Full-time Working Moms Only!!!

pmkelly409
pmkelly409 Posts: 1,646 Member
edited September 18 in Fitness and Exercise
When do you work out?

I have to go directly after work and the guilt associated with this is incredible!

My husband has to leave for work at 5am so I have morning duty getting them ready for school. So I figure I have 2 hours with them in the am and he gets an hour or two with them in the evening.

Problem is we never sit down and eat dinner together as a family but all the good classes at the gym are at 5 and 6pm.
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Replies

  • pmkelly409
    pmkelly409 Posts: 1,646 Member
    When do you work out?

    I have to go directly after work and the guilt associated with this is incredible!

    My husband has to leave for work at 5am so I have morning duty getting them ready for school. So I figure I have 2 hours with them in the am and he gets an hour or two with them in the evening.

    Problem is we never sit down and eat dinner together as a family but all the good classes at the gym are at 5 and 6pm.
  • JMAMA
    JMAMA Posts: 298 Member
    Maybe on some nights instead of going to the gym you could involve your kids in your exercise-outdoor sports, kick ball, tag, jump rope. Then on the nights that you go to the gym (for some much deserved you time) you won't feel so guilty:wink:
  • jenken99
    jenken99 Posts: 564 Member
    i know how you feel. except i have to work 2nd shift so i have the mornings to my self afterthe kids go to school, my husband works 3rd so i see him hardly..
    i enjoy walking with people but unfortunalty i have no-one excpet my self unless my hubby has the night off. when i do go to the gym i feel guilty , becuase my youngest son lovesto go,, so on my days off he goes too so he can play in the kids gym..
  • GonnaDoIt
    GonnaDoIt Posts: 36 Member
    I bought this stroller/bike trailer about a year ago and I love it! I am not sure how old your children are and how many you have, but this might be a good solution. It hold like 2 big kids or 3 small ones....I put my daughters DVD player in this stoller and her sippy cup and she is good to go while I walk. This would be a great morning excersise for you. I found a stoller much like this one at Walmart for about $99 instead of the $200 + prices you see online and it glides on the street and sidewalk like butter (sorry to make you hungry :) anyway....just a thought.....
    http://www.instep.net/Product/Bicycle_Trailers/Detail/32_Mark_2_Bicycle_Trailer_13-SC766/
  • CyclingDiva
    CyclingDiva Posts: 492 Member
    I am a full time working mom. My kids are now teens, but no matter what age they need that parental supervision, as they would disagree :laugh:
    Anyways I ride my bike to work and hit the gym or go for an hour bike ride after work everyday. This way I'm home an hour after they are.
    Over the years I have always adjusted my workouts according to what worked best for the family.
    When they were little I would take them to the local track at the school (it was fenced in) I would let them play and I would run the track, do squats, step ups on the bleachers and push ups.
    I would bring the kids balls or their bikes to keep them busy, :smile:
    The park is also another good place to go. The park near our house has a side walk that goes around the park. The play ground is in the center so I could run and keep an eye on the kids.
    Be creative and everyone is happy quilt free :bigsmile:
    But if you love your classes at the gym split it up and do those 2 or 3 days a week as well.
    best of luck to you,
    Kelly :flowerforyou:
  • 103annie
    103annie Posts: 17
    I take a 2 mile walk during lunch with a coworker and I walk with a neighbor after the kiddos are in bed. I also have a treadmill that I picked up at a yard sale for $20. I also like to do Yoga poses when I watch TV and I have some cardio tapes that I will do after the kids are in bed. I don't like them watching me so I wait until I have time alone. On the weekends I take them to the park and swing on the playground or take them on a hike in the woods.

    We have a unique hobby that we do as a family called geocaching so it give us a reason to get out and hike. I haven't joined a gym yet because I thought that if I didn't utilize what was free and around me than why would I use a gym membership? Alos the childcare hours didn't work with my schedule very well.

