Where do you put your children so you can workout?

vanilla045

Hello.
I'm having a huge issue. Anytime I try to work out at home my kids crawl all over me (they are 1 &3) I have tried to get them to exercise WITH me but as soon as I lay on the floor it's a dogpile on top of me, which lately even results in a time out, which leads me to getting distracted away from the exercise which means I only accomplish about 10 minutes of whatever video I'm doing. I'm getting so FRUSTRATED. So where do ya'll stuff your kids so you can work out? Seriously how do ya'll do it?

I know that it's about making time for exercise, and I want to but I'm losing the battle. SInce I'm a sahm/part time single mom (my husband works away for weeks at a time) I try to do active things with my kids, like go for walks, play in the park etc. But sometimes I just want to work out, alone, ya know what I mean? But I can't because my kids are a huge barrier.

I don't have a gym membership because we can barely afford one for me, let alone one/two more so I can bring the kids to the day care part of it. I don't have anyone to watch my kids so I can go exercise. We don't have the kids in daycare because we can't afford it and would defeat the purpose of me being a sahm. We live 45 minutes away from family so I can't just drop them off with grandma for an hour or so. We start our day at 5am and go through until 10pm with neither kid taking naps so getting up early, staying up late isn't really an option because to be honest, I'm a horrible sleeper and I feel like I'm running on fumes sleep wise as it is. And even when my husband is home from work, he is rarely home because he has a second job, so I can't even depend on him to watch our kids. (It's me and the kids 24/7)

Even though we eat mostly healthy, and we are on the go constantly, I'm not losing any weight (in fact I've gained weight since being home and I semi blame stress among other things). I know I have to up my exercise but I'm seriously at a loss at how to accomplish it. I'm so frustrated I can't seem to navigate around my life to make it work. Everything I think of or try is met with some sort of blockage. It's just so ironic, I'm trying to lose weight so I can be in better shape to care for my kids but my kids are making it really difficult for me to accomplish it.

Can anyone help me? Suggestions? Ideas? Point me in a direction? I really need some advice.

TavistockToad

Your one year old and 3 year old only sleep 7 hours a day?

deksgrl

You need to get up earlier than the kids do, or do it when they nap, or after they go to bed. Alternately, can you find another mother in the neighborhood who might take the kids for an hour, and then you take them the next hour, giving you both an hour free time? Or get a young person to come and play with the kids while you exercise. It won't be like full babysitting because you are on the premises.

vkdarling

I workout as soon as my son goes to sleep at night. It isn't ideal but its the only time i can fit it in most days... unless they will ride in a stroller while you walk or ride a bike?

BlueBombers

I workout when they go to bed at night. They are 7 and 10 mind you so it's a lot easier now than when they were younger.

gelica_15

I have the same problem with my daughter. She's three and constantly wants to participate, which usually ends up being a big game to her. I either get up before she does to work out, stay up late to work out, or more often than not I will put her in her stoller and do an extra long walk. Just be prepared to have snacks and plenty to drink on hand.

Jennifera714

What if we don't have any of the above options lol. No mothers down the street and we work Mon-Fri early early am to late afternoon & we have 3 toddlers WHERE DO WE PUT THEM? Lately I've been using that as an excuse not to work out cause my kids are everywhere from when I get home up until bed time. THIS IS SUCH A GOOD POST.... Where do I put my kids to haha ?!

mommyrunning

Do they have highchairs or booster seats? Maybe you can give them a snack and get a quick work out in.

JenniferOBX5

I can't imagine not having nap time especially a one year old.

Its my sanity time to do everything I have to do and the list is long! Workout and shower, is on that list. I have tired doing a Zumba DVD with my 2 year old but it doesn't work out very well. I only get a few minutes before she is bored.

Do you have a double stroller for a walk around outside?

daliyanin

Wake up before 5am to work out. Not every day because you will be exhausted, but start twice a week. Your kids don't nap? Mine is about to be 4yrs old and still gets a nap. He is a cranky little man without one.

FunSizedK

My friend and I work out together and between us two we have 3,2, and 1 year old and we stop to move them off of us and just keeping going! You could try giving them a snack while you workout that way they will sitting and eat.

__freckles__

I'm not going to tell you how to parent - but for my 1 year old and 4 year old bed time is 7pm and 7:30pm. No way would they be staying up until 10pm. So I workout after they both go to bed.

__freckles__

Also curious - why aren't they taking naps to give you a break during the day?

AllOutof_Bubblegum

I get up early and work out before my son wakes up. Or sometimes I take him with me to the gym later in the morning. Yes I pay extra to bring him, but it not that much, and most gyms only charge one flat rate for up to three kids, so it's not like I'd have to pay double the childcare fees if I had another kid.

k8blujay2

*only read title*

I crate them... similar to this:



That way I can make sure they don't get hurt while I'm away.

deksgrl

We start our day at 5am and go through until 10pm with neither kid taking naps

You are doing it wrong.

skullshank

when you take your preworkout, give them benadryl.

everything should kick in at the same time, so you should be good to go.

walleyclan1

I put a cartoon on, put up a baby gate in my workout room, and tell tem to leave mommy alone for 40 minutes. They still come ask for a drink or need a fight broken up but I work it into rest time between sets.

Myhaloslipped

My gym has a daycare. I think this is such a wonderful idea.

Jacwhite22

Hello.
I'm having a huge issue. Anytime I try to work out at home my kids crawl all over me (they are 1 &3) I have tried to get them to exercise WITH me but as soon as I lay on the floor it's a dogpile on top of me, which lately even results in a time out, which leads me to getting distracted away from the exercise which means I only accomplish about 10 minutes of whatever video I'm doing. I'm getting so FRUSTRATED. So where do ya'll stuff your kids so you can work out? Seriously how do ya'll do it?

