Looking for MFP friends with kids who still workout

cdahl383

Wondering if there are any other parents out there who have struggled with staying fit after having kids? My wife and I used to go to the gym together all the time, 3-5 times a week, but since having kids our routine was changed up big time. We have two little girls, one is 3.5 yrs old and the other 1.5 yr old. Now my wife goes to the gym after I get home from work and I workout in the basement at night when the kids are asleep.

Just looking for MFP friends who might be in the same boat!

chadwick175

I feel your pain and live it every day!

minimalistmom

I have 3 little ones, homeschool, and run a side business with my husband, so I know how it goes. I squeeze what I can in. Feel free to add me.

s1lv3rFox

two kids and exercise regularly. Add Me for inspiration.

sweetnsassy1491

I'm a single mom to three little boys. Lucky for me, the gym is less than a 2 minute walk from my office. My lunch hour (who am I kidding,lol, more like an hour and a half to two hours) is spent at the gym.

Shalaurise

Never been a gym person but I am trying to lose weight (as is the hubbs) and with kids it has been challenging to make the exercise schedule work out well for anyone's sanity.

catshively

I'm with you - I have two daughters (one almost 5 and the other 14 months) and I had just gotten back to working out from the first for about a year when I got pregnant with the second. Now the hubs and I are trying to carve out time for the gym in a very busy schedule!

cdahl383

I've sort of fluctuated over the last few years, between being in pretty decent shape to getting a little flabby. Good to hear that all of you are still finding the time to exercise and take care of yourselves, etc.

MinMin97

I have a quiverful. The key for me is to not waste time by staying up late at night. I aim for 9:30pm head-on-pillow. Cultivate an early bedtime, get stuff ready before bed, then I don't mind waking early and heading to the gym! I wake without an alarm at 4am. I get an early workout, and I love it!

PennyHartz

Yep, my husband and I have two kids and we've gotten into a groove with our workouts. My husband is a morning person but doesn't like the gym, so he goes into our basement and uses the treadmill and weights. I either run outside while he's showering/ getting ready for work, or I take the kids to the gym with me (free child care).

charmarbobar

2 kids here too....an almost 5 year old daughter and an almost 3 year old son. Most of my workouts come after the kids go to bed (8pm ish) or early morning on the weekends. Usually in the form of a jog outdoors, kettlebell inside or some Jillian Michaels. The kettlebell has been a godsend as it takes up little room and is quiet to do while the kids are sleeping.

AFettes21

I'm right there with you! It's definitely been more difficulty since having children. I have a 3 year old and 5 month old. Unfortunately, the 5 month old is crabby so that makes it even harder! Feel free to add me if you would like. I find that the more people I have for motivation, the better!

Toria718

i have a 7 year old and a 7 week old, my "gym" is 2 minutes away ( my friends house, they have a weight bench and such) I have to go after work seeing as how my husband works 3rd shift...lol and of course my little girl is fussy while I am there so what should be a 45 minute workout extends quite a bit, i get home and its bath time for the kids and a shower for me, I wake up early to get my food ready for the next day. i try to get alot done at night but sometimes i just crash.

MitchmDee

Two kids here, ages 6 and 4. My wife works out at our friends gym in their apartment building and I usually hit the gym early in the morning, come home, get breakfast ready for everyone and then head to work.

It can be a challenge.

thinkbean

Add me! Three kids, full time teacher, plus I do writing and marketing on the side. Vegetarian/veganish as well.

cdahl383

Thanks everyone! Great to hear all the encouraging stories of how you all still manage to fit in time for working out, eating healthy, taking care of yourselves, etc. It's not impossible, but it's definitely a lot more challenging to stay in shape after having kids and having next to nothing in terms of free time. Great to see all of you not giving in and accepting being overweight as part of the deal with being a parent.

My routine used to be working out in the basement after work, but it just doesn't seem to work very well anymore now that the kids are a little older. Seems that working out at night once they hit the sack works well for me. I'm more of a night owl than a morning person, so I enjoy working out later at night.

