Staying in shape with kids - what do you do?

cdahl383

That's cool, glad you were able to work things out. Are you planning to home school them up through high school or just up to a certain point?

cdahl383

thorsmom01 wrote: »

I drop mine off at the gyms day care room while I work out. My son watches movies , plays with other kids, paints and colors at the day care room while I work out. I only go to gyms with child care for this reason .

Years ago the Bally's gym we used to go to had a childcare center, but back then we didn't have any kids. Of course they went bankrupt and we went to a different gym and then had kids and had to start working out separately. My wife works out at Planet Fitness and I go to Anytime Fitness, neither of which have a daycare. Maybe when our kids get a little older we can find a gym in our area that has a childcare center and start working out together again, would be kind of cool.

kwoolfwpfd

cdahl383 wrote: »

Wow man that's some serious hours you're putting in. Is that year round or just cyclical at certain times of the year? I used to work 60-70 hours during the winter months when I was in public accounting and that was tough, felt like I lived at work. If you can find time to get to the gym then I certainly can!

Yep here in Michigan it sucks in the winter. Can't do much outside at all. The kids are still too little to have them out there for too long when it's 10 degrees outside with a foot of snow. Summer is the best time, can be outside almost all the time as long as it's not raining.

About 6 months out of the year it's steady at 60-80 hours. I had two weeks in a row at 90 hours so definitely did not go the gym those weeks. It sucks after a long day at work but I'm always stoked afterwards. Also I starting using a pre workout to help give me the extra drive. Idaho is the same we have been getting some rain lately but it stays sunny until 10 each night so it's nice to go on family walks when it's nice and cool. If you need some motivation let me know but I'm sure you'll do awesome!

softblondechick

Be like my neighbor, go to the gym after work for two or three hours, and leave the kids home alone. She had a great shape and body.

cdahl383

kwoolfwpfd wrote: »

cdahl383 wrote: »

Wow man that's some serious hours you're putting in. Is that year round or just cyclical at certain times of the year? I used to work 60-70 hours during the winter months when I was in public accounting and that was tough, felt like I lived at work. If you can find time to get to the gym then I certainly can!

Yep here in Michigan it sucks in the winter. Can't do much outside at all. The kids are still too little to have them out there for too long when it's 10 degrees outside with a foot of snow. Summer is the best time, can be outside almost all the time as long as it's not raining.

About 6 months out of the year it's steady at 60-80 hours. I had two weeks in a row at 90 hours so definitely did not go the gym those weeks. It sucks after a long day at work but I'm always stoked afterwards. Also I starting using a pre workout to help give me the extra drive. Idaho is the same we have been getting some rain lately but it stays sunny until 10 each night so it's nice to go on family walks when it's nice and cool. If you need some motivation let me know but I'm sure you'll do awesome!

Wow that's some serious work hours there! I remember when busy season was over and we went back to 40 hours a week I felt like I was working part time haha!

We've had a lot of rain here too in Michigan, June was like a monsoon season here haha! But I agree it's nice having long days, stays light out until 9:30 or 10pm during the summer. Family walks in the evening are the best. Thanks for the support, I usualy do good losing weight and getting in shape, it's the staying there part that I suck at haha!

cdahl383

softblondechick wrote: »

Be like my neighbor, go to the gym after work for two or three hours, and leave the kids home alone. She had a great shape and body.

Wouldn't work out too well for me, our kids are 2 and 4, pretty sure the house would be destroyed and child protective services would be at my door when I got back from the gym haha!

softblondechick

Her kids are 7, 9, and 11. When they were younger she dumped them in the childcare at the gym. The gym won't take kids over age 6 at the childcare.

So, you need to find a gym with childcare.

Liftng4Lis

a.m., before work, while they're sleeping,

cdahl383

Oh ok I see. I thought you said she left them home alone, that would be bad haha!

Yeah that's definitely a possibility. Doesn't seem to be any around here that are affordable though. So far working out on lunch seems to work well for my schedule, then it's over with when I get home.

Songlark

When ours were 3 & 4 and below, we had 2 Manduca baby sling carriers, and would go for hikes with them. They're only cloth and snaps, so no heavy metal frame, and you can carry older kids too, like 4/5. They worked a treat

buxbert

mine are 3 and 5; they can go for small hikes; we used to have backpacks to carry them around for longer hikes but they are getting too heavy for that; we try to be active with them on weekends but many times it is just them who are active while we are trying to keep things under control (like their swim classes or cycling with them) - no serious exercise for us but better than couch. otherwise we take turns in the evenings mostly or get a babysitter. I keep trying to go running or cycling before work but so far it hasn't happened as I have to get the kids ready for kindergarten and can't get myself to getting up any earlier than what I do. It is a bit of a struggle if you want to have a bit of spare time as well. how about a trampoline? do you have a garden? kids love it and if it's strong enough it'll work for grown ups. or skipping rope? anyway, good luck!

boricua3177

I pay an extra $20 a month to my gym so my 4 year old daughter can attend their kiddie care. My husband's work schedule is erratic, so if I wait until he gets home I will never get to the gym! I hate the fact that my daughter is in daycare all day while I work & then I turn around & put her in daycare again to go to the gym. I have the worst mommy guilt, but I do what I have to do. She likes going to the gym with me, so at least she is happy. :-)

cdahl383

Neat idea taking them for hikes and stuff. Well if anything you're taking care of yourself so you'll be around a long time to take care of your daughter so it's not a bad thing, not like you're dropping her off so you can go out to the bar and get drunk or go to the casino, etc.

CSARdiver

Ours are 7, 5, and 1. Wife works out before work and I get the morning routine and drop offs, then she picks them up and I work out at night. We do calisthenics in the morning - all the kids. We do night time bike rides throughout the week or just other things to keep active. It's rough, but you just get used to it.

cdahl383

That's cool man, sounds like a good routine there.

fidangul

I'm lucky to have a lovely mother who loves to babysit for me so generally I'm okay to workout. But sometimes that's not possible so I stick a short workout DVD on put my 8month son his walking frame and my 2yearold daughter by my side and we're all hoping about in the living room. However I do lose concentration because I'm luaghing so much at my daughter trying to do the moves and my son jumping in his walking frame. But hey it's fun.

pearso21123

Mine are a little older now (13, 10, 9, and 7). We recently joined the YMCA. They have free childcare from infants all the way up to tweens. The two oldest can also use the equipment and workout. If I don't want to take the time to drive to the Y, we go to a local park that has a trail that circles the play equipment. I can jog while they play. Sometimes they jog with me for short spurts. The trail is close enough that I can keep an eye on them while I'm jogging. Their school also has a track where I can run while they play on the playground. It's definitely a lot easier once they're more self-sufficient.

cdahl383

That's cool. I can see it being much easier once they're a little older like that. My 4 yr old is generally pretty good but my 2 yr old still likes to get into things now and then so you have to keep a close eye on her. Jogging at the park while they play is a good idea, I can see doing that when they get a few years older.

accidentalpancake

boogiewookie wrote: »

I have a 7 yr old girl and an (almost) 1 year old boy. I have a pretty good set up in my garage so
I bring my baby monitor and workout either during naptime or when they're down for the night

Yep. This right here.

Mine are 2 and 1. They go to sleep, I get to workout.

I have a full time job and I teach college courses on the side, so I know all about the time crunch.

cdahl383

Yep it's not easy but it's either fit it in or get fat I guess haha!