If you work FT, when do you work out?

cla517

I am havng trouble squeezing exercise into my day. I work FT and have a 6 year old daughter. I get home around 6:15 and have to get dinner, deal with homework, get the kiddo fed, bathed and in bed (with any luck by 9pm) At 9pm when I finally get to sit down, the last thing I want to do is exercise! When do you fit in your workout?

xraychick77

do you not have someone to help you out?

Tinks2007

Hi,

It is hard to fit it all in, maybe once made Daughters tea stick a fitness dvd on while she is eating, I do my run soon as I get in from work as wouldnt do it once settle down, but my daughter is 18 now so a bit easier,

cclark1203

I know when my daughter was younger it was much harder to work out but maybe the last suggestion of working out to a DVD while your daughter is eating might work. Mine is 16 now so I do mine also when I get home from work and get it over with. if I do it past 7pm I can't go to sleep at a reasonable hour. Good luck finding that balance.

Enforcer25

I work nights so I exercise before work, when I worked days I would work out after work. When I worked 8am I used to workout before work. The other option is workout at home, take walks with your daughter, I know it is tough, but even a little exercise each day is better than none.

scarletleavy

I work FT and travel quite often as well and to be honest the only times for me to work out are early in the morning or late at night. I normally don't start my workout until at least 9 PM, sometimes later. I prefer late night workouts, but sometimes if that's not an option I will get up at 5 or 5:30 AM and workout before my day gets started.

Tori_356

I work FT but dont have any kids, but I go early in the morning before work, that way I dont have to worry about it when I get home.

fit_twin

I have no children but I do care for an elderly mom and I have my own business which means I work more than full time :-/

Have you considered getting up before everyone and putting in a half hour or so early in the morning? I know it's hard enough getting enough sleep but it mght be worth it for you to get it out of the way first thing??

I used to dread it but now I wake up even earlier than neccessary just for the quiet time and peace of mind after my workouts. I happen to love it and it just works for me.

Good luck and I hope you find what works for you!

C

hannahcf

I have 4 kids so I often end up doing crazy things like working out at 11pm at night. It's not ideal but I'd rather do that than not exercise at all:)

LittleFootHafner

I know that it's very difficult to get up early at times, but why not try to do it before your daughter gets up the morning?
It's actually a very refreshing to do i t then and get it over with for the day!

ShannonMarie81

I am a single mom of a 5 year old and a 2 year old and I work 40-45 hours a week. The best time (or should I say the only time) I find is to wake up early and get it in before work (4:30am) That way the kids are still sleeping and there won't be any distractions from the kids or anything else and I can fully concentrate on me and my workout! It's not always easy, but it is so nice to get it done 1st thing in the morning and be able to concentrate on what I need to do the rest of the day without cutting into the very little time I get with my kids Best of Luck to you!!

jagoochie

6am as soon as i get up out of bed!

robjuliew

first thing in the a.m. its the only way I can get it done!

CARNAT22

I work FT but don't have kids so I work out when I get home!

dmpizza

My wife wakes up in the middle of the night to work out.
When the kid was little I used to wait till he was asleep.

gipperakh

I work full time, have 2 kids and I also go to school part time. I go for a walk uphill on my lunch break before I eat, then when I get home with the kids we'll go walk on a trail at a park on the days I don't have school. You can turn almost anything into a workout. Dance with your children to their favorite music, while they're doing their homework take a minute break every 5-10 minutes and get the kids to do jumping jacks for a full minute with you. Every little bit counts.

tavery3700

Have you tried early morning workouts.

Also before you go home stop at the gym for a quick 30-45 minute workout.