    Hope that gives you some ideas. I feel your pain!!! :flowerforyou:

    Cristy
  • 103annie
    103annie Posts: 17
    Regarding dinner....I make it the night before and that help ALOT. :bigsmile:
  • foxfire9372
    foxfire9372 Posts: 184 Member
    Don't feel guilty, but are you going every night after work or only a couple. Although I am doing the stay at home thing now, I have the same problem. I don't like the wait times at the gym for daycare, so I go two nights a week and first thing in the am on the weekends. This gives me my time, daddy gets "daddy time" and then we have the rest of the day for us.
  • jamie77
    jamie77 Posts: 101
    Being a single mom of a 19 month old makes is very hard to find time to work out. The only time I have is at 3:00 am. Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but it works(Once you get used to it).
    You would be amazed at how great you feel all day when you make yourself get on the treadmill or do a work out dvd first thing in the morning. Get it out of then way, then all you have to do after work is spend time with those precious babies!
  • pmkelly409
    pmkelly409 Posts: 1,646 Member
    Thank you all for your input and support. I have some ideas now about how to shake things up a little in my household - once again, the key is sacrafice on the mothers part!!!

    My kids are 7 and 5, so strollers are not an option and to boot now they are playing baseball twice a week (on different nights!) - so that is 4 days a week that they spend on the baseball fields from 5:30-7:30! Life is just so hectic!!!

    Where there is a will there is a way, right!?!?!?!
  • GIGINATOR
    GIGINATOR Posts: 355 Member
    I work 3 12 hour shifts a week, 7a-7p. So on my works days I get up at 5am and work out. Then on my days off, I take my 4yr old to preschool and then work out while he's there. My 19month old just runs around in the basement while I work out. Also since the weather is finally nice we have been doing a lot of bike riding, have a trailer that my toddler rides in behind me. Somedays it's hard to fit it in but I like to get it over with early so I can't make an excuse not to!
  • annhjk
    annhjk Posts: 794 Member
    Thank you all for your input and support. I have some ideas now about how to shake things up a little in my household - once again, the key is sacrafice on the mothers part!!!

    My kids are 7 and 5, so strollers are not an option and to boot now they are playing baseball twice a week (on different nights!) - so that is 4 days a week that they spend on the baseball fields from 5:30-7:30! Life is just so hectic!!!

    Where there is a will there is a way, right!?!?!?!

    Does your job offer any wellness incentives? Some places let you go a little late, leave early if you are going to a gym. Would they be willing to start?

    Can you do something during baseball? I know you don't want to miss the games, but maybe once or twice wouldn't hurt.

    We belong to a great gym - it's actually called Family Wellness :smile: :happy: There is so much for the kids to do there that it's hard for me to find an excuse not to go with them. I do workout 2 mornings a week, but otherwise I fit it in after school (I'm a teacher so I have a little time between after work and supper) or I'll go a little later after supper. We had a while in there that we weren't eating supper together either.

    What time are you done with work? Does it bother you to exercise after eating? I can usually go 30-40 min after eating and be fine.

    The other thing that helped us (when we didn't belong to a gym) was getting a treadmill at home. It's nice to use it when I have time instead of using time to go somewhere and wait to get on a machine and more time to get home.

    I guess the positive is that baseball can't last forever and school will be out soon, and it won't be long til you can leave them home alone (sleeping) and workout whenever you can.

    I'm sure it'll work out. I think 2-3 short workouts are just as valuable as 1 long workout.
  • lietee
    lietee Posts: 189 Member
    my shedual is the same evrey month

    Mondays i work 7am till 3 pm
    tuesdays i rotate 7 am till 3 pm then 3 pm till 930 pm
    wednesdays 3 till 930 pm
    thursdays 3 till 930 pm
    fridays OFF
    saturdays is 7am till 3 pm then rotated off
    Sundays is 7 am till 3pm then rotated off

    at least every second week i get the weekend off
  • KrisKabob
    KrisKabob Posts: 1,250 Member
    I am also a full-time working Mom. My husband has a crazy Police Officer schedule so I am often the mirror of a single mom.

    I have found that doing an A.M. workout is perfect for me! I do have the luxury of not having to leave my house until 8 am so I get up at 6 am do my workout then get myself and son ready to go. This way it's done and I can spend the evening with my little guy when I get home.

