Being an Aunt is not easy these days, a role model to your nieces and nephews, exercise, health and well being must be on the top of your priority list. Unfortunately, family, careers, children, pets, and household chores tend to create a schedule whereby time to exercise may seem like it is not an option. Not anymore! No need to block off 30-60 minute sessions to exercise; in just 15 minutes a day, you can get your heart pumping, build muscle with full-body strength training moves, speed up your metabolism and lose weight! What’s more is you can do this type of exercise with your niece and nephew and no one will even know you are exercising! Turn it into a game and you could play for 30 minutes, entertaining the kids and getting a great workout at the same time.  

HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training - is the way to do it. This type of training is done for short periods of time because it is so intense. An added benefit is that it keeps your metabolism churning all day! Here is how it is done:

Sprinting, jumping rope, think short intervals of intense cardio training interlaced with recovery stages. So for instance, you can jump rope for one minute, walk one for minute, jump rope for one minute, strength train for one minute. Continue this interval for 15-30 minutes on and off.

Remember, you must exert a ton of energy then recover for a short time, hence High Intensity Interval Training!
    
To make a game out of it and excite your nieces / nephews, I typically challenge the kids to a game of Hide & Seek, or Manhunt. This game encourages intervals of sprints when running from the person who is “it” interlaced with recovery periods during the hide time.

Using some creativity; you will be amazed at how you can take some good quality time with your nieces and nephews and turn it into a good workout for all. Not only will you run, jump, lose weight and have fun; the memories will last a lifetime.

As you all know, I am a proud Aunt of five. I love playing and working out with the kids, but I also enjoy a good hard core workout all to myself. Want to work out with me and try a HIIT workout? Check out my new iPhone app and give it a try! You will be addicted!