Don't forget to put your workout clothes on before you leave your job.

hartsmart

i don't have kids, but i do work 2 jobs and hubby is always working so i'm also in charge of tking care of the house and dinner and shopping, etc. i think no matter what your situation, it is hard to find enough hours in the day to do everything you'd like to do.
i like the suggestion of maybe taking a walk with your daughter...or a bike ride, if she's doing that yet? (not sure of the area where you live, either...if that's a possibility) i get up at 3:30 am 4 days a week to be at work by 4:30, so i try get my workouts in as soon as i get home (even if i can only manage 30 minutes before i have to be off to run errands or whatever). 2 days a week i work from 7am to 6 or 6:30 pm and on one of those days i try to get a run in after work/before dinner.
there's no answer here...obviously, but i think if you can find a few minutes here and there when your daughter is busy/at school/coloring/whatever, you can pop in a dvd or do some jumping jacks (don't kids LOVE to jump around??) then you'll slowly start to make it part of your day AND hers and it won't seem like you have to try so hard.
or maybe not? but that's my 2 cents...
good luck!!

gwenmf

How about preparing two meals at once.............then have leftovers........get your Wii out and have your little one "play" with you...........ride bikes together..........walk together........

chulian31

I understand what you are saying since I work and study full time & have two daughters aged 4 and 9 years. I've struggled myself with the issue of finding the time.

5.30am start in the morning because its out of the way. In the weekend and sometimes week nights, I'll put some music on and dance with my girls - this can be quite vigorous- the girls love it! You fit in exercise AND have quality time with the kids.

Otherwise what about lunchtimes - have a friend who does this.

taiyola

I am a single mom of a 5 year old and a 2 year old and I work 40-45 hours a week. The best time (or should I say the only time) I find is to wake up early and get it in before work (4:30am) That way the kids are still sleeping and there won't be any distractions from the kids or anything else and I can fully concentrate on me and my workout! It's not always easy, but it is so nice to get it done 1st thing in the morning and be able to concentrate on what I need to do the rest of the day without cutting into the very little time I get with my kids Best of Luck to you!!

Holy ****! When do you sleep?! Don't think I could do what you lot do! Kudos!

samiramom

I have teenage kids that have activities after-school every day of the week, so while I am not rushing home to cook, I am rushing to either pick someone up or take someone some where. So working out in the mornings is what keeps me going. It takes a minute to get use to but once you start it is addictive. I work out 5 days a week (generally off Sundays and one week day). This really helps to ensure that I don't get caught up in the "not enough time" excuse.

Because your daughter is younger, I also like the ideas of trying to incorporate her into the workout as well. Walks after dinner, playing Wii or Kinect, skating on the weekends or nature hikes, etc.

To help with dinner...cook large meals or two on the weekend and then get leftovers throughout the week. Maybe 1-2 Lean cuisine entrees during the week with a salad.

I know it is hard but once you get a routine going, you will do fine.

Good luck!

Cara2Me

I work full time, have 3 children and a husband that works evenings so isn't around to help out. I cook double dinners to clear every other night from dinner cooking and I often put my children on their bikes and I run behind them for excersice. Another option is to have your child do her own homework while you excercise and then review it together later in the evening or excercise as she is reading to you. Remember that you deserve some time every day for yourself, even if it is only 20 minutes. This will make you a healthier, happier woman/ mother.

Good Luck!

MiNiMoNkI

Me too, i walk from, work which is 2.5 miles and do all the daily chores, inc tea, baths etc and sort my 9 year old, i do the shred as late as 11pm! you just have to MAKE yourself do it whenever you can

chantihayes

I work FT. I have 3 kids - ages 7,3 and 6 months. I don't work out every single day, because otherwise I would be too exhausted.. so I stick to more of an every other day routine.. with weekends picking up slack fro mthe week. For example, a typical Friday into Saturday for me is this :

