Finding it tough to work out with little ones

eskiadas

Hi everyone, I'm sure this may have been posted before but I'm curious how everyone with little ones, does it. I am a stay at home mom with an energetic almost 3 year old and a 5 month old. I used to go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week before having my second child. Now I find it almost impossible to go at all!!

I try and put the kiddies for an afternoon nap at the same time so that I can squeeze in a JM DVD (30 day shred). Honestly, when they go for a nap, I feel like napping myself lol. I do prefer going to the gym but I know doing a dvd is better than doing nothing.

I just want to know how you get the motivation to work out at home or at the gym with little ones at home? I want to start going to the gym again at least 3 times a week but I seriously can not find the time. Once the hubby gets home, I'm just too tired to go to the gym in the evening.

Thanks in advance

jdad1

can you get up and go before he leaves for work?

Or does your gym have an area for childcare? Or perhaps another gym in your area?

jdad1

Find a way to make it happen. It may not be the ideal way but you can find a way.

jpalocy77

I'm right there with you. My schedule is rough, my man works as a firefighter, and has 24 on and 48 off. So some morning hes not even here and some he is. I am a morning person, so going to the gym in the morning makes more sense. BUT I am attempting to start going at night, does your gym have a daycare? Take advantage of it f you can! How about a teenage neighbor? Sometimes you can pay them a small flat fee to watch the kids for a few hours. Good luck, I know its hard, I am having my own struggles with it as well!

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

You have to manage the time. Either get up and go at 5 or go at night. The other option is to arrange part-time care during the day 2 or 3 times a week. Some gyms offer childcare with membership. It is getting more common, so you might want to look around to see if there is one in your area that does.

3 year olds are the hardest age for being able to actually get out and do things.

lina1131

I work, so the situation is a little different.

I go to the office Mon, Wed and Thur - I workout during my lunch break.
Work from home Tues and Fri - I go to the gym in the morning (husband watches the little one, the 6 year old goes to school)

It is hard but I try to find time. On days I don't go to the gym i'll do a workout with the kids, even if I burn 100 or 200 calories.

Take them out for a walk in the stroller? Put on a dance DVD and let the 3 year old dance with you?

taunto

Make them a part of your workout. I am not a father however I live with my brother and his 2.5 years old kid. I just bench press my nephew, sometimes he'll just cling to my leg and I do zombie walk with him attached to my leg. Get him on my shoulder and do squats etc. Its fun for them, they're learning to be active with their uncle and I get some workout. Its a win/win/win.

Lizzy622

How about getting the kids involved? I used my kids as weights. They used to laugh and giggle as i picked them up and put them down. If you are near a park or walking trail, put them in a stroller or strap one on in a carrier and have the other one exercise with you. There is also Elmocise and other exercise tapes for kids. The exercises are short and simple to keep kids attention but you can also do it with them. Not quite as intense as going to the gym but it keeps you moving and teaches your children the importance of exercise.

WTF7

Put in a movie for the 3 year old and have the 5 month old in a seat propped watching you. My kids used to laugh watching me work out- worked at my house....

sunsnstatheart

Make them a part of your workout. I am not a father however I live with my brother and his 2.5 years old kid. I just bench press my nephew, sometimes he'll just cling to my leg and I do zombie walk with him attached to my leg. Get him on my shoulder and do squats etc. Its fun for them, they're learning to be active with their uncle and I get some workout. Its a win/win/win.

^^ I love this! There are numerous other workarounds: (1) gyms with a child care area (I've been a member of a Gold's like this and they even had a bouncy house) and since we got it on special it was $35 a month, (2) jogging strollers for running, (3) kids' backpacks for hiking (this is one of my favorites and my 2 1/2 year old loves to beach hike with me), (4) find a college student/teenager who will baby sit for you while you go to the gym, and (5) work out early morning or late at night when your husband is at home. It's all about how badly you want it.

LeenaRuns

I work fulltime, go to grad school parttime, and have a 2.5-year-old. I wake up at 3:40 Mon-Fri to get my workout in before my husband leaves for work. It sucks getting up that early, but there's not such thing as "finding time" to work out. You have to MAKE time.

oregonzoo

Does the gym have a daycare? When I stayed at home I was able to work a few hours in, and it was fantastic because it was "my time."

msrootitooti

I work full time and have a 6 year old and 19 month old.. I workout three times during the week after they go to bed. I go right when they go to bed so I know they will be asleep. On the weekends, I go during the youngest's nap and daddy watches the older one. It isn't always ideal (sometimes super tired) but now that it is a routine it is helping..

Once the weather is nicer, we go outside and go in the stroller or hike around with the youngest in the pack on my back.

fitcounselor

I agree with what has been said - I make time before the kiddies get up. One concession is that I now workout at home. Getting to the gym became too tough with little ones! And, make it a workout where you don't need to spend too much time!

jdad1

I work fulltime, go to grad school parttime, and have a 2.5-year-old. I wake up at 3:40 Mon-Fri to get my workout in before my husband leaves for work. It sucks getting up that early, but there's not such thing as "finding time" to work out. You have to MAKE time.

exactamundo!!!

bcattoes

My little ones are grown with little ones of their own now, but when they were little I included them in my exercise. Dancing was a favorite. Who doesn't love to dance? Even before they can walk children love to listen to music and watch mom act silly to it. A walk in the stroller or backpack or a bike ride was another favorite on a good day. I had one of those little seats you attach to your bike, but those pull behind trailer things are nicer and probably safer (didn't have those in my day). Or I'd just exercise while they were playing or watching TV.

Woomytron

I'm a stay at home mom also. I put the dvd in my computer and do my workout in the computer room, which is right next to the living room. I turn on cartoons for my son and he will half watch the cartoons half workout with me. He loves working out.



That picture that someone posted is also true. When my son is watching I don't give up... I'm trying to be a good example for him. He is honestly my biggest motivation. Get your kids involved not only will it wear them out and probably get them to take a better nap but they will have fun doing it with you.

LoraF83

I have a four year old and a full time job and my husband works unpredictable hours, so I understand how hard it can be to juggle everything.

I had to pretty much decide that I was going to do it whether I felt like it or not, whether I was tired or not. I just made myself go. At first, that meant getting up at 4:30 in the morning to hit the gym by 5, so I could be home by 6 to get ready for work. Since I started running, I mostly do it at night. It's still hard to find the time sometimes. I gave up having an ideally clean house. I also don't sleep as much as I would like. But, the trade off is worth it. I feel better, I look better, I'm happier. When I don't get to exercise, I'm a mean b*tch. Yeah, I'm that chick - the one that has to workout 4-5 days a week.

Make yourself do it. Do it for one week. Turn that into 2 weeks. Make that 4 weeks. Pretty soon, you won't be able to imagine how you ever did without regular workouts. It just takes time and a little dedication at the beginning.

Freyja2023

I made cardboard dumbells for my boys and they worked out with me LOL it was soo cute. You can also get little kid workout videos for kids on amazon and do one with him, they are fun... but you will feel goofy.

mrsg2006

Hi
I work full time and I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old. I get up at 4:30 during the week so I can get my workouts in. The weekends I get to "sleep in" until 7am. Sometimes I sneak a workout in, during the evening when my husband is playing with the kids.

LoraF83

Find a way to make it happen. It may not be the ideal way but you can find a way.

I love this! My daughter does pushups with me. She goes on short runs with me (less than half a mile). We do jumping jacks, sit ups, planks, wall sits, etc. I want her to be a beast! I don't want her to struggle with the body issues I had as a kid, so showing her how to be fit and active now is the best way to prevent that.