Mom's with young kiddos!!!

kelif5959

I'm in the same boat! The only time that works for me is 4am workouts! At first it was tough! But, now its just a part of my routine. Up at 3:30am, to the gym by 4am, back home by 5:45am. Then I eat breakfast, do some reading, etc before the kiddo gets up at 6:30am. That's the ONLY "me time" I can find! I'll take it though! Good luck!

CelticDestiny

I'm 32 with a 3.5yr old, 1.5yr old, and I'm currently 23 weeks pregnant. I'm a SAHM because it's just too darn expensive for daycare for us. A lot of people think that staying home with the kids allows plenty of "Me" time and that I have a perfectly clean house, but honestly I have less time for myself than when I was working full time with just an infant (I stopped working when my oldest was 7 months old) and many days it appears as if a tornado destroyed my house. For me I try to get out with the kids and walk but living in Phoenix, AZ the majority of the year it's too hot, so doing Walk Away the Pounds DVDs allows me to walk at home even with the kids up. Sometimes they walk with me. Before I was pregnant this time, my hubby would watch the girls for at least an hour so I could do more advanced workouts than just walking. It's tough as women in general to make time for themselves without feeling guilty, but I finally figured out that if I don't have any me time than I'm not doing any good for my family.

bonjour24

I have a 5, 3 and 1 year old. I also work full time shifts.
I'm lucky in that my hubby stays home with the kids and works on 1 of my days off. I've got really good at planning! I'm also a runner, so that means that my exercise involves me getting out of the house.
If I'm on an early shift (starting at 7am) I'll get up at 4am, drive to work, then go for a run there (stops me waking the kids up at 6am when i need to shower). If I'm working late (starts at 1pm), I'll still go at about 730am, then when i get back the kids have had their breakfasts and we can have some nice time together.
I also have a cross trainer in the garage that i picked up for $20. If the weather is bad, if it's just late, or even if i haven't been bothered I'll often go on that for an hour or so. I'll throw the kids infront of a dvd and just get on with it.
So, I think that you just have to plan it then do it. I book it in with hubby like an appointment, and write it on the calendar so that he knows when i need him to be around.

jgriffin88

I'm 41 with a very active 4 yr old. I work 40 hours a week.. I usually tend to work out after DS goes to bed. I am not a moring person so getting up at 4 am is not for me. DH leaves for work at 3:30 am so he is not there to help in the AM. Some days I can get in my 30 minutes before dinner, but most days it is not until after bedtime which is usually 8:45 - 9:00 pm.

jenelizmin

I'm 33 (almost 34) with 3 kids. daughter 2 1/2 (regular night terrors, so I'm also sleep deprived) and sons 5 & 12. I work full time (military, but non-traditional unit which means working out is on our own time) and I'm taking online college courses. Husband is gone by 6:30 am every day. I found a local gym that has daycare included. Sometimes I do that and the kids think it's a treat. It's basically a playdate for the little ones. I've also started pushing park time with the kids. Sometimes my 5 yr old will ride his bike and I'll push his sister in a stroller and we'll race. Other times I just walk and they ride bikes/trikes. You can also do things like zumba dvd's or WII dance games. I give the kids controllers (with no batteries haha) and we have a dance party. They spin and wiggle their butts and I get in an extra workout. I know our local park has an informal walking/stroller group. Every morning they meet up and go. The kids seem to love it and I'm sure it's more motivating knowing other people are expecting you.

nettie23

Hi am 31 a single mom of a two, 7 year old girl and 3 year old boy and work full time. I work out about 5 times a week but I just feel that it is not enought I stay at the gym for an hr I dont want to stay longer at the gym due to the kids being in day care at the gym they are already in school all day. Last couple of days i have been getting up earlier to work out 30 min before the kids get up so we will see how that works. I def should should see results for work out 5 times a week but I think as alot to do with my intake so I am making every effort to change, sometimes just very stressfull when the scale does not move.

katejenkins1

30yrs old, 40/hr a week outside the home job, I have twin boys 6 yr olds, and a 4 yr old daughter. My husband works nights and I work days.
I get up every morning and workout, currently I'm on day 6 of 30DS. I walk for a half an hour during my lunch break. My time is when the kids go to bed, I go and walk about 3-4 miles a night with a couple of neighbors and my dog. It's great, because it's adult time, it can be quiet time we don't always chat the whole time, and it's exercising.

Sat. I get up early and leave the kids to daddy and I walk the dog for about 2 hours. Utilize the people around you, w/o of course taking advantage. It's a bit harder, if I remember, with the little, little ones because they need you so much more assistance.

