How do you fit a workout in?

kamakazeekim
kamakazeekim Posts: 1,183 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey everyone! I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to fit a workout in. I work full-time, in grad school full-time and a mother of an infant and a toddler. It seems like I don't have a single second to spare and when I do I can't find anyone to watch my kids for me :(

Is it ok to wait until 10:00 at night to try to workout or is that too hard on your ability to fall asleep after you're done?
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Replies

  • IsisRosa
    IsisRosa Posts: 57 Member
    Home DVDS. Or walk/run with the kids in a double stroller.
  • aaeros
    aaeros Posts: 157
    Typically I stop by the gym on my way home. But if I know I can't do that, I'll get up and hit the gym at 5:30am before work.
  • spotdog14
    spotdog14 Posts: 42
    I fit my workout in one of two ways during the day. I either wake up and hour earlier and do my run/strength training or I go at lunch during work. I usually eat while I am working and I get an hour lunch break so I take my actual lunch break and go running usually.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    If 10pm works for you then do it! Regarding the ability to fall asleep, with your daily schedule, I'd be amazed if you didn't come home and immediately pass out. I used to work out from 9-10pm and I would come home, zone out for 30 minutes, then fall asleep

    Try it and see if it works. Also as sierramoon says, there's a PLETHORA of workouts to do at home!
  • RunningMatt77
    RunningMatt77 Posts: 162 Member
    There s a saying-If you want something bad enough you will find the time. A 24 Hour gym is your best bet
  • dorkusmalorkus
    dorkusmalorkus Posts: 61
    a lot of gyms have centers where they watch kids for you. other than that dvds, i like the firm fitness dvds
  • oOMusicBabii
    oOMusicBabii Posts: 494
    DVDs, Netflix, Hulu...anywhere that you can find a workout video you like. Look for express workouts which are typically around 20 minutes a video.

    Look for Leslie Sansone's Start! Walking videos (I have the 1, 2 and 3 mile ones) they're short and give a decent workout which you can make harder if you need/want.
  • jazzedorange
    jazzedorange Posts: 184 Member
    I have kids and I workout during naps. 25 minute DVD workout session :) Otherwise at around 10 pm when all the kids are in bed I will jump on the stationary bike and watch a show/movie and ride for about 20-60 minutes!
  • poshcouture
    poshcouture Posts: 610
    I workout usually right when I get home. No questions asked...it's out of the work clothes right into the gym clothes. The second workout is generally my hardest since I have to meet my trainer at the bike path a couple hours later.
  • superpapa16
    superpapa16 Posts: 244 Member
    I'm a full time husband, father, worker, and student. It can be tough getting a workout in. I try a couple of things. On the weekends I try to get up before everyone and get a run in. During the week if my wife picks up our son I'll run or workout before they get home. Usually during the week though I'm so busy with kid and school I end up working out after everyone goes to bed. I never found falling asleep post workout & shower to be too difficult, at least not after the first week!
  • reyna99
    reyna99 Posts: 489 Member
    You don't fit it in, you make time for it! :)
    When I first started early mornings worked for me! Then I did stuff that incorporated the whole family, bike rides, walks to the park etc.. and then Home DVD's are great! My weightloss journey has been done from home!

    You'll have to play around and see what works for you, evening might be the way to go, just get it in! Hubs and I are now working out together in the evenings, even though I miss my AM workouts, it's been fine working out later on in the evenings and going to bed.
  • Angie__1MR
    Angie__1MR Posts: 388 Member
    I am a mother of 2 little ones, work full time, and go to school...I lift at 4 a.m., the gym is empty, and it doesn't interfere with my family time.
  • ShreddedTweet
    ShreddedTweet Posts: 1,326 Member
    Jillian Michaels' home DVDs, the 30-Day Shred only takes 20-ish minutes, do it when they're down for a nap! Anyone can find 20 minutes in a 24-hour day! *plus they really work*
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    Some days I get up at 4:00am and work out. Some days I work out as soon as I get home. When it gets cooler I'll start working out on my lunch hours (like that dude up there does).
  • tladame
    tladame Posts: 465 Member
    I also work full time and have a 3-year-old. I don't have time to go to a gym. I get up early while DH and DD are still sleeping (around 4:45 - 5:00am) and do a 25-minute workout DVD. Sometimes I go for a run. That's the only time I have to exercise!
  • Carolyn_79
    Carolyn_79 Posts: 935 Member
    Working out before bedtime makes me sleep like a baby. If 10pm is your free time then do it then.
  • bigphatcat
    bigphatcat Posts: 7,843 Member
    I work for 10 hours a day and travel 1 hour each way to work. I have two young boys and I usually do the cooking in the house. What I do is get up a little early in the morning and get about a 15 minute work out in. Most days at lunch time I try to get in a 15 minute walk at lunch. The rest of my work out happens after the kids go to bed after 9:00 - 10:00 PM...this could be another 15 -30 minutes depending on the day
  • skizzbot1
    skizzbot1 Posts: 2 Member
    I recently bought a recumbent exercise bike for my apartment. It makes it really easy to burn some calories while watching an episode or two of something on TV or off of Netflix. Was a fantastic purchase... well worth it.
  • waskier
    waskier Posts: 254 Member
    Wrong approach. The question is: How do you fit the rest of the day in? I do my workouts first thing in the morning, then I never have to worry about anything else getting in the way. I feel great all day and go to sleep much easier than working out at night. Like the others said, home workouts are great. Also think about a double stroller and take the kids with you. Do high intensity interval training and you can drastically reduce the amount of time you have to spend working out. Lots you can do, just don't make excuses.
  • ShreddedTweet
    ShreddedTweet Posts: 1,326 Member
    'Luxury!!! I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay the mill owner for permission to come to work'...and I STILL get my workout in!
  • McBully4
    McBully4 Posts: 1,270 Member
    I copied and pasted this from a similar thread, my answer is still the same.

