Parents - How do you squeeze in your workouts when your kids constantly get in the way? Let's share!
misslizzierod
Posts: 57 Member
My 3 year old, love her but naturally she requires a lot of attention. I workout outside our home in the yard with her while she plays but my workouts are always so rushed and I have to keep pausing whenever she needs something. I also feel guilty that I am not giving her my undivided attention during this time.
Parents, how do you squeeze in your workouts with children? I would love to learn how other people do it.
For example, I workout at home moderately because I can't have a full 2 hours sessions unfortunately as a mom. At work however, I only take the stairs instead of the elevator. I do this at a fast pace to get my heart rate going and do this about 8-10 times per shift. Sometimes I do intermittent glute squeezes for long or short periods while standing at work as well.
Parents, how do you squeeze in your workouts with children? I would love to learn how other people do it.
For example, I workout at home moderately because I can't have a full 2 hours sessions unfortunately as a mom. At work however, I only take the stairs instead of the elevator. I do this at a fast pace to get my heart rate going and do this about 8-10 times per shift. Sometimes I do intermittent glute squeezes for long or short periods while standing at work as well.
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I give my 2.5 year old my phone, lol. Not really the answer you're looking for I'm sure 😜. I do have two older kids that can keep an eye on him while I'm working out though so not the same situation. Sometimes he hangs out w me in the garage or I try to get some stuff done during naps. I don't feel guilty whatsoever because they need a mom who's as healthy as possible and can be there when they all grow up as active and alert as I can be. It's also crazy important for them to see fitness take priority in your life. You have an awesome routine going and I commend you for taking all the opportunities you can to get some activity in 💜.2
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Oh yes the phone works magic! I try to use that trick right before nap time
Yes, how awesome that you get an extra pair of eyes from your older kids while you workout. I would definitely do the same if I could. Thank you so much! 1 -
The hubby watches the kids while I go to the gym. My youngest also has older siblings to keep an eye on things too. Everyone in the house knows mommy gets cranky when she doesn't have her gym time.3
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I workout when the baby naps. For the older two I set up an activity (they are 7 and 4). They keep each other occupied for the most part, but sometimes I have to deal with a fight, meltdown, snack requests, they sometimes want to ask questions or want to help me so I let them DJ or write down my sets. It's not ideal but i do what I have to do2
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If you're open to year-round outdoor exercise...
When my "Baby Bums" were older (read: school aged), I was marathon training while their father watched them. Or if you're in family activities mode, then be EXTRA with exercise. For example,with tobagganing you can do HIIT with hill sprints (carry the sled above your head for non-existent bonus points).
Younger than that? I did lots of open air/ outdoor workouts. Think gated activity parks, sport fields, forests,etc. That way the kids could play within eye range and I could do my thing.
Younger than THAT? Well, when they were teeny tiny, I avoided using the stoller unless we were all "going out" to a function or event with their father. Instead, I had a sturdy baby carrier (essentially a backpack/baby prison 😭). I used it for both kids when they were under 18 months or so. We could walk 'n talk for hours.
Good times all! It's possible to get a good workout in with your kids around and/or if you have support from others!2 -
misslizzierod wrote: »My 3 year old, love her but naturally she requires a lot of attention. I workout outside our home in the yard with her while she plays but my workouts are always so rushed and I have to keep pausing whenever she needs something. I also feel guilty that I am not giving her my undivided attention during this time.
Parents, how do you squeeze in your workouts with children? I would love to learn how other people do it.
For example, I workout at home moderately because I can't have a full 2 hours sessions unfortunately as a mom. At work however, I only take the stairs instead of the elevator. I do this at a fast pace to get my heart rate going and do this about 8-10 times per shift. Sometimes I do intermittent glute squeezes for long or short periods while standing at work as well.
For starters, most people would find 2 hours for an exercise session pretty hard to carve time out for on a regular basis...most people don't do that. The people that I know that do are actually training for something, not just exercising.
I get up early most mornings to go for my walk...it's my morning wakeup ritual...nice travel mug of coffee and a 2 to 3 mile walk before anyone is up is a great way to start the day. Beyond that, my wife and I take turns watching the kids and taking care of other domestic duties...I watch the kids and she goes to the gym or for a run...she watches the kids and I go to the gym or out for a road ride, etc.7 -
I will only manage to squeeze the odd run in when my Wife is about to watch the kids. , usuallly limited to the weekend days.
Otherwise, I would find it very difficult, especially in the covid climate where I can't even drop them off at my parents house for an hour etc.2 -
My son is 18 now, but when he was little- I would put him in a running stroller to run, and i would lie him on the ground and do push ups over him where i kissed him. He also made a perfect weight for bench/OHP. and squats while holding him.
As he got older: he would ride a bike alongside me while I ran.
When he got even older: we would hike together, surf together, run together.
Now: we lift weights together, run together, hike together, etc.6 -
as a single mom I often ended up working out after the kids were in bed. I couldn't afford a monthly gym membership, so I slowly built out my own home gym. It wasn't uncommon for me to be lifting at 11pm.
When the kids were little and awake, I would often treat them like weights - lifting them, taking them swimming and throwing them around in the water, lifting them over my head, swinging them, etc.
Sometimes/ often the workouts were not "traditional" workouts, but they worked for me.
Now that the kids are in their teens, I just holler that I'm working out, and sometimes they will grunt back. haha.5 -
Get up before them or make it into a game let them join in ? I used to make mine part of the workout lifting them instead of weights 👍1
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Awesome tips. Thank you!
