Need some busy parents to read this!

jrcox520

Hi guys, I've been at this for about a week and am having an issue with scheduling all this exercise and cooking. I'm not new to healthy eating or exercise, as I've struggled with my weight going up and down my whole life. My problem is finding time!! I've heard all of the "make time" nonsense, and I'm posting here for some real advice. I get up at 6am to start getting ready for the day and don't get home until 615pm that night. I have a preschooler who needs dinner, a bath, mommy time, etc. And of course, there is the normal day to day stuff; load of dishes here, load of laundry there, prep for the following day, you know what I mean. Tonight I was able to eat a good dinner and get 30 minutes in, but I didn't eat until 8pm (which I consider too late for dinner) and other things I would normally do didn't get done. SIGH. I've only exercised twice this week but not because I didn't want to do more, I just couldn't find the time!! Help me.

lovejoydavid

Hi guys, I've been at this for about a week and am having an issue with scheduling all this exercise and cooking. I'm not new to healthy eating or exercise, as I've struggled with my weight going up and down my whole life. My problem is finding time!! I've heard all of the "make time" nonsense, and I'm posting here for some real advice. I get up at 6am to start getting ready for the day and don't get home until 615pm that night. I have a preschooler who needs dinner, a bath, mommy time, etc. And of course, there is the normal day to day stuff; load of dishes here, load of laundry there, prep for the following day, you know what I mean. Tonight I was able to eat a good dinner and get 30 minutes in, but I didn't eat until 8pm (which I consider too late for dinner) and other things I would normally do didn't get done. SIGH. I've only exercised twice this week but not because I didn't want to do more, I just couldn't find the time!! Help me.

Are you a single parent? Without help, you sound pretty maxed out.

jrcox520

No but he works a lot of nights, its just me in the evenings most of the time.

jthomx2

I have a very helpful hubby, full time job, 4 1/2 year old and 10 month old and have the same issue ! It's either 5am when I am exhausted or 11 pm when I am worn out ! I know I have to MAKE the time but still have issues with it too.

dietfree2012

lets be friends! we can motivate each other!! unfortunately my advice requres getting up at 5 30 am. do a workout dvd program...jillian micheals 30ds is a good one to start with; wake up 30 min earlier every morning and get it in..cook 3 meals on sunday to eat throughout the week. i am assuming you are a 9-5er...i am a mother of a 2 year old and a nine month old with a hubby and a job. i understand that life is busy. unfortunately you either have to sacrafice family evening time of 30 min or wake up a litte earlier. try starting with 3 days a week

leomom72

why not work out after your child goes to bed ? i know it's harder at night from a busy day, but thats the easiest, when there are no distractions..best of luck

EmilyQC

I do a lot of running in place while I play with my kids and do chores around the house, we do dance parties were I do areobic moves and my kids think were playing...., we take long walks

Zeromilediet

I haven't been in your shoes for a long time (single parent I'm guessing) but maybe you can find another mom in the same boat and take turns looking after each other's little one for an hour and even having stroller workouts together? I believe on facebook there's mommy groups that get together--find one in your city?

lclarkjr

I have an infant son so I am at the gym at 4am and back home by 6am before the little guy wakes up. I workout 3-4 days per week and this schedule seems to be working for me. I've found that going to the gym that early is the ONLY way for me to ensure I get my workout in.

zonah

Hi,

Crock pots are a great time saver for your dinners. Maybe you could spend 2 days a month cooing dinners and freezing them. So all you have to do when you get home is throw something in the oven. If you have a lunch break at work maybe you could have a liquid lunch and go for a 30 min walk then. If you can at work maybe take the stairs instead of the elevator. Maybe you could go for a walk after your husband comes. 30 mins would give him time to unwind and give you a break. Good luck figuring something out where there is a will there is a way. ~

jrcox520

You guys are awesome! Thank you all so much. I shudder at the thought of getting up any earlier than I already do, but I've done it before and can do it again. Besides, its a great way to start the day. I loved the running in place one.

jvujevich78

Are you able to walk during lunch or breaks? Honestly, as a mom of 3 and full time worker, that's the only time I have. I am up to 2.5 miles at 4.0 mph in 32 minutes. Every lunch if I can. If not, I do two 15 minute walks at my breaks. Because you are right, after I get home, forget it! I try to get in washing the car of mowing the lawn for my hubby to get the extra calories. Good luck!

sister_bear

First of all, you can do this. Yes, you can. I don't just believe it, I know it.

