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

pandapotlovebug

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.

queenliz99

Take them to the park and run with them. Win win.

lalahunt

Workout videos at home?

lseed87

Doing some type of exercise in the morning (yoga etc)
Go to a skating rink
ride bikes together
go swimming

althea5883

I workout before I go to work. It means getting up am hour earlier, but I find its worth it.

xenyen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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_

Just have one of them sit on your shoulders while you plank. . . . .

Mouse_Potato

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

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

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

.

LULU4178

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

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

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

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

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

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

tincanonastring

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

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

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.