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👏👏👏inspired with how much u get done. I have 3 plus my 7yr old step son. Can't sneak out in the mornings my heavy sleeping husband would never hear our 1yr or 3yr wake up (on his days off atlist). My only opportunity is after all 4 have gone to sleep. 1yr. Just fell asleep at 10:30pm he still breastfeeds my shoulders and back are so burnt out from breastfeeding the last 6yr that I can't take a carrier or push a double stroller for too long. They are burning now as I type lol. Neways I usually fast walk in my living room after 10:30pm to 11:30 if I don't have to catch up on moping floors, cleaning bathrooms, washing behind dishes or shower. Bed by 12 with
continual interruptions during the night. My 3yr girl
and 1yr breastfeeder🤷♀️ so thankful to even get an opportunity now that my 3yr is in bed by 8pm(still adjusting to sleeping on her new bed)3 -
Early morning before they are up.2
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Get up early, use nap time, jogging stroller3
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Duct tape them to either chair or wall
While you work out, you know exactly where they are 😂4 -
Hang in there momma, I can relate. Something is better than nothing. I also lift weights when I can and have been focusing on building more muscle since I know our body burns more calories throughout the day through resting metabolism. Walking is therapeutic and energizing as well. I bought an outdoor spinning bike on offer up as well and that makes things a bit easier. Keep going, you got this!lilylilianalopez wrote: »👏👏👏inspired with how much u get done. I have 3 plus my 7yr old step son. Can't sneak out in the mornings my heavy sleeping husband would never hear our 1yr or 3yr wake up (on his days off atlist). My only opportunity is after all 4 have gone to sleep. 1yr. Just fell asleep at 10:30pm he still breastfeeds my shoulders and back are so burnt out from breastfeeding the last 6yr that I can't take a carrier or push a double stroller for too long. They are burning now as I type lol. Neways I usually fast walk in my living room after 10:30pm to 11:30 if I don't have to catch up on moping floors, cleaning bathrooms, washing behind dishes or shower. Bed by 12 with
continual interruptions during the night. My 3yr girl
and 1yr breastfeeder🤷♀️ so thankful to even get an opportunity now that my 3yr is in bed by 8pm(still adjusting to sleeping on her new bed)
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I loved teaching soccer to my son while my daughter practiced when they were young. I played soccer with both of them, even when I was much bigger. It was fun and very tiring for me! My son was a bundle of energy. We'd play use your off foot only on passing. Then we'd play just score on dad. My son ended up being a high school star and offered a D1 scholarship.2
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NEVER feel guilty for imprinting her mind with behaviour that will help her live a healthy lifestyle. Her watching you work out, you making sure she understands that it's high on the list of important things to do (along with brushing your teeth, eating your greens, and looking both ways before you cross) is far more important than playing with her for those few minutes. You're empowering her to prioritise her health in the future.
You're winning at parenting, and beating yourself up about it. Don't.3 -
Kids have way more energy than their parents do. Use that to your advantage and use your kids to workout. Run around with them. Use their weight as resistance, if you can tire them out, you probably got a pretty good workout.1
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NEVER feel guilty for imprinting her mind with behaviour that will help her live a healthy lifestyle. Her watching you work out, you making sure she understands that it's high on the list of important things to do (along with brushing your teeth, eating your greens, and looking both ways before you cross) is far more important than playing with her for those few minutes. You're empowering her to prioritise her health in the future.
You're winning at parenting, and beating yourself up about it. Don't.
Thank you0 -
I workout once my little one has gone to bed. I have done it with her awake before and she either joins or potters around usually looks at some books. Feel free to add me anyone mum to a 3 year old 3
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I still feel guilty about it sometimes.
My second son was one stubborn child, as second kids often are. The way they see things, they are in a competition.
So, he would not sleep, afraid he might miss out on something. And when I say he would fight sleep, I mean he brawled with it, day or night, completely unwilling to give him.
But then, he would get so tired, the easy, rolling movement of the car would knock him out like a mickey finn. Two blocks: He'd be dead to the world.
Well, I stayed home with my boys when they were little. Anyone who has ever been left alone with two little ones for any length of time knows how fatiguing it can be and how, fun as it is, you pray for even a short reprieve.
And it just so happened that there was a two-and-a-half hour preschool program that started right at noon, and guys gathered on their lunch break for a pick-up soccer game at the local park.
So, every day at 11:45 AM, I'd strap my boys into the car and drive them over to the little Tiny Tots program building.
The problem was, by the time we got there, the little one was fast asleep. Sometimes, i would just curse my fate and turn around without rousing him. But, more often, I'd pick his limp little body up out of the car seat and take him in and drop the poor little guy off while he had barely yawned or wiped the sleep out of his eyes.
It was a terrible thing to do. I am not proud of myself. But I did it.
The better thing I often did was this: I'd pick my wife up from her work every day, with the kids in the car. Her work was about four miles from our house. I'd get out. She'd get in the driver's seat. And I'd run home. I could get home just about the time that she had unloaded everybody from the car, gotten them in the house, and caught up on their day. Then we'd make dinner.
I think that was a quite reasonable, efficient way to do it.2 -
@GiddyupTim I can relate to your stories so much although I only have one. Seems like you were an amazing father and husband just human and exhausted like most parents. Kudos to you for making that run back home after a long day! Very inspiring.0
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Boy this is a tricky one for me too. My first was born this March and unfortunately I spoiled him a bit too much because he’s very used to being held by me most of the day and going down for naps with me next to him... and he knows when I leave too. Like literally, I’d sneak out of bed and 5 minutes later, he’d be up and crying because he knows I’m no longer there 🙃 now I’m pregnant with baby #2 and I have no idea how I’ll manage a workout when I have two little ones 😅
I’m just hoping that since my little guy is almost a year, that he’ll start walking soon and go off and be a bit more independent haha.2 -
Happy holidays!
Lay them down early or wake up early!
Make yourself better for them!3
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