Next, stop looking at adding things. Look at changing things.

Here's how my exercise journey started:
I stopped parking by the door. I park in the back and walk.
When I grocery shop, I don't go in order, and I go up and down aisles I don't need anything from and race around the store. Every step counts.
If I was just picking up a few things, I carry it to my car that I parked in the back of the parking lot.

What are you already doing that you can just do a little differently to increase your activity?

As for having a preschooler, that's like a free exercise machine.
Why not play tag/chase before bath time? Why not make mommy time an activity to get both of you moving? Plus, exercised preschoolers are sleepy preschoolers.

As for dinner, there are tons of quick fix options out there. Celebrate the small victories. Every time I pop a Green Giant veggie steamer in the microwave I smile because I didn't pop french fries in the oven.

There's no adding. Just realigning. Look at what you're already doing and ask yourself what you can do to change it towards improving your health.

You CAN do this.

lovejoydavid

No but he works a lot of nights, its just me in the evenings most of the time.

Hmm. I work nights as well, 12's mostly. I have a bike trailer that can contain them, but cycling is fair weather daytime sport. Treadmills are no good unless the child is either very young or old enough to entertain themselves. Wii offers some games that you can do with a preschooler (like Zumba). Mostly, my wife and I have to find ways to trade services. If she sacrifices some time to let me run long, I bust out my old massage table (from a previous career), and I cough up a full body. Heck, that burns calories too. Life does seem to come in seasons, and some are technically challenging.

tbrown1025

I have an infant son so I am at the gym at 4am and back home by 6am before the little guy wakes up. I workout 3-4 days per week and this schedule seems to be working for me. I've found that going to the gym that early is the ONLY way for me to ensure I get my workout in.

This is about where I live, too. I have 4 kiddos (3-13yrs). I'm at the gym when the doors open at 5am and I'm home by 6:30a, just before my 2 youngest wake. If I miss this time, I may not get a workout in for the day. This is my schedule 5 days a week. On Saturdays, my gym opens later (8am), so you'll find me in my garage at 5am doing an at-home workout. I too have found this is the only time I can most definitely get the sweating in for the day. Good luck!

512cheangela

One of my favorite fit mom's is this lady right here - http://mizfitonline.com/.

She exemplifies the effectiveness of replacing workouts with play-outs.

JNick77

Hi guys, I've been at this for about a week and am having an issue with scheduling all this exercise and cooking. I'm not new to healthy eating or exercise, as I've struggled with my weight going up and down my whole life. My problem is finding time!! I've heard all of the "make time" nonsense, and I'm posting here for some real advice. I get up at 6am to start getting ready for the day and don't get home until 615pm that night. I have a preschooler who needs dinner, a bath, mommy time, etc. And of course, there is the normal day to day stuff; load of dishes here, load of laundry there, prep for the following day, you know what I mean. Tonight I was able to eat a good dinner and get 30 minutes in, but I didn't eat until 8pm (which I consider too late for dinner) and other things I would normally do didn't get done. SIGH. I've only exercised twice this week but not because I didn't want to do more, I just couldn't find the time!! Help me.

If you have to be up by 6am get yourself up at 4 / 4:30am and go workout and come back by 6am. I have to ge up at 3:30am, especially during the school year, to get my workouts in. It sucks but it's more than worth it.