    Plus, on the nights when my hubby is home we can eat dinner together (which I think many folks who have that option take for granted - no offense to anyone, I just miss my hubby).
  • amylynne26
    amylynne26 Posts: 195 Member
    The only days I really get to work out are Saturday and Sunday.... I get up at 7 am to go for a 30-45 min. bike ride on the trail behind my house. My husband and kids get to sleep in, I'm usually back before they are awake. The downside is I NEVER get to sleep in..... I'm up no later than 6 during the work week to get the kids off to daycare and myself to work! Kids are 2 and 4 so now that the weather is getting nicer I'm hoping we can start going for walks after dinner or something.... it's frustrating I feel your pain!! :frown: I've thought about getting up just a half hour earlier during the week to at least do a cardio DVD or SOMETHING but can't quite motivate myself to crawl out of bed any earlier than absolutely necessary.... any suggestions anyone????? :ohwell:
  • cwjett
    cwjett Posts: 189 Member
    my husband is a police office as well and he works 5:30 pm to 5:30 am and I get up at 6 am and come home at 6 pm! lol
    So our schedules are very different, we never see each other. the nights that he is off and will be at home sleeping in the mornings I wake up at 5am to go to the gym before having to get my kids up and start getting ready! That is only a few days a week and i have only been doing it for 2 weeks!

    It was very hard to wake up extra early to go to the gym but what made me start doing it was when my husband would see me setting my alarm he would just chuckle and say "you know your not gonna wake up that early and go to the gym!" LOL
    Well that did it for me, I was going to prove to him that I COULD do it and I WOULD do it!!

    It has been so nice getting it over with and getting my day going. On days that I don't get to go to the gym because of hubbys schedule i try to take my kids to a local track in the evening with the stroller. (we don't live in a neighborhood so we have to go somewhere to walk!)

    If its a pretty day while i'm at work and not too hot i will walk around the block at lunch a few times. Anything to get me moving!

    Good luck to everyone! for those of you feeling guilty about working out and not spending as much time with the kids just remember that if you are healthy and in shape you can enjoy them more and have more energy to do things with them!! you are doing them a favor too!
  • pmkelly409
    pmkelly409 Posts: 1,646 Member
    Wow, this has all been so great!

    I am such a night owl but I think getting up earlier and running while he gets ready for work is a definite - that will happen! I love the idea of getting it out of the way in the am but I have always been a night exerciser!! Then I can do my weights at night after they are all in bed.

    Second, I was thinking about what I can be doing while they are playing baseball. I went into the old posts and found the boot camp style workout the Banks posted about a month ago. I can start doing that while they are practicing! Wow! See all I needed was a little encouragement!! :heart:

    Third, i just wrote a 'nice' letter to my gym asking them to start some kids/family style workouts. The one thing my kids hate about going to the gym is that it is just a big daycare with primarily toddler toys. They want to to exercise like Mommy!

    one more question, does anyone use one of those little trampolines to workout? I have one and NEVER use it!!
  • KrisKabob
    KrisKabob Posts: 1,250 Member
    Instead of taking them to the gym maybe you all could go up to the local park and "play". My son loves to be outside and he will do whatever it takes to be outside! Haha! :laugh:
  • cwjett
    cwjett Posts: 189 Member
    i think the little trampoline would be fun! I bet my kids would love it, the only problem is having a place to keep it. I don't want a trampoline in my living room the whole time! LOL

