I'm not making excuses but I need help!

youre up at 5.
get up at 4.

This......it sucks balls, but on days that I know I'm going to be working both jobs and running my daughter around, I have to do it because NOT getting the run in is simply not an option for me.

"If it's important, you'll make time. If it's not, you'll make excuses."

(please don't think I'm being mean, I'm not....that's just a quote that REALLY helped me :happy: )

Sure, exercise is important, but not at the expense of sleep. No way. There are many, many studies and info out there on the importance of sleep and I never, ever do anything at the expense of sleep. (I'm a single mom too, but my life is much less hectic since I live in the Arctic.)

I'm getting a used Bowflex for weight training at home. Even a few minutes, here and there, of weight training is highly beneficial. According to a recent study (Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Sep 20) a few minutes of weight training may be more beneficial than 30 minutes of cardio.

Please mom, eat well, get your sleep, look after you and your kids, and then add in what you can. I think you are likely getting lots of exercise just doing your day to day stuff. :flowerforyou:

10p-4a is 6 hours of sleep

That's plenty for me...maybe not for the OP, was just offering an opinion and an expample of what I do.

Sorry, I didn't mean to belittle your opinion at all.

6 hours of sleep is inadequate for most people. Many people are going through life sleep deprived and have health problems as a result. I need 8-9 hours, and sometimes even more. A busy mom like the OP likely needs at least 8; however, she can determine that for herself. Personally, I hate mornings (especially during DST) and I get up earlier than I have to just to get some "me" time. When I get my Bowflex I will likely put in a few minutes in the morning, but there is no way I will reduce my sleep. An hour of cardio in the morning? Never.

getting up early is not an option for me! I need more than 6 hours of sleep...I'm way to busy not to rest. As for those saying I have extra time in the morning because I get up at 5 and don't get my son up til 6:30, well obviously you don't know how long it takes to shower, dry hair, straighten hair, do makeup and get dressed!

See, I'm also not what you'd call a "girly" girl. On a normal day I'm up at 6:30 and out the door by 6:50. (that's taking 5 minutes to check my e-mail and Facebook)

The 4am days are the days I work both jobs and don't have time to run after my "day" job, so it's not an every single day thing.

Shower the night before, *maybe* run a straightener through my hair and I don't wear make up.

I'm a single, busy mom, as well (choir, drama and night classes for the kid and I work 2 jobs) but I do have the added advantage of my daughter being a teenager. I don't wake her up or have any need to gather her things or make her lunches.

Your kids do not have to participate in all the activities they are doing. Especially at the expense of your health. If they want to continue to participate they need to help you. My children know that we belong to a family and everyone's responsible to do their part to help the family. We all pitch in. I stay home with my kids but, I also homeschool them which is a big responsibility and takes a lot of time. They are 10, 8 and 4 and I also babysit a five month old. My day is busy. They participate in dance classes, sewing classes, soccer, piano lessons and they help out at a horse farm once a week. They know that all of it can be taken away if they do not do their part in helping the family function. One of the biggest components of that is a strong healthy Mom. Both mentally and physically. Asking them to help you in the morning is not a lot to ask. I also think if you got up 15 minutes earlier and shaved another 15 minutes off your get ready time you could get in a good workout.

You are doing a good job. You obviously love your kids and sacrifice a lot for them. Congratulations on your weight loss. Working out makes you feel good. It releases great chemicals into your body that make you more alert and help relieve stress. I find I also sleep better when I workout. When your strength and endurance increase you become even more motivated to continue in your healthy eating. Keep up the good work and may you be blessed in your journey of health and motherhood.

I know how long that takes. It takes me about 30 minutes. Any my hair is long, so don't try that one on me. Maybe you could throw your hair up in some quick and easy up-dos on days you work out. I'll even find a link to some that I use all the time and they take about 3 minutes to complete if you really want. I'm really trying to figure out why you posted this if the only thing you're going to do is say why you can't work out? You're not the busiest person in the world. I'm going to keep saying it: there is always always always always time.

My wife takes 40 minutes to an hour to get ready for work and she doesn't wear makeup. If the person could do it faster...I'm sure they would. Just saying get ready faster is silly, because even if they did, there'd be a good claim to sleep later.

That's too bad. I'm sure shes really screwed when she wakes up late* and has to rush. I'm sure she really goes all out when that happens. Or does she find a way to go a little quicker? Knock it off people, you KNOW what you need to do if you want to make time for things. Just do it!!!

youre up at 5.
get up at 4.

