Tips on making time to exercise with full time job and kids?

pandapotlovebug
pandapotlovebug Posts: 59 Member
in Motivation and Support
Kids are 10 and 15. I leave at 7 and get home around 7. Need motivation to do at least something every other day. It's hard when I have so many excuses like my feet hurt or I feel guilty for taking the time away from the kids or the chores.
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Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Take them to the park and run with them. Win win.
  • lalahunt
    lalahunt Posts: 1 Member
    Workout videos at home?
  • lseed87
    lseed87 Posts: 1,105 Member
    Doing some type of exercise in the morning (yoga etc)
    Go to a skating rink
    ride bikes together
    go swimming
  • althea5883
    althea5883 Posts: 40 Member
    I workout before I go to work. It means getting up am hour earlier, but I find its worth it.
  • xenyen
    xenyen Posts: 33 Member
    Wake up early and do some yoga for ten minutes... you'll feel great, and you can make it a walk or run, and increase in intensity as you get into the routine.. you will love the quiet early morning and the buzz will be with you all day. And you could take the kids out with you for a walk in the evenings.. they can play ball in the park and you walk around.. start with a short walk around the block, then increase.

    If you start with a big heavy intense routine you'll feel pressured... build gradually and it will be fun and definitely you will WANT more.. so will your kids. I got my kids to join in.. they often do sessions and always walks with me.

    Good luck
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    They walk up and down a very long hallway at my job. There's also a walking route outside that is popular when it's nice out. I took some shoes to work to give it a try but haven't done it yet lol

    But seriously, though. Even ten minutes every other hour in lieu of a lunch break would suffice!
  • morning_joy
    morning_joy Posts: 1,063 Member
    I would love someone to touch base with at 5 am so I would make sure I get up and workout before getting ready for work. I too have to arrive at 7 am
  • pandapotlovebug
    pandapotlovebug Posts: 59 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Take them to the park and run with them. Win win.
    I try this on most Saturdays with the youngest and a dog!
    lalahunt wrote: »
    Workout videos at home?
    I have a treadmill and do some circuit or hiit. But it's hard to get up early enough to have enough time in the morning and after kids go to bed I'm mostly too tired!
    I'd love to do it in the morning. I have more energy then. If only if get to bed early enough. ....
    Just need to eliminate excuses and get motivated. Need to find a way tomake it a habit.
  • Karen_can_do_this
    Karen_can_do_this Posts: 1,150 Member
    I have three kids (13, 7 & 2.5)
    I drive 90 minutes every Mon, Tues and Wed to study nursing.
    I work Fri, Sat,Sun.
    I get up at 4.15am every second day and go to the gym for an hour before school or work.
    Now honestly I'm like the world's most laziest person. If I can do it, you definitely can.

    Can you share some tips on getting the time and inclination to do my housework?
  • newlife0202
    newlife0202 Posts: 36 Member
    a treadmill and your body is all you need. First things first make sure your nutrition is on point. After you got that down, go ahead and do some treadmill work three to four days a week. Search on youtube for some home body-weight exercises. You would be suprised what you can find laying around the house and turning into work out equipment. I struggle with this too, have a active three year old and i work monday through friday 12 hr shifts. I work out at midnight at the gym, sleep 5 hours, repeat. You can do it..you really can. but first, make sure your getting proper nutrition. Add me! id like to help any way I can.
  • Soopatt
    Soopatt Posts: 563 Member
    I am impressed with all the working parents on this site who find time to exercise, well done! I don't have kids and find it difficult enough to fit in the small amount of exercise I do, between work and life.

    *applause*
  • lauracups
    lauracups Posts: 533 Member
    Every little bit counts. There's no rule that you have to get a long work out all at once. Suggestion; wake up just 15-20 minutes earlier get a stretch and at home work out, resistant bands are awesome for that, then when you get to work park as far away as you can get a lil walk in, walk at lunch, take the stairs etc . When back at home involve the kids in fun activities or while doing chores etc do lunges while holding laundry basket etc. Before you know it you've gotten an hour in without shaking up too much of your routine.
  • althea5883
    althea5883 Posts: 40 Member
    jul_ohare wrote: »
    I would love someone to touch base with at 5 am so I would make sure I get up and workout before getting ready for work. I too have to arrive at 7 am

    I'm just leaving the gym at 5am. If you want I can send you a quick message to see that you're going :)

    Becca

  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Fit some extra in while doing chores. I always have 2 or more spare bottles laundry detergent, so while I am waiting for the spin cycle to end, I get some upper body work done. When picking up, use good form and do squats. It actually saves your back and works the legs.
  • pandapotlovebug
    pandapotlovebug Posts: 59 Member
    mrsfitzyv8 wrote: »
    I have three kids (13, 7 & 2.5)
    I drive 90 minutes every Mon, Tues and Wed to study nursing.
    I work Fri, Sat,Sun.
    I get up at 4.15am every second day and go to the gym for an hour before school or work.
    Now honestly I'm like the world's most laziest person. If I can do it, you definitely can.

    Can you share some tips on getting the time and inclination to do my housework?