When I had little ones I would take them to the mall and walk around with them before the stores opened. So quiet and it was a way to get out of the house.

Good luck! and remember it's all about planning a head and scheduling.

JACKYGETNMYBODYBACK

Hi i'm the mother of a 17 month yrs old. i get up at 5:30 4 days a week before work and work out with my DVD player and i workout at lunch at my job. Luckily my job has a gym, but i also walk around on lunch.

nroisland

Is there any way you can work out during your lunch break? I know before kids and I was working 50+ hours a week I would take 30 minutes during my lunch to run. I couldn't even imagine how tired you are though with no sleep and working FT w/kids.

Now that I am a SAHM I work out for an hour during naptime and 30 minutes after the kids go to bed at night. Thankfully both of my kids STTN (knock on wood lol) so I don't need my afternoon pick me up naps anymore. After I figured out I would never have the motivation to leave the house at night after they went to bed to go to a gym I went on Amazon.com and bought an elleptical. I can say that it was the best purchase I ever made for my health so far. I can work out when I have time with out having to worry about daycare or a babysitter and I find that seeing it in my bedroom, starring at me while I lay on my butt watching TV is a great motivater to get up and push myself for atleast 30 minutes.

CarriLu123

Hi I'm 35 and I have a 2 and 5 year old! I have been trying to lose 15 pounds for the last 2 years!!!! It is so frustrating, I don't seem to have the time/ energy to exercise after working 40 hours a week and taking care of the kids! I count everything that goes into my mouth but the number on the scale never gets ANY lower!!! Any suggestions on how to find some ME time when you're a mommy would be great! ( and did I mention my 5 year old still doesn't sleep through the nigh?!!!) HELP! I'm tired of being fat!

I have a 3 year old and busy teenagers so the time I do have I try to incorperate them. My 3 year old is doing the 30 day shread with me. I mean her own modified version of corse but she has fun doing it. I bought her 1lb weights so she would stop stealing my 3 lb. It's working out so far.

hazev74

bump for later...must fire my 10 mth old and 3 yr old boys to bed!! back in a bit...

Colbyandsage

Hi. I am a working mom of 2 (6 and 3 yr old). 2.5 months ago, I could of wrote your post. I am 5'3 and 143. Down 16 lbs. Woot woot!

This is what did it for me, I can't say it will work for you but here it is...

I started and completed Insanity. There were days I was in tears but I did it and I loved every minute of pain. I also followed the 40/30/30 macros instead of the generic from MFP. I had to add in a protein shake every day to get my protein goal. I researched the best ones as I didn't want junk in my body. I read and learned about BMR and TDEE. The best website that I found was fat2fitradio.com.

I try to net my BMR, maybe a little lower every day. By netting I mean, eat back exercise. I gave up processed foods for the most part. I plan EVERYTHING. Meals and exercise. I enter my food in BEFORE I eat it. I am starting to keep my sodium low because I bloat like crazy.

I think what I did wrong for the last 3 years was only eating 1200 calories. I typically eat 1500-1600 and exercise about 400.

I am lucky in the aspect that I work from home office. I am in corporate world and my clients are near me and not the corporate office. I workout at lunch. I used to be a huge stress ball because I didn't take a break, now I do Insanity or jog for the break and calorie burn.

Feel free to friend me, I have a great group of mommy friends that is very supportive. Without them, I would of given up by now! The above sounds like a lot but it's worth it. Trust me. I weight less than I did when I got pregnant with my son. I feel better and I am much happier which equals better mom.

Good luck! You can do it, just need to find what works for you.

Schnuddelbuddel

Hm... do you have a husband/partner/SO?? Make him take over!!!!!

I'm 34, have an 8yo girl, 3yo boy, 2yo girl and 6 month old boy - and I do running, Zumba, Pilates and at home Wii Fit and general running after the kids... To be fair, I do my Zumba and Pilates after 8.30 in the evening, but that's just the way it fits and I found classes that suit me time-wise.

I'm not disciplined enough to get up at the crack of dawn to exercise before the monsters wake up.

And I've another LOT to lose.

Add me

kpittman0612

I am 26, I have a 3 year old and an 18 month old. I work full time and am married as well. Here is what I've found that has helped me. I wake up and do my workout before I go to work. I know that means losing out on sleep but my evenings after work are so jam packed with fixing supper, bathing the kids and then getting them to bed and I've found this is the only way to get it all done.

