How do you people do it???

raelbee

I have an almost 2 year old, a full time job, house, husband...and the list goes on. BUT living a healthier life has become a priority for my whole family. I make time for exercise. Some days I'll take an hour long walk during my lunch break, other days I'll come home and do the elliptical while my husband cooks dinner, or we'll all go for a long walk through the neighborhood after dinner. We will either use a stroller for our little one, or I'll carry her in a backpack carrier for the added weight.

It's all about prioritizing what's important to you. Me, I want to live a healthy, active life. And that meant turning off the TV at night. All those wasted hours sitting in front of the TV....I don't miss them. As we've increased the level of activity in our family, the weight has literally fallen off me. I wore a size 12 in March. Today I'm comfortably wearing a size 4 and loving life

What's important to you?

tericamp

I too am a working mom married with children (16, 6, and 2). Once I actually started going to the gym, it has been easier to schedule it into the day. We have a family membership to the YMCA and my kids are usually begging to go. I usually sign them into the child play and hang time areas where they have their own activities during the hour that I am working out. This also gives dad a break who is currently a work at home dad. On the days that I don't take the kids to the gym with me, I go on my lunch break or immediately following work (to avoid rush hour traffic cuts drive time from 2hrs to approx 30 min so either way I get home about the same time). I am blessed to have children and a husband that help keep the house clean as well so that leaves any cleaning I have to do to a minimum. So that leaves my studying time in the evening after the kids are in bed. Busy, but everyone is more happy when I've been to the gym (because I have more energy and am happier myself).

fitzfour

I am married and have 2 boys, ages 5 and 6, plus a dog, and a FT job. I knew the only way I'd get my workouts in was to do so before the rest of the house is awake. So, I get up at 5am do go for a walk outside, lift weights, do a DVD, whatever--for about an hour. I take 1 day per week to sleep in and not workout. If I don't feel like working out in the morning, then I get on the treadmill and walk for a 1/2 hour once my boys go down (8pm), while I watch a favorite show. Then I still have about an hour to get stuff done around the house. My hubby does do the lawnmowing (on the weekends) and I do all the upkeep of the flowerbeds and pretty stuff outside. I almost always do the housework and dinner each night, but I try to reserve the housework for my early Saturday morning routine, while the boys wake up with books, a game or cartoons.

It's not easy getting up that early, but it's the only time of the day that I don't get interrupted. I've been doing this for about a year now...took about a month to get in the habit and now I almost always wake up without an alarm. I also have mastered it so that I can get my workout done in an hour and I still have a 1/2 hour left before I have to start getting ready for work, so I use that time to pay bills, catch up on email, or clean up the house a bit.

noneya2010

And I forot to mention that since I'm walking/doing tapes at home, I bring along the kids for a walk with me. I get good quality talk-time with my teenager and my little one can ride his bike. After a mile bike ride, he's pooped and then takes his bath before watching a little TV before bedtime.

Laceylala

I plan ahead. A lot. I get groceries on Friday night or Saturday for the following week. I have a meal plan and cook ahead a few meals for the week for the two nights I get home later from yoga. I also make sure to have several meals planned that take about 20-30 to prep and then we can eat. My husband and 3 1/2 year old also have quite a few different healthy snacks to eat if they are hungry before I get home from the gym.

And while I cook dinner my husband puts our daughter in the bath so by the time we are done with dinner and I take a shower we have at least a good hour to spend together for "family time" before she goes to bed.

We also don't do dishes every night. You learn to prioritize and make it work. Sometimes its not worth getting the dishes done as that can take 20+ minutes we could spend with our daughter. Sometimes the vacuuming can wait. Sometimes the laundry can wait...You just learn to make it work. It "only" took me about 2 1/2 years to get there though after our daughter was born! LOL.

Clew

Actually, my house is a pigpen lately, but don't tell anybody. I had to make time to do this, period. I'll figure out the schedule rearrangement later. But for now, working out HAD to come off the back burner. I work fulltime, and I'm not going to sacrifice the time I spend with my family, so the time I spend chasing dust bunnies will have to wait till later for a bit.

Some people can't stand a less than spotless house, I know ... but you get the idea. Sometimes you just have to make time somehow and iron out the rescheduling later.

sweetsassy6969

It takes a lot of dedication. I suppose I learned how to juggle everything while I was attending college. At that time I was a single mom going to school full time while holding a full time job. It was difficult but I learned quickly that if I slacked in any part of my life, ultimately, my daughter paid because it meant taking more time away from her in order to get caught back up. I wasn't okay with that so I had no choice but to figure out how to make my schedule work for me. This is really no different because becoming a healthy person is just like full time college. You work full time for it and learn how to make it work full time for you.