Mom exercise that's easier than it looks: Rock climbing

Here is the thing I've realized about exercising as a mom--whatever I do, it has to take all of my concentration, otherwise I'm just running on a treadmill and sweating over the diapers I need to buy, the food I need to cook, and the rooms I need to clean.

Enter rock climbing, my exercise addiction and the best workout I've ever gotten. No, in case you're wondering, I haven't found a way to leave my family for hours on end and make it up to the Catskills, but a great climbing gym opened up ten minutes away, and now, instead of running on machines that remind me of gerbil wheels, I run to the gym and spend 45 minutes pulling my way up walls.

Am I a brilliant climber? Absolutely not. To be honest, I'm not even that good. But here's the thing no one ever tells you about sports like rock climbing: you don't need to be good to get a lot out of them. You are your own competition, so you decide how to push yourself, and mark your own progress. And the best part? It really will get you in shape. Blame it on the adrenaline, or the intensity of the workout, or plain old fear, but nothing tones up your arms and abs like trying not to fall.