busy mom>>new to exercise>>>want to start again

No time huh? Tell that to the girl who woke up at 4am to get in a workout.

Oh, and something else to consider is checking out the other threads on this board. After closing your question, I noticed there are a lot of different challenges going on. There is also someone saying, "I am starting XXXXXX program on Monday, who is with me?" You get the program and then you have a group to be accountable to.

agreed you need to make the time to exercise ... if you really want to you will find the time .. home dvd's are great for exercising around times that suit you. Personally im better in a gym but its what ever works for you

I am in a similar position. I have to literally put exercise into my schedule. When I just started re-exercising again I only booked in 10 minutes at a time! I picked 10 exercises and did those for 1 minute each. Such as lunges, crunches, Squats, pushups, planks, if I couldn't complete the entire minute I would come back to that exercise at the end and finish the 20 seconds or whatever.

Make the commitment and then make it work

Walk at lunch time. Walking is great exercise. Although it may not burn as many calories as a fitness DVD type workout, at least you are doing exercise. Even if you can only fit in 20 minutes a day, during your lunch, it's still a start! Once you get started, exercise will become more of a priority in your daily schedule. Maybe even get the kids involved. Do a daily dance party where they can jump and dance and sing along with you! Don't underestimate fitting in 10 minutes here and there all through the day.

Hi,
I am in the same position as you, single Mum of two young boys and working. I get up at 6am and do Jillian Michaels DVD, also bought a cheap treadmill from ebay which I use when the kids are settled infront of TV after homework time...
It's not easy but every little helps and all that cleaning, cooking ironing etc adds extra cals to eat back...
Jules xx

Two words: Shake Weight.

I hear you. I am a busy mom of 4 kids and I feel the same way. I used to work out in the morning but that was when I had only 2 kids. Now when I wake up its dark and I don't want to get out of bed. So what has been working for me is I start getting the kids in bed by 7:30 so that they are actually in bed by latest 8:30pm. However, one of my daughters doesn't go to sleep she just watches me work out and when I do push ups she gets on my back and makes it difficult for me to continue but I continue. So I give her a little time to giggle and play with her then she falls asleep. I continue. I continue until I am done which is sometimes until 10:30pm. I sleep like a baby.

That's how I do it. Try it.

Oopps forgot to add I don't go to the gym and I just buy DVD's and do them from home. You can always rewind and forward any time you want.

I get up at 5 am before everyone else. I currently use Insanity, the only thing required is a DVD player and your own body weight. It is awesome and produces results if you follow it. My husband and I have both lost over 25 pounds each in the last 3 months doing this. It is awesome and challenging but worth every drop of sweat and dollar for the system. Good luck, I always say if you want something "BAD ENOUGH" you will make time!

I am also I busy, working full time, mom to two young kids 3 and 5. (girls for me). Most moms my age (I'm 42) have older kids that are more self sufficient so it's sometimes hard to find understanding and/or empathy when I talk about how BUSY I am and how hard it is to get my workouts in and take care of myself while trying to keep my house and family in order and still spend quality time with my family.

Being older (and short, I'm 5'3") also doesn't help the weight loss as we all know our metabolisms naturally slow down...

I've been at this a year and a half. The first 8 months were the hardest in terms of figuring out my routine and sticking to it. I'd be really good for a few weeks and then something would happen either at work or with the family and I'd get thrown totally out of whack and it would all go to hell. Once I'd fall off the wagon it would take me weeks to rally myself to get back on. At the end of the holiday season last year I had finally decided I was done with the on again off again pattern and COMMITTED myself to being here and doing it right EVERY DAY. This week I am at 320 day logged.

As for working out. Realistically, the only way I can do it is to get up extra early and get the workout in before I have to get my kids up and ready to go. This means my alarm goes off at 5:00 am everyday (sometimes earlier depending on my schedule). I do a lot of workout videos. I like Jillian Michaels videos because they are quick (20-30 minutes) and challenging enough that I feel like I got a good workout. I also started running. There is no better way to get a good calorie burn for the time investment. I started from scratch - I had never been a runner before - in July of last year. I took it slow and alternated between walking and running cutting down on the walking and upping the running time each week. Eventually got to where I could run 10 minutes straight, then 20 and then 30. Signed up for my first 5K in August of last year and have not looked back. I've run 3 1/2 marathons and several 5K and 10K races.

Honestly, it's the races that keep me motivated. If I did not have a date/distance looming there are mornings I just wouldn't do it. I have a treadmill in my basement for rainy days but I sincerely HATE it and will run outside whenever I can. It was 20 degrees F on Wednesday and I got myself out there. I'll even run in the rain if it isn't pouring. Also, it is dark at 5:00 am but I go out anyway. I have a head-light and I strap it on and head out the door.

It can be done... but it's not easy and I know that. Feel free to send me a friend request... I'd love to help support you and cheer you through the process... and you can do the same for me. Even though I've been doing it for a year... it's still not easy.

:flowerforyou:

Also a working mom with 2 little kids. I get up early and run 2-3 weekday mornings while everyone else is still asleep (including husband). I also go to the gym 2-3 days after work but before getting kids. On weekends I either run or do a workout video at home while the little one is napping (older child either joins me or watches shows on the iPad). Before I started running, I was doing workout dvds at night after the kids went to sleep. I am definitely not a morning person, but now that it gets light earlier it is easier for me to get up and run. It always seems impossible until you really try to schedule in what works for you and for your family. I am happy to say that I work out 5-6 days a week and don't feel that my time with my family has been compromised, which is extremely important to me.

I'm a single mum of 2 girls and work full time. I get up at 6am Mon - Fri to do either a Jillian Micheals or Jackie Warner DVD, then I cycle to work. It is hard at first to get up but you really do get used to it! It's never a problem for me now - I just go to bed a bit earlier!

Jillian Michaels 30 day shred is on you tube. Really good quality and only 27 mins.