I'm thinking of trying to take a jog outside at night as well, just around a few of our blocks nearby, maybe about 1 mile or so. If I could start doing that a few times a week that would help quite a bit too.

I'm also a member at a gym near my work, and I used to go there on lunch 3 times a week, but I just got burned out on that as it seemed I was always rushed. Driving there, changing, working out, then having to shower, change back, then drive back, then hurry up and eat my lunch. It's doable but just not ideal. I might try to start going again once or twice a week just to add on to whatever I do at home at night.

Very motivating to hear all of your stories, thank you!

Whiskey2206

Mother of two here. I totally understand what you're going through. I used to workout whenever I pleased and I used to work in landscaping so I was in shape whether I wanted to be or not. When I had my son it wasn't too bad because I worked out when he napped...he napped alot, about 3 1/2 hours twice a day. Now that I just had another one it's more difficult because when she naps...I still have to attend to him and she doesn't nap as well as he did. I don't have much to lose but I still find it difficult. I walk with the two of them almost everyday, I take her to the gym where I can push the stroller (actually jog) around the track, I also work out in the basement at night. I'm very concious of what I eat and what I eat...they eat. I juice veggies and fruit every morning and my baby drinks the same radish, apple and carrot juice that i drink. I prepare meals for myself ahead of time so they're ready when I have to eat and go. Usually 4 days worth of meals are ready for me at any given time. I prepare them at night when I have NO distractions.

cdahl383

Mother of two here. I totally understand what you're going through. I used to workout whenever I pleased and I used to work in landscaping so I was in shape whether I wanted to be or not. When I had my son it wasn't too bad because I worked out when he napped...he napped alot, about 3 1/2 hours twice a day. Now that I just had another one it's more difficult because when she naps...I still have to attend to him and she doesn't nap as well as he did. I don't have much to lose but I still find it difficult. I walk with the two of them almost everyday, I take her to the gym where I can push the stroller (actually jog) around the track, I also work out in the basement at night. I'm very concious of what I eat and what I eat...they eat. I juice veggies and fruit every morning and my baby drinks the same radish, apple and carrot juice that i drink. I prepare meals for myself ahead of time so they're ready when I have to eat and go. Usually 4 days worth of meals are ready for me at any given time. I prepare them at night when I have NO distractions.

Yep, that's how my wife and I were, we'd go together to the gym whenever we felt like it. Those days are long gone once you have kids haha!

Meal planning is the way to go. I was doing that for a while and then just got off track. I'll have to start doing that again as it helps you avoid making bad food decisions in a bind when you're hungry.

Doing stuff at night before bed is the way to go as well. I make my lunch for work at night so I can just throw it together and take it with me. Too difficult to do much else with both kids up and running around.

It's just like most things in life, where there's a will there's a way. You just have to be willing to bend your schedule quite a bit to fit stuff like that in otherwise you can always easily come up with an excuse to be lazy and overweight.

cdahl383

Any other parents out there who still find time to workout and eat healthy? What's your story and how do you keep a routine going?

Derp_Diggler

We joined the YMCA when our kids were 5 and 3. They have child care and kids activities most days and evenings, so we would bring the kids with us. It was a nice break from being a parent, even if for only an hour or so. See if any gyms in your area offer this.

As for eating healthy I would always make extra food so that we some leftovers in the event of a hectic day. In particular I found that making extra sides helped, because then all I had to do was make the main (some form of protein usually) and you still had a well rounded meal on the table. But try to plan ahead on your day off, and make use of any spare time you may have. It's not necessarily easy, but it can be done, and it does get easier.

Stanlee202

When my kids were little I would walk everywhere and pull them behind me in a wagon. Then, when they'd nap I'd rotate through some workout DVDs (I was stay at home mom until they were 6 & 4). Now that they're older (10 & 8) we take a walk together after dinner and ride our bikes a few times a week. When I have off or work a later shift I will go run for 20-30 minutes.

ittybittybadonkadonk

Single mom of 2 here ....home school my daughter ....I get up early to workout before my day begins ..........Feel free to add me

cdahl383

Yeah I need to filter out the junk food in the house and start stocking healthier stuff again. Planning meals ahead is a good idea.