PinUpMommy

*hugs* It's HARD with kids. I have 3 little ones myself. I think for you, your best bet will be to get up 45 minutes earlier than you are now, and do your work out then. I'm lucky enough to be able to stay home, so I go to the gym after my kids have had breakfast. But before I joined the gym, it was really hard to fit it in. And putting something in the crock pot will make your life SO much easier. Throw it in there on low, and it'll be ready when you get home. :-)

lunglady

I have an infant son so I am at the gym at 4am and back home by 6am before the little guy wakes up. I workout 3-4 days per week and this schedule seems to be working for me. I've found that going to the gym that early is the ONLY way for me to ensure I get my workout in.

This is what works for me too. I work out at 5:30 befor my hubby and baby wake up. If I don't get it in before the day starts, then I'm unlikely to later.

sister_bear

A friend of mine has developed a morning running habit. She's up at 4am and her run is done before the sun comes up. She's cleaned up and ready for the day before her little ones are up.

newmeat30

My husband works out of town during the weeks so it is pretty much me. On a normal week I will workout as soon as I get done with work and then pick my kids up after that. I'm a school teacher so I'm up at 6, finished with work at 4, pick up the kids around 5:30. (I find that if I pick the kids up first and then try to workout at home I end up fussing at them because they interrupt my workout.) Then like you, dinner, bath, stories, bed. Typically while they are eating dinner I am cleaning up around the house and after I put them in bed I will have dinner (8-8:30 ish). I don't have a problem eating later since I stay up till 11 or so and I'd be starving if I ate earlier. I just try not to eat past 10 (I know that is late and may not work for some people, but it's worked for me). I know that is is hard, but you have to figure out what time works best for you. As mom's we have a tendency to put everyone else first and put ourselves last. For me I had to decide that the kids could stay at daycare for an extra 1 1/2 hours so I could workout. For you it might be easier to workout at home after you've put them to bed. Make a schedule and see where you can "make time". I'm NOT a morning person so getting up earlier is something that I would NEVER do. :laugh:

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Hi guys, I've been at this for about a week and am having an issue with scheduling all this exercise and cooking. I'm not new to healthy eating or exercise, as I've struggled with my weight going up and down my whole life. My problem is finding time!! I've heard all of the "make time" nonsense, and I'm posting here for some real advice. I get up at 6am to start getting ready for the day and don't get home until 615pm that night. I have a preschooler who needs dinner, a bath, mommy time, etc. And of course, there is the normal day to day stuff; load of dishes here, load of laundry there, prep for the following day, you know what I mean. Tonight I was able to eat a good dinner and get 30 minutes in, but I didn't eat until 8pm (which I consider too late for dinner) and other things I would normally do didn't get done. SIGH. I've only exercised twice this week but not because I didn't want to do more, I just couldn't find the time!! Help me.

I fit it in the evening when there's time, but this past week I just couldn't find time and set my alarm for 4:15 AM so that I could get my hour in before I had to hop in the shower at 5:30 (toddler to preschool at 6:30). I did this because I was tired of missing out on my workouts and feeling pretty guilty for not spending time with my little man. Unfortunately he decided that was the night he'd wake at 3 and not fall back asleep until 4, so I'm going to try again this coming week. I'm taking an earlier bed time and an earlier morning. Sucks

psb13

haven't had a little one for several years, but due to my work schedule i get up at 3:30-4:30 to work out before work. only way to be sure of getting it in. what about cooking for the week on the weekend then just reheat each evening?? i am also a huge fan of the crock pot

muscat7

I have 5 kids and a hubby who is away all the time with his work, Housework, running around after the kids, supermarket trips etc are all part of my day, everyday. Wear a pedometer to count your daily steps, you'd be suprised at how many you do. being as busy as you are you probably don't need to do "extra" exercise. I walk around my house cleaning,i bend down to pick stuff up, go up and down stairs, walk around the supermarket doing my groceries. I used to beat myself about not exercising until I worked out my daily routine is a workout! I just needed to watch my food intake. Good luck xx