    The gym I belong to doesn't even have a daycare so I can't even go there and bring them. my oldest is 12 but you can't go and work out until 14. you would think that they would want to encourage health and fitness at an early age by letting them come work out with me.
  • lina1131
    lina1131 Posts: 2,246 Member
    I am a full time working mom to a 18 month old. I workout during my lunch break at work. I come back sweating like a mofo, but I can close my office door and stink to myself. I just take a shower with my daughter when I get home and spend the evening with her!
  • BlackBeltLJ
    BlackBeltLJ Posts: 190
    I always go to Taekwondo on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I also go some Mondays (when I don't have GS) and Fridays if we are not on the road for Taekwondo tournaments. On Wed. and Friday I have my workout at school. On Tuesday and Thursday- my daughter cooks. I cook Wed. Sat and Sun. If my boys and hubby aren't happy with that- they need to cook. We swim in our own pool so that is family time exercise if we can get the boys off of the computer.
  • foxfire9372
    foxfire9372 Posts: 184 Member
    Have the little trampoline and when I fight my kids for it, it is great. I do 60sec drills and alternate with toning.
  • GemFB
    GemFB Posts: 104 Member
    I have a 4y/o and I think I'm relativley lucky...She BEGS me to take her to the gym and go swimming and play soccer! LOL...I love it. Plus my gym has free 2 hr time limit daycare so I can use it once in the morning hours and once at night. It's a nice gym and in 2 weeks it will be only 5 min away (A 20 min bike ride). I think more gyms should be single mom and kid friendly like mine. For all the single mums, invest in a gym like mine. THey make it easy as hell to work out! lol.
  • fynendandi1
    fynendandi1 Posts: 122 Member
    Well if you have morning duty...why doesn't your husband take evening duty on the days you want to go to the gym? He could cook and get the kids settled down and then when you get back you guys could sit down to dinner maybe a little later. I know it is hard enough to change your own habits let alone your whole families, but your happiness is going to bring life into your home just think how wonderful you will feel when you reach your goal!!!! If this is important to you you will find a way to work it out. I am a single mom with two young children and work full time, take advantage of the help your husband can give you, after all isn't that what he is there for?
    Just Do It:happy:
  • mrsyac2
    mrsyac2 Posts: 2,784 Member
    I am a fulltime worker with two little girls who are 6 and 3 and My husband is in the army deployed to Iraq right now so it is just me- I walk 2-3 times a day on my two breaks and my lunch for about 10 minutes each then I workout out at home while the girls eat dinner for 20-45 minutes on the elliptical that I bought or I use workout videos like yoga,pilates, or when I need a good butt whooping workout Taebo amped- I also take the girls and the dog out for a walk (well I walk they ride their bikes) for about an hour after dinner some nights.

    Just remember if you wait for Time it will never come you have to make Time for it.

    Good luck
  • ali106
    ali106 Posts: 3,754 Member
    I am a fulltime worker with two little girls who are 6 and 3 and My husband is in the army deployed to Iraq right now so it is just me- I walk 2-3 times a day on my two breaks and my lunch for about 10 minutes each then I workout out at home while the girls eat dinner for 20-45 minutes on the elliptical that I bought or I use workout videos like yoga,pilates, or when I need a good butt whooping workout Taebo amped- I also take the girls and the dog out for a walk (well I walk they ride their bikes) for about an hour after dinner some nights.

    Just remember if you wait for Time it will never come you have to make Time for it.

    Good luck

    amen!!!! great job!....:flowerforyou: (thanks to your hubby!(and you))
    hugs,
    Ali
  • In the mornings most times, but my running buddy and I go two days a week at 7pm
  • mhsrnmz
    mhsrnmz Posts: 86 Member
    Thank you all for your input and support. I have some ideas now about how to shake things up a little in my household - once again, the key is sacrafice on the mothers part!!!

    My kids are 7 and 5, so strollers are not an option and to boot now they are playing baseball twice a week (on different nights!) - so that is 4 days a week that they spend on the baseball fields from 5:30-7:30! Life is just so hectic!!!

    Where there is a will there is a way, right!?!?!?!
    I jog while my kids are at soccer practice, since you are at a park already....
  • Beccilynn
    Beccilynn Posts: 177
    I get off work at 5 / home at 530 , usually I will start dinner (like oven stuff) then go work out , I have a treadmill in my garage so I work out for 30 minutes then dinner is about ready !
  • i was reading what everyone was saying about going to the gym and as a full-time working mom with a very odd schedule and a four yr old the gym is just not an option. but i found as an alternative that we can both enjoy is going to the playground. it's been years since i've tried doing the monkeys bars and they really showed me how out of shape i was! just playing with my daughter was a real workout and there were plenty of other parents doing the same thing, you don't even realize your working out til l you feel it later and your kid will love the time you spend with them. just trying to help, hope you can find a happy balance!
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