    Haha I barely have time for that. :-) I'm not the neatest energetic mom .
  • pandapotlovebug
    pandapotlovebug Posts: 59 Member
    Lizzy622 wrote: »
    Fit some extra in while doing chores. I always have 2 or more spare bottles laundry detergent, so while I am waiting for the spin cycle to end, I get some upper body work done. When picking up, use good form and do squats. It actually saves your back and works the legs.
    Great idea!
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    Just have one of them sit on your shoulders while you plank. . . . .
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,510 Member
    I've recently started walking around my parking garage over lunch. According to my Fitbit, I can burn 85 calories in about 15 minutes and I got in over 10,000 steps before I even left for the day!
  • CoachKane
    CoachKane Posts: 8 Member
    Find a program that is already planned out so you know what you need to do ahead of time and one that takes only 25-30 minutes to complete at home. Also one that is fun and you would like to do. I know many parents that are able to get their kids involved too and that makes it fun for them as well. I've ran some fit clubs as early as 5 AM and those were the times when we had the most participation because the mom's could get out of the house while the kids are still in bed and the husband hadn't left for work yet, you can do the same thing at home. You can also form or join a private exercise group on Facebook or Google Plus to help you with accountability and inspiration, I host them all the time and they really make a difference in helping folks stick with their workouts and get results that last.
  • CoachKane
    CoachKane Posts: 8 Member
    edited August 2015
    pandapotlovebug wrote: »
    mrsfitzyv8 wrote: »
    I have three kids (13, 7 & 2.5)
    I drive 90 minutes every Mon, Tues and Wed to study nursing.
    I work Fri, Sat,Sun.
    I get up at 4.15am every second day and go to the gym for an hour before school or work.
    Now honestly I'm like the world's most laziest person. If I can do it, you definitely can.

    Can you share some tips on getting the time and inclination to do my housework?

    Haha I barely have time for that. :-) I'm not the neatest energetic mom .

    You can do it!

  • CoachKane
    CoachKane Posts: 8 Member
    edited August 2015
    .
  • LULU4178
    LULU4178 Posts: 69 Member
    Well, what worked for me to take time for myself was reading this quote "Find time to be healthy or find time to be sick." Your kids will be fine without out you sometimes. Did your parents spend every waking moment with you? Mine didn't and they were great parents. Now, as an adult, I am a productive member of society. You need to put on your own oxygen mask first. I made the switch (of putting myself at the top of the list) three years ago and my family survived. My daughter is 18 now, son 15, hubby 50. They learned how to cook their own dinners and do their own laundry. Win win! When I get home from work, I exercise for an hour. End of story. They ate and did whatever. When I finish, I check in with them and then eat. We had dinner together on the weekends or whenever I got home earlier. Chores get done by all of us on the weekends. May sound selfish--but for me it just wasn't going to "happen." You can do it!
  • kbenzacar
    kbenzacar Posts: 13 Member
    I love the quote by lulu4178. But I relate to the posting. I work from home and am overloaded with work. Today I got up and right away went to my desk where I sat most of the day (except for very short breaks for the bathroom and food). I know it's not healthy to work like that but it's hopefully for only another 2-3 weeks. The problem is when I'm done, after driving kids to activities, they go to bed, and I go to bed right after. I don't know how to find the time.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Also when my kids were younger (now 21, 20 and 19), they were in soccer. When I was not coaching or helping the coach, I walked laps around the field or parking lot. Keep an extra pair of sneakers in the car so If you are picking up or dropping off for activities and have a few minutes you can get some steps in.
  • krs83301
    krs83301 Posts: 9 Member
    I'm a huge fan of fitnessblender.com - free site, great workout videos and you can search by type/length/equipment. I started with 5-10 minutes cause that's how long my baby was napping for. And some days I can throw in a. 50 minute... You can do it!
  • chrystenfo
    chrystenfo Posts: 35 Member
    I find that I just commit to three times a week. That's only twice during the work week that I have to find the motivation. Then at least once on the weekend. I do the same with feeling guilty, or not wanting to get up. So just twice a week I throw out all of my excuses. This is sustainable for me.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,973 Member
    You make time. Hard as it may seem, you can still work in 30 minutes a day for yourself if you're organized. Whether it's just walking or even just doing body weight exercises, if it's a priority for you, you'll fit it in.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    I just stay up late and rock out once the kids are in bed. I've been know to go jogging at 11pm because that's what time I finished bedtimestomorrowluncheskitchencleaninglaundryfoldedhousestraightened...
  • KristieJC
    KristieJC Posts: 243 Member
    I am exactly where you are! It's so hard to make time between work, kids, trying to keep the house in a semi-livable condition, and never getting enough sleep. I've been bad at working exercise into my schedule also, but am able to manage it some days doing what others suggested - involving my kids. My daughter will do exercise videos with me, and it's easy to get the kids going if we're riding bikes, walking the dogs, or even dancing around the house to fun music and just being silly. This gives you exercise and time with your kids, and helps teach them some healthy habits. And something I've tried to do more recently: get the kids to help me with my chores! My kids are 6 and 10, and I've been bad about making them help, but when they do simple things like help me unload the dishwasher and fold/put up laundry, it frees up a little more time for me to spend time with them or exercise.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    I get up at 5 am to work out, before the kids and the hubs get up. That way it doesn't take time away from them after work. As far as chores, we're a pretty neat family, we all have our chores to keep our home clean. At the end of my usual work days it's usually only the kitchen that needs to be cleaned.

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