wannabeslim67

Hi! Welcome to MFP, and welcome to the club! I'm the mother of three, and my husband is working overseas in Europe. It's very hard to set time aside for exercise, esp. when you should be doing it every day, but at first I think just getting any exercise in is better than nothing. As you do more, you will get more energized (though I remember I was extremely tired after workouts at first). I won't give you any more advice than what has already been given, as a lot of it is what I would have suggested too, but just stick with it! It will be a slow process perhaps, but slow and steady wins the race! Feel free to friend me if you like, I noticed we have about the same wight loss goal, and I have only just (re)started. I fell off the bandwagon just before Christmas after having lost 12 lbs...

Rheagansmom

I am doing it at night when the kiddos start to calm down. we also do stupid things like the wii fit and sometimes I have done walk away the pounds with my 4 year old. She obviously isn't very good at it, bu she is having fun.

bonjour24

i work fulltime shifts, and have 3 kids under 5. i'm lucky that my hubby is a stay home dad.

when i'm on an early shift (which starts at 7am) i'm at work for 5am to go for a run there first (otherwise the kids would wake up and i'd get all caught up in them).

when i'm working an afternoon shift (1pm-10pm) i go out in the morning (after the kids have breakfast and have gone to kindy). that way i still have some time with them.

it's a hard balancing act, and it's not possible all the time. sometimes i feel really guilty because my kids want me to play with them as i'm heading out for a run. i need my hubby sometimes to remind me that i'm getting the balance wrong and sometimes the kids take priority over a run. but sometimes a run takes priority over the kids (like when they've been doing your head in all day!).

the only thing i've really had to keep me motivated is that my goal is to do a half marathon in oct. i think if i didn't have that then i would use the kids as an excuse not to go out.

i do get the kidst to join in with some of the weights and stuff i do (they just stand in the room with me and get in the way really). i'm hoping to include them more as they get older- i'm looking forward to my eldest riding her bike as i run alongside her.

i know it's difficult, but you've either got to find a way to fit it in, or realise that now may not be the best time to try to commit to it.

can your hubby pick up any of the extra slack?? just because the house needs cleaning doesn't mean you have to be the one to do it! we actually have a cleaner (!), and she comes for 2hrs a week. she blitzes the house, which means my hubby doesn't get ****ty with me for not pulling my weight because we have a lovely lady called colleen pulling my weight for me :-)

alyssa92982

I totally relate! I have 3 kids too! And it is a struggle esp w/ my teething 6 mos old and working full time 3rd shift, sometimes I have to set my alarm an hr early to get up, which isn't. Much sleep while the kids are at the sitter.congrats on choosing to get healthy and making that 1st step

lovejoydavid

Hi guys, I've been at this for about a week and am having an issue with scheduling all this exercise and cooking. I'm not new to healthy eating or exercise, as I've struggled with my weight going up and down my whole life. My problem is finding time!! I've heard all of the "make time" nonsense, and I'm posting here for some real advice. I get up at 6am to start getting ready for the day and don't get home until 615pm that night. I have a preschooler who needs dinner, a bath, mommy time, etc. And of course, there is the normal day to day stuff; load of dishes here, load of laundry there, prep for the following day, you know what I mean. Tonight I was able to eat a good dinner and get 30 minutes in, but I didn't eat until 8pm (which I consider too late for dinner) and other things I would normally do didn't get done. SIGH. I've only exercised twice this week but not because I didn't want to do more, I just couldn't find the time!! Help me.