Also, another thing we do is cook a lot of meat on Sunday evenings and then just re heat it thru out the week and make sides to go with it so that saves us time from cooking daily.

My husband helps me with the kids tremendously and this is a huge blessing!

I wish you luck in your weight loss journey!

nroisland

Hi I'm 35 and I have a 2 and 5 year old! I have been trying to lose 15 pounds for the last 2 years!!!! It is so frustrating, I don't seem to have the time/ energy to exercise after working 40 hours a week and taking care of the kids! I count everything that goes into my mouth but the number on the scale never gets ANY lower!!! Any suggestions on how to find some ME time when you're a mommy would be great! ( and did I mention my 5 year old still doesn't sleep through the nigh?!!!) HELP! I'm tired of being fat!

I have a 3 year old and busy teenagers so the time I do have I try to incorperate them. My 3 year old is doing the 30 day shread with me. I mean her own modified version of corse but she has fun doing it. I bought her 1lb weights so she would stop stealing my 3 lb. It's working out so far.

My 2 year old will ask to do sit ups and legs with me, lol. It's awesome.... Her situps are not the typical type but they are adorable to watch and legs are me sitting on the floor with her on my legs as I lift them up, great burn feeling in my thighs and butt.

NoAdditives

I have a 3 1/2 year old, (tomorrow) a 2 year old, and a 3 1/2 month old. I'm a SAHM and never get time without my kids. Before I got pregnant last year, I would get up around 5:30 or 6:00 so that I could get in a good workout before everyone else got up. It was tough at first, but it was worth it. Now we live too far from the city to have a gym membership so I'm waiting until my husband graduates college (2 more weeks!) so that both of us can exercise. We have an awesome weight machine that neither of us can use because there just isn't the time.

izoom3

Hi ya'all. I would like to add my two cents in here even though I am no longer a Mom with young kids. I sure hope you don't mind. First, I was a Mom with young kids once. Also a military wife. Also worked full time. Also moved and had no family close to help.
I am now a 55 year old 1st time Grandma. My husband works an 80-90 hour work week and travels for the job. I run my own daycare by myself. It is open from 6 am to 6 pm. That doesn't count prep time for food or preschool or cleaning.
That said, LADIES, it doesn't get any easier!!! Take the time. You will be a better person. Happier. Able to accomplish what you want in life. Don't wait. Do it now. FIND a way that works for you. Stop feeling guilty, it accomplishes NOTHING.
Throw the kids in a stroller and walk/run. Chase them around the park. Get DVD work outs do Zumba with them. Get them active. Enjoy your children. Laugh with them. Feed them the same good food you want to eat. Grow healthy together. Stop making excuses.
I get up at 4 am....I do something active for myself. Everyday I take the kids out and we play tag, swing, chase bubbles, giggle and dance. Exercise doesn't have to be repetitive gym work...it can be fun. What a concept, fun while getting healthy. Try it. You only go around once.

winwin1079

Well now I am seriously motivated. I am a 32 yr old stay at home Mom. My 4 1/2 year old goes to kindy 3 x's a week for 3 hours. I have been spending those alone times doing house chores. Well not any more! I am blessed to be able to stay home from work and I am promising myself to use those times to work out. Thank you all for letting me see the light! I am very close to my target and now I know I will reach it. Love and light to all you hard working Moms!!!

aimelee

ahh yes. i'm 30 and have a 2.5 year old and one on the way. I also work 40 hours a week and then some if i'm working on any side projects. the ONLY time i found that works for me to exercise is to do short workout videos at home right after my son goes to bed. By that time i have zero time to drive to and from the gym without my entire night being gone, so i would just pop in a 20 or 30 minute video 4ish nights a week. Jillian Michaels dvds are my fav, they are short and super effective (30 day shred is my fav, but i also have ripped in 30 and yoga meltdown.) I also throw in some pilates to keep from getting bored, Or if its nice out in the summer when it stays light late, i'll take a walk.

it was SO HARD in the beginning to force myself to workout after he went to sleep because i was always sooo tired by 8pm, but i just got used to it eventually. I tried morning workouts and failed miserably, i just can't work out that early.
It will be interesting to see if i can keep it up once baby #2 arrives...

Dtho5159

Ive got an almost 7 year old and 4 and a half year old. Im lucky to be a stay home mom and my oldest is in school all day. My youngest goes to preschool 4 days a week for 3 hrs a day. I do my workouts at that time. My schedule is I get her on the bus right before 8am and get my breakfast. I try to start my workout by 8:45 so I can be done by 9:45 and shower and still have an hour to pick up and chill before she gets back home. So far, it works for me.

