
So off I went to the doctor the other day, seeking a blood test to determine why I am always SO TIRED. Yes, I'm low on iron, but the early diagnosis before the official results are in... is #mumlife. 

The solution: more sleep (yeah, right). And exercise. 
 
So instead of shooting for the stars, I'm starting small. Real small.

Because when I signed up to a triathlon six months ago (admittedly after drinking a glass of champagne and thinking it was a really, really good idea) it wasn't. I didn't have time to train. Then I was stressed about thinking I didn't have time to train. And then I pulled out. 

Instead, I'm setting more attainable goals. I now have hand weights next to my bed. When I see them, I'm trying to do 15 reps and some pushups while I'm at it. 
 
I'm walking my dog but now stopping to do 10 dips on the park chair - much to the amusement of my children. 
 
One day, when I don't have a double pram and three scooters, I might even jog! 

LISTEN: Our Honey Mums podcast asks the question: have we taken the post-baby fitness obsession too far? (Post continues.)

You may not have done an hour-long pump class at the gym, but those 15 minutes you spent walking barefoot on the sand can actually do wonders for your mental health.

You feel grounded. You've been outside. You've felt the sun on your back. On your hardest days, those 15 minutes will pull you through. 
 
As parents, we so often put ourselves last. But in doing so, we're not actually putting our children first. Our patience wears thin, we forget to breathe, and anxiety levels start peaking.

By caring for ourselves and being kinder, our children also seem to be easier to love. Unless, of course, they decide your newly purchased hand weights make great ninja weapons...