Any Moms Feel Guilty Exercising?

itsmethao

I'm a part-time working Mom of three and I always feel guilty working out since that takes precious time away from my family. One thing I'm doing to overcome this guilt is by forcing myself to exercise at 5 AM, while everyone is still asleep. It's so hard, especially after a night of multiple baby disturbances!

ew_david

I used to, but then realized my "me" time is just as important as my family time. Not that it's possible for everyone, but I made a home gym so I didn't have to go anywhere to work out. My kids are a little older though, and don't need as much attention as an infant.

hollyilex

Don't be so hard on yourself. Taking care of your health is a benefit for your family too. Everyone need some time for themselves, and there's no point exhausting yourself and making yourself sick.

TheVirgoddess

I really don't. My health and happiness has a direct impact on the health and happiness of my family. Being a mom doesn't mean everyone else in my family always comes first. I'm still a person, deserving time, effort and attention.

amillenium

Oh heck yeah and I get up at 4:45 almost every day to get a small workout in. I don't have enough time to do everything I want but it's better than nothing.

rhoule76

I would try to involve my 3 yo in my nightly exercise, then my husband changed to night shift at work and I lost that time. I asked daycare about dropping both my girls off 1 hour earlier in the morning so I could workout before work, it was only $8/week more. So, now I exercise for 30-40 minutes in the morning. I do feel guilty dropping them off at daycare and going back home to exercise but I need it for my sanity and health.

shadowloss

Hey what about us Dad's? My kids are a little older, but I still feel a little guilty when I have to leave them home at night alone, or if I'm not able to make it to a practice, because I want to get to the gym for me. It's not easy, but you have to make time for what is best for you. In the long run it is what is best for everyone!

kamakazeekim

I workout at night after the kids go to bed but yeah, I often feel guilty because that time could be used to clean or do laundry but I figure I need to exercise for my own mental health and if I'm not mentally feeling good then I will be a worse mom for it.

randomtai

Nope.

Ninkyou

No. Everyone needs some me time. I put my kids in babysitting at my gym and they get social interaction with other kids while I work out. Or, I take them with me to walk (6 year old on a bike, baby in a stroller). Or, you can just do a sport with the kids and that's exercise for everyone too!

itsmethao

_dracarys_ wrote: »

I used to, but then realized my "me" time is just as important as my family time. Not that it's possible for everyone, but I made a home gym so I didn't have to go anywhere to work out. My kids are a little older though, and don't need as much attention as an infant.

Here's to hoping that it'll be easier when my little ones are older.

Unknown

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kpodaru

never. i see it as "me" time. i dedicate all other time to my family and i also deserve some time for myself. nothing to be guilty over....it's not like you're leaving them hungry and alone

in fact, my husband and i make sure that everyone gets activity in. he cycles on saturdays and evenings, i have my own workouts during the day/on sundays and our daughter has swimming, muay thai and dance throughout the week.

itsmethao

Thanks Mommies and Daddies for your support! I'll do my best to enjoy my "me" time.

DaneanP

By taking care of yourself you are taking care of your family. You are also setting the best possible example for your kids on how to live a long and healthy life.

abbyglidden1

I feel so guilty too! I work 40+hours a week so I force myself up at 4am three-four days a week to drive to the gym to get a work out in before driving home to get everyone ready and back out of the house by 7am. It sucks- the days I dont go to the gym I miss family time to get a walk in but I know in the end when I reach my goal weight I will feel better and be a better mom (more energy to play and keep up with them)so im making the short (hopefully) term loss for the long term gain (again hopefully! ) my toddler still gets up at night so I feel your pain on a severe lack of sleep some nights! Try it with a four am workout followed by 8 hrs at work! Blah

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

DaneanP wrote: »

By taking care of yourself you are taking care of your family. You are also setting the best possible example for your kids on how to live a long and healthy life.

+1

jetortola

Yes! And it's not just the family time I feel guilty for missing, it's all the "to-do" list (both home and work) as well... So like many of you, I get up early before my family is up and it's the ONLY way I've been able to workput consistently. 5 days/week x 30 mins and I am loving it! However I did fail at getting up 2 mornings this week with a sick child and grandmother in poor health --- so then I feel guilty for that too! Bah!

softblondechick

I saw a show, "My Strange Addiction", the Mother in the show was addicted to exercise, her son broke his arm, she went to the gym, told him that her staying home wouldn't make it better or change anything.

Interesting logic. True, but not something I could ever do...and if you are not doing that...I think you are okay. Mom's love guilt.

jaga13

On weekdays I have a small window to workout when my husband takes the kids to school and before I leave for work. It is glorious. I am fortunate to only work 30 hours so I can get home with them by 5. On the weekends I do sometimes feel guilty taking a long run while they are home but it really is the only me time most weekends. I try to just do it and not think about what the kids are doing. Besides they deserve some quality time with daddy so it's fine.

Cantstopmyshine1993

I Am a stay at home mom of 2. 15 months & 1 1/2 months. I do T25 when my kids take a nap during the day so they don't even know I do it (:

JillianRN527

Yes. I work full time and I already get up at 4:30 and come home at 8:30 and I do that three days a week. Exercise is usually the first thing to go when I get busy.

Sarasari

Nope. I get up at 5 so I can get my workout in at 5:30 before the kids are up. I find I need the me time and I am a nicer mom if I get that before having to wake them and help get them out the door. I thought I would feel guilty once I became a stay at home mom again, but I don't. Once the kids are at school my workout is done I can start on cleaning the house because my workout is done. It's a nice feeling.

mrsmammahunter

The guilt was there in the beginning and still is sometimes but i used my children as an excuse to not exercise and unhappy mom means unhappy family its best to be as healthy as you can be and that means working out. I found out how to minimize the guilt QUALITY time not QUANTITY time. If you spend an hour at the park playing and interacting with the kids then go to the gym for an hour and a half you won't feel as guilty since you played and had a great time with the kids. Also workout when they are asleep or do a workout dvd WITH or AROUND them dont say you cant because when i did 30 day shred my 2 year old was hanging on my back almost the entire time you work around it

acollis1

I get up at 4am, and I get woken up at LEAST once every night! I actually feel so much better during the day. On the weekends I sleep in a little and if my kids get up while I'm working out, they have learned where to find me. And alot of the time they like to join in!

cwolfman13

I'm a dad of two boys...no, I don't feel guilty. Most of what I do, I do for them and my wife, to include keeping myself fit and healthy so I don't die on them and leave them alone...what's an hour or so a few days per week compared to not having daddy around forever?

GoalWeight165by2018

I work FT and have three little ones. I go to the gym at 545 in the morning to do a workout, before anyone wakes up, but I even feel bad about that - the house needs cleaning! laundry needs doing!
I feel terribly guilty, especially if I work out on the weekends. Those are valuable!!
But, the truth is, I'm happier if I've worked out.
The house looks like we were robbed, but I'm not crabby, so I figure it all evens out in the end.

jessiruthica

One of my main motivators for losing weight and becoming fitter is so that my daughter has a good example of what that looks like at home. The only way I can do those two things is to take some time away from her. My husband and I take "shifts" - he hangs out with her while I run and then I play with her while he does weights.