MariFitBody

Hi I'm 35 and I have a 2 and 5 year old! I have been trying to lose 15 pounds for the last 2 years!!!! It is so frustrating, I don't seem to have the time/ energy to exercise after working 40 hours a week and taking care of the kids! I count everything that goes into my mouth but the number on the scale never gets ANY lower!!! Any suggestions on how to find some ME time when you're a mommy would be great! ( and did I mention my 5 year old still doesn't sleep through the nigh?!!!) HELP! I'm tired of being fat!

Hi yea thats no excuse. I am 33 years old I have 3 boys 13, 10 & 5. I work 40 hours a week to then come home. I dont even sit down I put my stuff down and start to cook for the hubby and kids. Mind u their meal is a totally different meal from mine. Then I have to make sure the kids did homework showered and in bed by 9. At that time I get my work out in for about an hour or 90mins depends how I feel then I shower only to wake up at 4am to work out shower wake the boys make them breakfast take them to the sitter and train to work to start all over again. Mind u while Im showering the hubby is headin out the door to go to work so I do it all alone. My point being. U have to make time for U. I figured this out the hard way. NO EXCUSES!

openskybeach

Exercise/walk or whatever you can do on your lunch break or your shorts breaks at work.

MelissR75

hi hi! i have a 3yr old and work 4 days a week. i manage to get up early (5am to run most work days) and i try to walk during my lunch break. i find walking during lunch is a very productive use of time and i can focus more on my family when i get home.:bigsmile:

I do the exact same thing. I have 3 kids; 9, 7 & 5, and 5-5:30 am is my "me" time. I get in a Jillian Michaels dvd workout, then walk 2 miles on lunch with my friend at work

FitFoodieMomBillie

Just make it a priority to fit it in - even if it's 15 minutes. Have the kids do it with you, or give them something to entertain them. Remember that eve if all you can get is 15 minutes every other day, that's still more than nothing! Good luck!

plainjane23

Stop looking at the scale so much... remember that muscle weighs more than fat. Go by how your clothes fit. This also helps reduce the stress you may be causing yourself with can hinder weight loss!

marieautumn

I feel you! I am a single mother to a 5 year old and worked 50+ hours a week since he was born until recently when i finally got a job working 40 hours a week. I became a mother at the age of 20, and although i thought my body would just bounce back to being a size 1, it didnt happen. Taking care of my son, my job and keeping my house clean were my first priorities, so my health came last for a long time. i finally got fed up and started working out, taking my son with me. it was hard at first, but now its our schedule. I am blessed to live in the same area as my mom and she watches him two nights a week so i can do crossfit training, and 4 nights a week i go to the normal gym and take him with me. he likes that he gets to play with other kids in the play room, and i get to have some time to clear my head and do some cardio. its been a win win. my next obstacle is eating right ALL the time. hopefully i can do that. You just have to remember that your kids need you to be happy and healthy and to be a good role model. If you dont act like you are worth takign care of, they will grow up thinking the same thing about themselves.

jwilson2001

So many good suggestions. I also have a soon-to-be 5 year old, who isn't the best sleeper... I can't get up earlier in the morning (I HAVE tried but it just doesn't work) and my job doesn't always allow time to leave my desk for a workout. My workout is usually once my 5 yo goes to bed and right before I get ready for bed myself. So, it is late at night. Not always the best time because I think I don't give it my all since I am already tired or if I do, then I have problems going to sleep. I set a goal of just 20 minutes a day so I don't go crazy!

jnh17

I work full time, have no family closer than 5 hours away (except for the hubs), and have a 3 year old girl and a 2 year old boy. I'm right there with you. It's hard, but it's doable!

jesscarows

Hi! I am 27 years old, and have a 5 year old, and an 8 month old. I am definitely struggling to find the time/energy to workout. I work full time (40 hours a week), and usually when I get home I am exhausted! My hubby leaves for work at 5am, so if I wanted to get to the gym in the morning, I would have to get up around 3:45 to be at the gym by 4am. I did do that for a little while, and I loved the workouts but getting up so early started to take its toll on me.
I am sorry that I dont really have any advice, just want you to know that I understand how you feel!

Blanche76

I have a 4 yr old & a 3 yr old, I have to do my workouts in the mornings before they get up. If they do get up, luckly they will lay on the couch & just watch me. I have a full time job plus go to school, so I know how it is to be really busy, but if you are able to wake up early that would be the best time.