This......it sucks balls, but on days that I know I'm going to be working both jobs and running my daughter around, I have to do it because NOT getting the run in is simply not an option for me.

"If it's important, you'll make time. If it's not, you'll make excuses."

(please don't think I'm being mean, I'm not....that's just a quote that REALLY helped me :happy: )

Sure, exercise is important, but not at the expense of sleep. No way. There are many, many studies and info out there on the importance of sleep and I never, ever do anything at the expense of sleep. (I'm a single mom too, but my life is much less hectic since I live in the Arctic.)

I'm getting a used Bowflex for weight training at home. Even a few minutes, here and there, of weight training is highly beneficial. According to a recent study (Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Sep 20) a few minutes of weight training may be more beneficial than 30 minutes of cardio.

Please mom, eat well, get your sleep, look after you and your kids, and then add in what you can. I think you are likely getting lots of exercise just doing your day to day stuff. :flowerforyou:

10p-4a is 6 hours of sleep

That's plenty for me...maybe not for the OP, was just offering an opinion and an expample of what I do.

Sorry, I didn't mean to belittle your opinion at all.

6 hours of sleep is inadequate for most people. Many people are going through life sleep deprived and have health problems as a result. I need 8-9 hours, and sometimes even more. A busy mom like the OP likely needs at least 8; however, she can determine that for herself. Personally, I hate mornings (especially during DST) and I get up earlier than I have to just to get some "me" time. When I get my Bowflex I will likely put in a few minutes in the morning, but there is no way I will reduce my sleep. An hour of cardio in the morning? Never.

getting up early is not an option for me! I need more than 6 hours of sleep...I'm way to busy not to rest. As for those saying I have extra time in the morning because I get up at 5 and don't get my son up til 6:30, well obviously you don't know how long it takes to shower, dry hair, straighten hair, do makeup and get dressed!

I don't do my hair or make-up and I never wear uncomfortable shoes. lol. I don't even shower every morning. lol I think our (southern) society puts too much importance on unnecessary things and I refuse to buy into it. It is always your own choice to do those things, in most cases (yes there are dress codes, but they usually don't dictate having to wear makeup, style your hair, or wear heels-there are comfortable dress shoes available). I would rather sleep longer than do cosmetic stuff; even if I knew how!

I don't think you should get up earlier to exercise, but I do think a bit of weight training could easily be added in somewhere. There are body weight exercises that require no equipment and the great thing about weight training is you don't need an hour to do it. Just a few minutes of pushing your body to the limits will give you great results.

Like I said before, I think you are probably getting lots of exercise in your daily life; it doesn't have to be cardio to burn calories and improve your health. Just playing with your kids IS real exercise.

EDIT: she clarified. Regardless, my thoughts are if you can shorten your wakeup schedule and you're already exhausted from all the stuff you do all day, sleep later. Find time to workout when you're already up.

Just remember: Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym....
Get your eating in check and the weight will come off.
Fit in exercise when & where you can.

Ok, I know a lot of you are going to say that I'm making excuse but I really do struggle with finding time to work out. I think I have the diet part down though. Here is my typical daily schedule. I have 3 kids btw, ages 6, 12, 13.

Up at 5 am to get ready for work
6am - wake up oldest son
6:30am - pack lunches for self and kids, gather sports uniforms for after school practices
6:55am - out the door
4:30pm - rush home to fix dinner
5:00pm - out the door to drop daughter off at cheerleading
5:30pm - pick oldest son up at soccer
6:00pm - back home to do homework with 6 year old
6:45pm - out the door to pick up daughter at cheer then off to Gymnastics
8Pm - shower the youngest and get him into bed
9pm - back out the door to pick up daughter from gymnastics
9:45pm - finally able to take work clothes and shoes off before passing out

I have no help with running my kids around or doing any of the household chores (dinner, homework, etc) so I'm busy.
I'm not complaining because this is my life that I chose to live so my kids are active and happy.
I'm just asking for some tips on exercises I can do quickly throughout the day. I'm aware that walking is good and I would do this on lunch break but in heels and where I work, that doesn't happen.

Thanks in advance.

What are you doing from 5-6? Does it take you 30 full minutes to pack the lunches?

youre up at 5.
get up at 4.

This......it sucks balls, but on days that I know I'm going to be working both jobs and running my daughter around, I have to do it because NOT getting the run in is simply not an option for me.

"If it's important, you'll make time. If it's not, you'll make excuses."