I fit it in the evening when there's time, but this past week I just couldn't find time and set my alarm for 4:15 AM so that I could get my hour in before I had to hop in the shower at 5:30 (toddler to preschool at 6:30). I did this because I was tired of missing out on my workouts and feeling pretty guilty for not spending time with my little man. Unfortunately he decided that was the night he'd wake at 3 and not fall back asleep until 4, so I'm going to try again this coming week. I'm taking an earlier bed time and an earlier morning. Sucks

We know all about the kids sneaking in a schedule change on you! Actually, the worst lately has been my boys decision to dice open his hand on a can while I was running on the otherside of town. I had to sprint back to where I parked the Novara, and then cycle back as fast as my already tired legs could carry me (I had just finished a 12 hour shift, and had been up for 25 hours). When I got there, I just did what wound care I could, and then fell asleep on the floor. When I woke up, it was clear he actually needed stitches, so I spent a few hours in an ED before heading back to work for a half shift. I still ran the next morning, though.

SLaw4215

I'm not sure what your looking for by way of advice. I'm a single parent with 2 kids, I work full time and I'm a 3/4 time honors student in college. I go into work with my sneakers already on and I arrive 30 minutes before my start time. I walk before work. I walk before I eat lunch. And if I'm really ambitious I might try Zumba for 20 minutes at night. I'll be truthful and say that I don't do Zumba nearly as often as I would like because I run out of energy or there's some other priority.

While it's true that other things don't get done...vacuuming might get put off until Saturday, laundry is done 2x a week (mostly on Saturday), etc It wasn't easy in the beginning. I'm not doing the P90X or shred workouts, I'm just walking an extra 3 miles a day that I wasn't doing prior. It's not strenuous but it does help me clear my head. I'm finding that I feel like I've deprived myself of something when I am unable to walk because of rain or traveling for work. I'm a better parent to my children when I walk through the door because I have a sense of accomplishment. I remember it much harder to balance "me" time when my kids were younger and less self sufficient.

Perhaps your husband could prepare meals a couple nights a week so they are ready when you get home? Perhaps you could try crockpot recipes. I know it's probably not what you want to hear but with your schedule you would have to plan really well. We don't walk in your shoes. Only you know how truly hard your days are. But my DR says if I have time to sleep I have time to exercise. It wasn't what I wanted to hear. I thought he was a idiot when he said it. But I'm obese and he's not...so there's that. Best of Luck

johnsonjk

It can be very difficult to fit it in. Here are some suggestions:

1) Get up earlier and do your exercises right away. Yes, horrible, yes you are half awake but no matter what you get them done. I'm currently working on this one.
2) Pre-cook meals at the weekend for the week at the weekend if you can -- freeze them and thaw & cook on the day. Have something ready for your busiest days. Have good pre-cooked dinners, yes even store bought ones, as a back up for bad nights. If that doesn't work, then cook extra on some nights and freeze the stuff right away so that you have another night's dinner. That way you can control the calories. When I'm good and I'm using my slow cooker, I make a big batch and then label each dish with the calories per ounce and then I can make a meal from a bunch of different things.
3) Buy foods that make it easier to put dinners together: pre-cut vegetables and pre-cut fruit on really bad weeks. I use Kroger's Coleslaw every week. It has just cabbage and carrots in it and is 25 calories for 1.5 cups. Find things like that that work for you. Frozen vegetables are fine too.
4) Make a household chores schedule and stick to it. (Gosh I wish I could take my own advice on this. :P ) Take this time to delegate some of chores to others if you can. Also think about how often stuff needs to be done. Does everything need to be done every day or can you do it less frequently? Can you simplify your cleaning routine -- books like Speed Cleaning might help with this. Buy gadgets that might be able to help if you can afford them (for example: Roomba and Scooba for doing the floors).
5) Get enough clothing/household bedding extras that you don't have to constantly do laundry.
6) Plan some you time in all that as well -- you need some time to unwind.
&) Smile and don't worry -- we are all struggling with it. There ought to be 48 hours each day so I can get everything done and then at the end some mysterious time should appear at the end so I can get enough sleep (of course the world should just stop turning while I'm sleeping). That's not too much to ask for is it?

Best of luck.