Moms...looking for advice

You make time.... Being a father of 5 kids .. You can understand its just not the mom who is busy.


I get up at 4:30am and I am done by 6:30 and ready for what ever the day throws at me.

I have an 11 month old. I don't work out that much consistently, but I try and do a little something each day.

I do a squat/lunge/push up routine 3-4 times a week (with and without weights), and I have a pull up bar and a large weight I use for deadlifts. I do that about 1-2 times a week. For awhile, I was doing that in the mornings before work (around 5 am), but then my daughter started waking up at 4:45 a few weeks ago so that's usually out.

I do it in the evenings instead most times now when I tell my husband I am downstairs doing laundry. For the stuff without weights, sometimes I'll do it when I first get to my office, when no one is around. I have been going for bike rides around 7:30 or 8 in the evenings after the baby goes to sleep. Occasionally if she's napping during the day on weekends I'll hop on my treadmill but I usually don't because I hate running. I go for walks at work sometimes.

I also take my daughter for walks in the stroller but she doesn't like them much so we're never gone for more than a half hour. That's more recreational than functional.

Working out is honestly not as high on my priority list as it should be. It is hard to find time. My daughter is in daycare 50+ hours a week, so the last thing I want to do on evenings and weekends is leave her with someone else while I go workout. So my exercise time is pretty much limited to when she is asleep.

Do you have any weights? Kettlebells are a great workout although they can be a little expensive (although less than a monthly gym membership). Otherwise, squats, lunges and pushups are a great workout and they require no equipment. A pull up bar is around $20 and just hooks right onto the door- no installation necessary. Tricep dips can be done with just a chair. Dumbbells, like kettlebells, get a little expensive- especially if you have to keep buying progressively heavier ones- but you can buy just two different sizes to get started. No point in investing in a ton of equipment until you know you are going to use it.

both mine are in bed by 8pm usually so after that.

I have a 3.5 month old and I work out after he's gone to sleep. When I go back to work in April I plan to get up early and work out instead of staying up late.

I'm a mom of 6, including a 16 month old, a 4 yo, and a 5yo. If I can't work out alone, I let them exercise with me. Dancing, playing on the wii, or calisthenics are things that even the baby can join in on. We can make a game of jumping jacks, running in place, lunges, squats, planks, and pushups.

But honestly, I know it's harder with just one or two children, as they sometimes demand your full attention (or two of them fight for your attention.) With more children, the younger ones like to copy the older ones. Good luck!

I count the 10 years I spent as a SAHM as the hardest and best job I ever had. I would give Hubby a chance for one on one time with "Junior" in the evenings, or else exercise after the baby is in bed for the night. As he gets older, there are creative ways to exercise with him ...e.g. you go for a run with him riding a scooter alongside you...

I have a 17 month old, so I can appreciate how difficult it can be to get anything done with them around. It does get easier as they get older to do things while they are awake. When I work out at home I do it in the early morning, or while she is napping. If I am doing it (which rarely happens when she's awake) while she's awake, I try to get things around us that will entertain her - right now she loves playing with balls, so I went to the dollar store and got about 4 or 5 different sizes and she plays with them...she also loves cars...I can pretty much get most things done if she is occupied, so don't be afraid to try to find things that will interest your little one.

Also, maybe if you have any other mommy friends, you can arrange play dates so each of you can take turns watching the kiddos so the mommies can work out...Just a thought though.

I do a lot of walking with my two in the stroller (they are 10.5 months and 28 months), and I also workout at the gym 5-7 days a week. I consider my gym time to be my me time - the way my husband and I see it, I'm on duty the other 22.5 hours a day, and taking my gym time makes me a better mom, because I am refreshed and recharged. Maybe talk with your husband about allowing you alone time to workout at home?

I also wanted to add--*something* is better than *nothing*. If you can only squeeze in 15 minutes of jumping jacks and pushups, that beats skipping it! You would be amazed at what only 15 minutes of activity a day can do for you, provided you put a lot of intensity into that 15 minutes.

I have a 15 month old who is very demanding. I was trying to get it all done during her nap but there are times she only naps for 40 minutes and that's not enough time. The last couple of days I've been getting up at 6am so I can do it before she wakes up at 8. I'm not a morning person AT ALL but I'm really serious about making this change. I find it's easier then because I'm not worried about her waking up. I also will do some walking in place or something similar while she's eating breakfast or lunch. Like others have said, anything you can do helps.

I am no longer a SAHM but I am now a working mom. I feel like there is little time to do anything, so after the kids go to bed my husband and I work out. I do Jillian Michaels body revolution...she switches it up every day and then every 2 weeks so its never boring and it ONLY 30 minutes a day

i have two kids, 5 and 2, and I work out after they go to bed. Luckily they are in bed by 7:30, so I usually lift weights in my basement, or if it is nice out, run outside. I am in the same boat, I live in Maine, and pretty soon it is going to be cold and dark by the time I get home from work. Not looking forward to it!

I'm an early morning work out person... I work out at 6am. I go to the gym while my husband is getting ready for work so he's still home with the (sleeping, of course) kids and I have time to shower, etc before he goes to work. Some mornings it sucks to drag myself out of bed but it's done for the day, first thing, and I don't have to plan/think about it. I'm lucky enough to live somewhere that we can be outside all year.... it gets a little cold here some days in the "winter" but not really. I do take the kids to the park/on walks a lot but my morning gym time is MY time. I completely agree with the poster who said make time now and reserve your time!

So many great ideas! I just wanted to chime in my experience...

I am temporarily living with my inlaws' 2BR apt with my two boys (4yr & 18mo) while my husband is away for work. I'm taking advantage of their fitness center almost every night after the kids go to sleep. The in-laws hardly ever leave the apartment, so that works to my advantage. It's kind of like having the equipment at home... I love the escape, but sometimes the workout goes until 11:00pm or later - and I AM a morning person, but mornings are too unpredictable and the folks like to sleep in as much as possible.

You really have to sqeeze it in whenever possible. Stay motivated. A little is better than nothing. Keep a close eye on your intake and just make sure your output exceeds it.

You can do it mama!