fri - up at 5 am and out the door by 5:30 to be at work by 6. My two youngest stay with my MIL on fridays (otherwise i take the middle child w/ me to the daycare at work and the schedule is an hour later in the morning, the baby stays with the sitter who comes to the house at 7:15. My husband takes the oldest to school. I leave work around 4 and pick him up fromschool by 4:20 and am home by 4:45. I relax a bit and around 5:15 start on dinner. By 6:30 we're usually all done with that. Showers/baths started (oldest in one bathroom, middle in the tub in the other (husband does bathing) and baby in her tub i nthe kitchen). If there is homework to be done the oldest does it (ex. a weeknight) Now it's 7:15 and if it is a school night the kids get 30 min to play and 15 to read. 8pm is bedtime on a weeknight, including the baby (who is usually in bed closer to 7:30). Then I get the kitchen cleaned up and hubby does some laundry. I work out with Jillian michael's 30DS since it is only 20 min. and am in the shower by 9. Get my clothes out for the morning and am in bed by 10 to read and or hang with hubby Ususally asleep by 11:30.
Sat. almost same except instead of work I am cleaning the house, running around outside with the kids , sometimes i will be ambitious and mow (hubby gets mad bc i dont do it in straight line lol) or go swimming. Oh,and I sleep in until about 7:30 on the weekends


On weekends when i may exercise in the afternoon, my kids know when I say "mommy is working out for 20 min" it means go play or something until I am done.. and i make sure the baby is fed/changed etc if she is awake and she likes to watch me
(hubby may be in garage or something so up to me to occupy them ... they dont need me 24/7 hovering

ackeebee

i also work full time (monday to friday 8:30am - 6pm) but as i dont have kids yet, it is not as difficult for me. i go to the gym after work getting there by about 7pm, sometimes closer to 7:30pm. a couple of times in the past i have tried going to the gym before work but this means i have to be at the gym by 6am when it opens and be back home by 7am to get ready for work. as the gym is only abt 5 mins from my house, it is not too bad but getting up so early is not that easy at times. also as my gym is close to home and i work about an hour's commute from home, going to the gym in my lunch break is not an option. if i am unable to make it to the gym for whatever reason, i try and fit in a workout video when i eventually get home.

maybe if you could join a gym close to your work, you could try fitting it in your lunch break

Juliane1986

I am havng trouble squeezing exercise into my day. I work FT and have a 6 year old daughter. I get home around 6:15 and have to get dinner, deal with homework, get the kiddo fed, bathed and in bed (with any luck by 9pm) At 9pm when I finally get to sit down, the last thing I want to do is exercise! When do you fit in your workout?

I don't know how flexible your schedule is, but I'm actually going to be asking my boss today if I can start coming into work a half hour early and extend my lunch break to an hour and a half so that I can go work out on it at a gym around the corner. That added extra half hour gives me enough time to get a good workout in, shower and get back to the office. I don't think my boss will say no, I work for a very health conscious organization, and my previous employer actually gave us gym membership nearby and an extra half hour on our lunch break if we went there to work out. I think many more companies are becoming more accepting that it's important to 1, take that mental and physical break from work and 2, take care of your health (it will only benefit them in the long run too, happier employees, healthier employees). This way you'll have more time in the evening and the satisfaction of knowing you've gotten your workout in.

Again I guess this depends on if there's somewhere nearby you can workout at, how flexible your job is and what your schedule is like but I'm hoping this will work for me.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

If you can't fit it in after work get your butt up an hour earlier and smush in your work out then. The 30 day shreds only take 30 minutes (i think). I have a 2 yo and I workout when ever possible, but I do have the benefit of a gym membership where they have a nice child watch.

ShannonMarie81

Thanks

smadrigal04

I work full time, but I don't have a "normal" schedule...I open, close, and do mids...I work retail. So, I work out whenever I can...I have kids but they are older and self sufficient...do my 2 dogs count?!?!? You NEED to make time if you are serious about working out. Like an appointment you have to keep. I write my gym classes down in my calendar as an appointment. I hope you can find something that works for you!

ahavoc

If you work full time, by law, you should have two 15 minute breaks and one 1/2 hour break. See if you can combine two of those breaks or all of them. Most men I know workout on their lunch. They go to the gym, do 20 minutes or so, quick shower and back to work.

Also, invest in a good piece of equipment you can use at home. On weekends see if you're child can have a play-date with another child and use that time to work in a workout. See if there are other moms that might want to work out as well, so you could form a play group and rotate who's with the kids.