how can i fit in time to exercise?
jjshulou
Posts: 50
Hi everyone! So I am new to this site, I just signed up after reading about it in a magazine. I need some suggestions on what I can do to make time for exercising. I work full time and have 3 small children. I barely have time to take a shower! I do take the kids for a walk after dinner and before their bath. Any other ideas? My husband works 7 days a week, so weekends are even harder. Please, I need some help!
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Replies
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JJ... I am also new to this as I just started yesterday. Until then exercise was a naughty word in my house... now I love it and I found some youtube.com exercise videos. Today I did the Chris Powell Workout 1 video and it is mild but a great start! I felt better today then I have in years! I also walk (my dog, kids are teens and wont go lol) and this video is an excellent part of MY daily routine.. Good luck and God bless... I'm here if you need someone for anything0
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Do you have access to a fitness center that offers childcare? That can be a lifesaver! Otherwise I recommend making exercise a commitment first thing in the morning or evening after the kids' bedtime, whichever works better for you. Your workouts have to be like setting an appointment that you cannot miss!0
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Thanks Shannie. I will definitely have to check it out. I bought a fitness kickboxing game for the Wii, I'm hoping to find some time to try it out soon!0
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I honestly cannot afford to go to a gym
I'm just so tired that I can't imagine waking up any earlier than I already do. I'm up at 6:30 every morning with the baby. I guess I just have to suck it up! 0 -
Home workouts! I do quick ones, some as short as 10-15 minutes, and you can do another one or repeat later if you are able to make more time.0
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You can find some time in your busy schedule to exercise by doing workouts 30 minutes a day or you can go to a gym to workout or take any kind of classes they have to fit into your time, especially on weekends. If your office has a gym, you can workout there. If not, you can do some office exercises at your desk. It's very simple and important to make time for fitness in your busy schedule, because it can help you get on the right track with your healthy and physical activity.0
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My gosh, I'm tired just reading your schedule. Get some of those bands and do strength training while you and the family are watching tv. Just generally move more. Get a pedometer and try to get in 10,000 steps a day, even if it is around the house. Park far away from the stores you go to to get in more steps. Do leg lifts while you brush your teeth for 2 minutes AM and PM. The pedometer will help a lot! At least that way, you have a measure of movement. Good luck. Keep moving. Read Dr. John Ratey's book Spark. You will NEVER not exercise! Michelle0
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i have always struggled with getting the fitness time in -- my kids bought a wii and i started using the FITNESS PLUS and have been doing so for about 8 months. it keeps track of weight and i don't have to drive somewhere to do it! cheesy, but saves tons of time0
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I say just start trying to do a little whenever you get the chance even if you don't have an hour at once. You can run in place, do jumping jacks, squats, lunges, lift dumb bells...as you get going and start making progress, hopefully you will get more energy and when you start to see results you might be inspired to do more. Something is better than nothing, right??0
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Home workouts! I do quick ones, some as short as 10-15 minutes, and you can do another one or repeat later if you are able to make more time.
^This- You can do strength training at home w/bodyweight exercises (pushups, dips, squats, chin ups, etc) and if you get a jump rope, you can get a super fast intense cardio workout in the driveway. The kids can jump with you! Have contests over who can jump longest!0 -
Hello,
I don't know if this will work for you, but I know what you mean about busy day, not for the same reasons but I am busy applying to universities at the minute and have very little time to care about my weight. At the moment I'm using a DVD from the '10 minute solution' range and it's brilliant because on the DVD I have there are five sections and each of these sections take 10 minutes. They're short and you really do feel like you've worked hard afterwards.
I only have one at the moment (Blast Off Belly Fat) but there are loads of other DVD's in the series that I am sure are just as effective.
Hope that helped you
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Planks during commercials are awesome for your core!!! Take babys steps first and you will get there!!0
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Make games of it on your walk with the kids.
"Who can get to the next lamppost fastest?"
Take a ball and kick it around at the park with the kids.
Use the baby as a free weight.
Exercise at lunchtime.
You don't have to do an hour at a time, break it up.0 -
Yeah it's tough to fit in. I would invest in DVD's, especially since the kids are little and your husband works a lot. Take the kids to the park and run around with them. Helps them burn off energy and gets your exercise in, too! Workout on your lunch hour. If it's too hot at lunch (like here in Florida), try getting in a quick walk after work-before you go home. Get up early and squeeze in a work out.0
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Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I'm already loving this site! You'd think I'd be able to lose weight by chasing my 2 year old around! My best bet is to get up extra early in the morning and try to get it in then! I'll report back tomorrow. Wish me luck!0
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Maybe pull the kids in a wagon if they are the right ages for that. It benefits all of you. Shoot basketball hoops if their ages allow, play chase with them outside. I even jump rope, lift some weights, etc. These things can be tracked in MFP. Even if you only do 10 to 15 minutes to begin with you'll find you begin to look forward to the exercise time! Good luck and add me as a friend if you think I can help! :flowerforyou:0
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And by the way, everyone keeps talking about their lunch breaks....what are those? Lol. I don't get a lunch break...I work at a family business and always eat my lunch at my desk, while I'm answering phones, helping customers and doing paperwork. The good thing is that I never sit still, I'm always getting in and out of my seat to do something!0
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Not sure where you live, but most gyms have childcare, esp during the 5 to 7 pm crunch. And exercise is just like eating right: it HAS to become a priority in life. It has to be like scheduling work, driving, errands, all of it. That's the hardest part.0
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And by the way, everyone keeps talking about their lunch breaks....what are those? Lol. I don't get a lunch break...I work at a family business and always eat my lunch at my desk, while I'm answering phones, helping customers and doing paperwork. The good thing is that I never sit still, I'm always getting in and out of my seat to do something!
