When mothers are physically active with their children, "exercise is not just one more chore to add to the endless list of things you've got to do before you can go to bed," Schmitz says. "It's doing something good for yourself that's also modeling a positive behavior for your child."

In a society with an epidemic of obesity and inactivity-related diseases among children and adults, getting moving is more important than ever. So don't worry about hiring a babysitter or waiting for junior to nap so you can exercise. Here's a sampling of ways to workout with your children:

Kangaroo Walk

Put your child in a baby carrier and take a walk.

Workout Video

Join your child in exercising to a kiddie workout video or try a mom-and-infant video, such as "Baby & You, Workout for Two" (available from Collage Video 1-800-433-6769).

Stroller Striding

Tie on a good pair of walking shoes and push your child in a stroller. For a tougher workout, run behind a jogging stroller or hike some challenging hills.

Track Time

Take your children to a school track. Spread out a blanket and bring some toys for them to play with while you walk or jog--either all the way around the track or in small circles near them, if necessary. Bring sand toys if there's a sandpit for them to play in. When they are older, bring their tricycles, bikes or skates so they can wheel along beside you.

Playground Health Club

Get off your bench and join your child on the exercise equipment. Swing, hang, slide, skip, crawl, climb, laugh.

Get Classy

Sign up for a mom-and-tot exercise class, often offered through YMCAs or recreation departments.

Musical Moves

Find music that both you and your child enjoy and move to it. Be creative: toss a ball or march in time with the beat, move like animals, stop the music and "freeze," then start all over again.

(C) Carol Krucoff, 1999-2000 All rights reserved.

Carol Krucoff is an award winning journalist and founding editor of the Health Section of THE WASHINGTON POST. In addition to being the mother of two growing children, she is also certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise and holds a second-degree black belt in karate. She and her husband, Mitchell Krucoff, M.D., are the authors of HEALING MOVES: HOW TO CURE, RELIEVE AND PREVENT COMMON AILMENTS WITH EXERCISE (Harmony Books, 2000). Learn more about their book at www.healingmoves.com.

(This article is not meant to replace consultation with trained health care professionals. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse consequences of effects resulting from the use of any of the information or suggestions contained in this article.)