My wife goes to a gym nearby, but I sort of like working out at home lately. Been lifting weights in the basement 3-4 times a week and just started jogging at night in our neighborhood to get some cardio in. The gyms with daycare are great though. Maybe we'll try doing that one day in the future.

fattymcrunnerpants

Hi, I have two children who are 7 and 4. I also work about 50 hours/ week. I typically wake up early and do the treadmill or free weights on the days I work then run around the neighborhood the days I don't work. When my children were younger I'd load them up into a jogging stroller and they'd come with me. I've always tried to incorporate them as much as possible so that they have a good example.

Zombielicious

I'm a single mom to three little boys. Lucky for me, the gym is less than a 2 minute walk from my office. My lunch hour (who am I kidding,lol, more like an hour and a half to two hours) is spent at the gym.

^^ This. Single mom to twin 6 y/o boys. I take my 90 minutes at work to go to the gym (which equates to about a 45 minute to an hour workout). Occasionally I try to squeeze in a workout at home in the early morning, but mostly I cherish my sleep.

rayfu75

Married with 4 kids. (20,15,9,5) All of us do martial arts. My wife and I train jiu jitsu 3-4 times a week. 2 nights our 15, 9 and 5 year old also train jiu jitsu. When they are in class we hit the gym to lift for 30-40 minutes. ( our oldest also trains but he don't count as a "kid" lol) It helps that the whole family is able to train in the same place and the nutrition part comes with it pretty easy. If we don't eat well we feel it on the mat. The better our diets the better we can train and longer we can push.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

I have a toddler, and my husband and I alternate taking the early morning gym shift so one of us can stay with the boy before my husband leaves for work. I also can take my son with me to the gym if I want to go later or take a class.

But we plan on building a home gym before we have out next kid--carting two kids to the gym is more work than I care to handle.

rayfu75

I also sneak in a few sets at work. There is a stability ball with dumbbells in an empty cube that we use during our shifts. Working 12 hour nights can be long so I'll get some dumb bell presses or flys and some bi and tricep work in too. lol

steve0820

Father of 3 girls here. I work straight nights and workout after work before the family is up, it's my only time. Unless I would sacrifice my 4 hours of sleep a day.

Also, every time we're at the park, you better believe i'm busting out a park workout. Pull ups, chin ups & Dips all day! hahaha

cdahl383

Married with 4 kids. (20,15,9,5) All of us do martial arts. My wife and I train jiu jitsu 3-4 times a week. 2 nights our 15, 9 and 5 year old also train jiu jitsu. When they are in class we hit the gym to lift for 30-40 minutes. ( our oldest also trains but he don't count as a "kid" lol) It helps that the whole family is able to train in the same place and the nutrition part comes with it pretty easy. If we don't eat well we feel it on the mat. The better our diets the better we can train and longer we can push.

That's really awesome that you all do martial arts together like that. I hope I can get our kids to do something like that with us together. My oldest daughter (3.5 yrs old) already knows when my wife drives off to the gym she's going to "exercise" and to "get some muscles" haha! She also knows that I lift "weights" down in the basement at night. Hopefully by exposing them to exercise at a young age it will just become part of their lives.

cdahl383

I have a toddler, and my husband and I alternate taking the early morning gym shift so one of us can stay with the boy before my husband leaves for work. I also can take my son with me to the gym if I want to go later or take a class.

But we plan on building a home gym before we have out next kid--carting two kids to the gym is more work than I care to handle.

Wow, I would have never guessed you had a toddler based on your avatar pic. You must have been a bodybuilder before you had kids or something? That's cool that you're able to work out a routine. It does get harder with two kids in terms of time. I can only imagine having 3 or 4 like some of you do on here!