    I make the time. It comes down to how bad you want to. I worked 50 hours a week, aced my architecture classes, made it to most of my wrestling training classes and lost 50 lbs. I was in the gym at 5am and not home until after 11pm most days but I made it happen.
  • jljewell
    jljewell Posts: 28 Member
    I'm a mom in grad school and working full time, and I get up early to do one workout (Zumba with the Playstation3 or go for my Couch to 5K program), and then a second workout late in the evening (30DS). I didn't think I had time, but I made it. Working out before bed has cured my insomnia!
  • LisaRep88
    LisaRep88 Posts: 20 Member
    I work out after I get my one-year old in bed for the night which is between 8 and 9p. I've been in this routine long enough to know that the later work outs do not keep me from falling asleep. They actually do the opposite! With a busy day of work, chasing my daughter when I get home, dinner, laundry, house cleaning and a work out, I fall asleep instantly! Choose whatever time works best for you - regardless of time. It's the only way you'll be able to stick with it! Good luck!
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    Lunch break at work. Jump rope and calisthenics. Booya!
  • CentralCaliCycling
    CentralCaliCycling Posts: 453 Member
    Hey everyone! I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to fit a workout in. I work full-time, in grad school full-time and a mother of an infant and a toddler. It seems like I don't have a single second to spare and when I do I can't find anyone to watch my kids for me :(

    Is it ok to wait until 10:00 at night to try to workout or is that too hard on your ability to fall asleep after you're done?

    Better to work out at 10 pm than to not work out at all, however sleep is an important aspect of keeping weight down if that is one of your goals and when you work out late your body usually doesn't want to sleep. I usually ride in the evenings and don't get back in the house until after 9 pm which leaves me wired for a good three hours after - perhaps with your schedule that would allow for studies after the work out?
  • ChapinaGrande
    ChapinaGrande Posts: 289 Member
    When my daughter was a baby, I would use her as a weight. That way I could exercise and involve her. I held her to my chest while doing situps or squats, pushed her in her stroller while power-walking, laid on the floor and held her in the air above me and lifted her (this was dangerous because she had acid reflux and was quite the puker)... when she was a toddler, she thought it was hilarious to ride me like a horse and that was quite a workout, too. I liked these methods because it was special quality time with her instead of leaving her with a sitter while I spent even more time away from her at the gym.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    You might just use DVDs/YouTube and catch in what time you can while the baby is sleeping. The toddler will be interested in what you are doing and will likely join in if there's fun music involved. Twenty minutes a day will make a difference. Also do the little things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, park farther away from the door, etc.
  • veerichie
    veerichie Posts: 214 Member
    I've been getting up 45min-1hour earlier every day to do DVDs.

    If nothing else, you could always take the little ones for a walk.
  • bethanp
    bethanp Posts: 72 Member
    On the Netflix note- there are some streaming workouts on there that are called "Ten Minute Solutions." I've tried the yoga one but I know there are others. The workout is broken into 5 different 10 minute segments so if you only have time for ten minutes now, then minutes later, you can break it up or you can do all 50 minutes as well. Either way moving>not moving so try blocking out time in your schedule when the kids are sleeping/napping or do your grad school reading while marching in place or on a treadmill if you can. :)
  • JenniBaby85
    JenniBaby85 Posts: 855 Member
    I am a SAHM, and part time artist *who is not making many sales*, so it is a lot different. But I try to include my kids in my work outs. I chase my toddler around a lot, dance like a lunatic with her, and carry my infant, sometimes at the same time as my toddler :tongue: . I will lay flat on my back with my legs bent, place the baby on her belly on my shins *and hold her back so she is safe* and lift my legs with her hanging on. She loves it! It also works my abs because I have to bend in such a way as to keep my hands on her back at all times to make sure she doesn't fall. I lift my kids like I lift my lids up and down too. When I use my aerobic step my toddler likes to watch and laugh at me :ohwell:.

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