Same here-I don't get a lunch break, I wish I could but there's always too much going on lol I work out before work but I don't have kids like you do. What about a friend or family member watching the kids for a bit while you went for a run/jog/bike ride around the neighborhood?
Good luck!0 -
Do you have access to a fitness center that offers childcare? That can be a lifesaver! Otherwise I recommend making exercise a commitment first thing in the morning or evening after the kids' bedtime, whichever works better for you. Your workouts have to be like setting an appointment that you cannot miss!
This.
I get DVDs at the library and try them without putting out any money. My boys have always been early risers, and I let them exercise with me. They used to think it was fun; now that they're older, they don't join in so much but have their own activities. When the little ones see mommy exercise and have fun with it, it sets them up for an active lifestyle, too.0 -
When you have 10 minutes in between activities or during naps and such do a quick home routine. There are plenty of DVDs out there or videos on the internet. Do that a few times a day and the minutes start adding up! 0
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I just got netflix streaming on my blue ray player (or xbox, etc.) and I do a 30 minute pilates video every night before I go to bed. It helps wear me out before bed and I just replace watching TV before bed with doing the exercises. It has done me wonders! EVen just lifting some free weights or doing jumping jacks, situps, and pushups before bed can help change it up a bit. Working 40+ hours/week (at a desk job) plus as a full time graduate student I was really starting to see the weight stack on and was in the same boat as you. 30 minutes is all it takes, for me at least!0
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Find a group (usually can find one though a local church) of moms who swap kids for time at the gym.
Do with less sleep and go while hubby is home (even if it's while the entire house is asleep)0 -
I have an 8 year old and now 15 month old. What I find works best for me is splitting up my workouts between nap time and bed time. If I can't get anything in during the day I do one of my workouts (on the Wii, Netflix, my Jillian or other DVD's) after the kids go to bed. They normally take about 30 minutes and I get a great burn in.0
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Make games of it on your walk with the kids.
"Who can get to the next lamppost fastest?"
Take a ball and kick it around at the park with the kids.
Use the baby as a free weight.
Exercise at lunchtime.
You don't have to do an hour at a time, break it up.
^this, all the way:)0 -
I workout at lunch time, about 45 min, then a quick shower and then I eat something quick at my desk. I do have the advantage that I have a fitness center in my building, which its pretty great.
Also, you may try getting up a bit earlier in the morning, or after work, before picking up the kids. How is your significant other with the kids? My husband is awesome, so on weekends we usually take turns.
I know its harder to make it a priority, but it really is, you need to do this for yourself, so you are healthier and have more energy to hang around with them. It doesn't have to be much, 30 min, 3 times a week is a good start.0 -
Good luck Hun, I will be going through this same problem once I go back to work on the 14th of this month. I work as a preschool teacher and one would think that chasing 30 preschoolers around all day would be enough to keep me in shape. Unfortunatley that is not the case and I am worried about fitting my workouts in and still get all my other stuff done. I think I am going to have to get up at 5am to get my walk/jog in. Either that or do it first thing when I get home from work, usually I am exhusted by that time however. Time will certianly tell!0
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I don't have kids of my own... I am a step mom and we have him every other weekend. My issue is I work at my part time job when we have him. I have started getting up at 4:45 twice during the week before the full time job to do couch to 5 K and at 3:45 on Sundays to do it before I go to work. I am trying to get up early 3 other days during the week to start doing strength training. The biggest thing is just doing it and not making excuses. It will benefit you in the end. Sorry I'm not much more help.0
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Well you probably dont want to hear this....but my suggestion would be to get up before you have to be up with the baby. That's the ONLY way I can fit in exercise. I have two small kids and by the time they go to bed, the very last thing I want to do is exercise. I also work full time and have a husband who is gone a lot (which limits me to going anywhere to exercise...I dont belong to a gym either).
I am an early riser and wake up easily, so I know its easier for me to SAY "get up early". But I get up anywhere from 4:45-5:30, depending on the length of my work out, so that I can get exercise in BEFORE the kids get up. Now that Im used to it, it's not a big deal. Its just what I do. Over the past almost 2 years, Ive used the Wii Fit, OnDemand workouts, Jillian Michaels, Netflix streaming work outs, P90x, Insanity, and running (either on our treadmill in the basement, which has now crapped out, and running outside when hubby is home). Ive done it all without a gym, and in the comfort of my own home.
Good luck. I know it's difficult!0 -
Not to sound rude.......But if I can think of 1000 reasons why I could NOT work out. We all work long and hard, we all have kids, we all have chores to do, we all can't afford a gym, we all need to grocery shop. BLAH BLAH BLAH. Stop making excuses and JUST DO IT.
Do it in the house, at the gym, at work, ANYWHERE you can.
If you want to do something, you will find time to do it.0
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