I know that it's about making time for exercise, and I want to but I'm losing the battle. SInce I'm a sahm/part time single mom (my husband works away for weeks at a time) I try to do active things with my kids, like go for walks, play in the park etc. But sometimes I just want to work out, alone, ya know what I mean? But I can't because my kids are a huge barrier.

I don't have a gym membership because we can barely afford one for me, let alone one/two more so I can bring the kids to the day care part of it. I don't have anyone to watch my kids so I can go exercise. We don't have the kids in daycare because we can't afford it and would defeat the purpose of me being a sahm. We live 45 minutes away from family so I can't just drop them off with grandma for an hour or so. We start our day at 5am and go through until 10pm with neither kid taking naps so getting up early, staying up late isn't really an option because to be honest, I'm a horrible sleeper and I feel like I'm running on fumes sleep wise as it is. And even when my husband is home from work, he is rarely home because he has a second job, so I can't even depend on him to watch our kids. (It's me and the kids 24/7)

Even though we eat mostly healthy, and we are on the go constantly, I'm not losing any weight (in fact I've gained weight since being home and I semi blame stress among other things). I know I have to up my exercise but I'm seriously at a loss at how to accomplish it. I'm so frustrated I can't seem to navigate around my life to make it work. Everything I think of or try is met with some sort of blockage. It's just so ironic, I'm trying to lose weight so I can be in better shape to care for my kids but my kids are making it really difficult for me to accomplish it.

Can anyone help me? Suggestions? Ideas? Point me in a direction? I really need some advice.

A large dog crate should help. Just put it close enough that you can see them and don't let them wear necklaces or other jewelry in it.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

even if your kids don't do naps, instill a "Quiet Time" every afternoon, from noon to 1 or 1:30, where they have to stay in their rooms, reading, doing puzzles, laying down, or playing a quiet game. Tell them they don't HAVE to sleep, but they DO have to be quiet and not leave the room until Quiet Time is over. There you go. Designated You time every day.

Cranquistador

:indifferent:

pythonsweb

I crate them like normal....

17ChargerGirl17

A baby gate in the doorway of their bedroom?
what about a play pen, they are young enough to sit them in a play pen while you workout. that way they are with you and can watch or play with toys.

LauraHasABabyJack

My son is four and if he doesn't nap, he at least gets an hour of quiet time each day where he plays quietly in his room. He did this even at three so you can work with your older child on this. I'm a SAHM and need that little break in the day. Although I don't know you or your children, I agree that 10 is a very late bedtime for children that age, especially if they are waking up that early. It will no doubt be a struggle, but try to make bedtime earlier so you can exercise after they are down without losing more sleep yourself. When my son was around one or so, I would put him in his high chair to watch me and give him a snack so I could at least do 20-30 minutes.

ew_david

I work out at home. I have a full time job, three kids, and no husband.

It's not impossible. When you're done making excuses, you'll find a way.

vanilla045

Occasionally my 1yo will nap but it's getting rare. My boys are friggin' farmers. Awake and asleep with the sun.

We do go for walks but we live in a very rural area so we don't have nice maintained sidewalks, just the road to walk along side of. I sometimes drive to town (20 minutes away) to go for walks there at the parks and trails etc. It's a nice change but I find ineffective as a weight loss activity. It takes an hour to walk 3/4km thanks to my dawdling, inspect every living and non living thing, toddler.

We spend a lot of time outside, so I try to do like 2-5 minute sets of exercises in between bug hunting and building sand castles but it's not enough.

I read all about the benefits of exercise but I'm fairly sure it's only applicable if you can do it without a kid hanging off of you.

WinoGelato

Agree with the comments about napping - if my kids didn't nap nothing would ever get done in our house.

This may be an unpopular suggestion (although probably not as bad as the dog crate) but a DVD for them while you work out? The 1 year old may not have the attention span for the DVD, but then again, I think a 1 year old should be taking at least one 2-3 hour nap!

I also still make my kids (3 and 5) pile into the double stroller so I can get some exercise. Sometimes that is how I feed them dinner - I either pack sandwiches, squeeze applesauce and some cookies for them and they eat while we walk - or I will pick up McDonalds (another likely unpopular suggestion) for them - then they have a toy to play with when they are done eating too!

Also, there are programs near us called Strollerrobics where you work out with a group of other mom's with kids, and there is an instructor who leads the program. You walk/job but also stop and do circuit training as well.

GiveMeCoffee

skullshank

usually im a huge proponent of "make the time to exercise", which, quite frankly, you could do.
(get up at 4, or stay up til 11)

however, after reading your OP, i'm going to go against my usual advice and say that perhaps you need to focus less on exercise and more on getting the rest you need and getting your kids on a better sleeping schedule.

7hrs of sleep is nowhere NEAR enough for children of that age.

the fact that you are putting them in timeout because they are coming to you when youre on the floor trying to exercise is a bit....unsettling.

i like bubbles idea of quiet time.
this would allow you to have your time, and gives them some more structured 'downtime'.

good luck.

calibriintx

We start our day at 5am and go through until 10pm with neither kid taking naps

You are doing it wrong.

^This. I mean, I hate to sound judgmental, but 7 hours isn't enough sleep for small children. 10 hours would even be on the low end for the 3 year old and 12 hours would be on the low end for the 1 year old. Get your kids on a healthy sleep schedule and you'll have time to get yourself healthy.