(please don't think I'm being mean, I'm not....that's just a quote that REALLY helped me :happy: )

Sure, exercise is important, but not at the expense of sleep. No way. There are many, many studies and info out there on the importance of sleep and I never, ever do anything at the expense of sleep. (I'm a single mom too, but my life is much less hectic since I live in the Arctic.)

I'm getting a used Bowflex for weight training at home. Even a few minutes, here and there, of weight training is highly beneficial. According to a recent study (Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Sep 20) a few minutes of weight training may be more beneficial than 30 minutes of cardio.

Please mom, eat well, get your sleep, look after you and your kids, and then add in what you can. I think you are likely getting lots of exercise just doing your day to day stuff. :flowerforyou:

10p-4a is 6 hours of sleep

That's plenty for me...maybe not for the OP, was just offering an opinion and an expample of what I do.

Sorry, I didn't mean to belittle your opinion at all.

6 hours of sleep is inadequate for most people. Many people are going through life sleep deprived and have health problems as a result. I need 8-9 hours, and sometimes even more. A busy mom like the OP likely needs at least 8; however, she can determine that for herself. Personally, I hate mornings (especially during DST) and I get up earlier than I have to just to get some "me" time. When I get my Bowflex I will likely put in a few minutes in the morning, but there is no way I will reduce my sleep. An hour of cardio in the morning? Never.

getting up early is not an option for me! I need more than 6 hours of sleep...I'm way to busy not to rest. As for those saying I have extra time in the morning because I get up at 5 and don't get my son up til 6:30, well obviously you don't know how long it takes to shower, dry hair, straighten hair, do makeup and get dressed!

I know how long that takes. It takes me about 30 minutes. Any my hair is long, so don't try that one on me. Maybe you could throw your hair up in some quick and easy up-dos on days you work out. I'll even find a link to some that I use all the time and they take about 3 minutes to complete if you really want. I'm really trying to figure out why you posted this if the only thing you're going to do is say why you can't work out? You're not the busiest person in the world. I'm just not convinced that you are serious about exercise because there is always always always always time.

"I know how long that takes. It takes me about 30 minutes. Any my hair is long, so don't try that one on me. " You don't have my hair or know what I do with it.
"I'm really trying to figure out why you posted this if the only thing you're going to do is say why you can't work out? " I came on here looking for advice on how to fit in 10 mins here and 10 mins there....NOT for someone like you to criticize how I do my hair or how long it takes me.

Every suggestion has been met with another reason why it can't be done. I'm over sugar coating things like this for people. I'm not criticizing how you do your hair, but I just know things can be made easier for yourself if you want to make the time. I offered to show you simple and quick up-dos but you didn't even address that. There have been some great suggestions about how you can fit in 10 mins here and 10 mins there, so try them and I hope they work for you. I know it comes off as criticism and I'm sorry you feel like I am being unsympathetic, but I used to make excuses, too. I know you can do it if you really wanted to, You've obviously made some changes with your diet, so do the same with your schedule and find the time. You're obviously a strong woman, so I know you're capable of doing something as simple as finding 20 minutes to exercise.

Do you have a desk job that doesn't see a lot of customers? If so, could you try to obtain a doctor's note that recommends you use a yoga ball instead of a chair? Lots of places don't allow it for professional reasons, but if you have a health-related excuse, exceptions might be able to be made.

If all else fails, get a pedometer. Every time you are waiting for something, pace back and forth. Waiting for something to cook in the kitchen? Pace. Waiting for your children to finish with their activity? Pace. Waiting for your kid to read something for their homework? Pace. It probably won't add up to more than 20 minutes of walking a day, but it's better than nothing.

Also, I used to do situps right before bed to help me sleep. Dunno why I stopped - it took me less than 5 minutes to do 100. It won't burn many calories on its own, but every little bit helps.

Well... it sounds like your day is very much like mine with working full time and being a full time parent as well. Here's what works for me... I get to the gym by 4:30am and work out until about 5:30am. They have showers, so I can either shower there when I'm done or shower at home before I wake the kids.

I also walk/jog while I'm at their practice. I walk 3 miles around the park where my son practices football or sometimes (I live in Phoenix) I hike up one of the beautiful desert mountains that are within a few miles of the park.

It took me some time to figure out how to find time for me... that is why I go to the gym before they wake up... I don't want to take time from them.

You can find the time... you just have to WANT IT!

Checkt his out - might help you quite a bit with food prep

http://onceamonthmom.com/