Need inspiration from stay at home mothers

Carol_123
Carol_123 Posts: 69 Member
in Motivation and Support
What is your exercise routine with small children? I would love to hear how you incorporated regular exercise with your little ones.

I find it a real struggle exercising with my very spirited daughter who either objects to my keeping her upstairs where I have more room to exercise or who is trying to jump on me while exercising or competes for my attention. It feels like such a battle sometimes that I just procrastinate exercising. Then falls the other danger being a stay at home mom not on a specific schedule that I'll "do it later" and often don't except perhaps walking the dog or some housecleaning. I'm stuck in the rut in my head and would love to see how others fit in exercise so I'm not making excuses for myself.

I would love to be able to just exercise first thing in the morning and get it over with. The only way to do that I guess would be to exercise before everyone is up in the morning but I'm already tired and she wakes up easily once someone is up. I literally hold off using the bathroom if she is still sleeping because she'll wake up. Once she is up, she fusses to go downstairs. This is the time I'd like to use the elliptical or do a dvd but she'll have no part of staying upstairs. Then we go downstairs and once I sit on that couch with a coffee, I start dreading exercising. It's enough of a fuss to get her upstairs so I can shower. Exercising on the main floor means moving furniture around, picking up toys, etc. I just wish I could find some simple routine here. How do you do it?

And then add in being home with the fridge and a child that seems to eat 24/7. I was so thin when I worked full time!!! I need to hear how you all do it? I need some SAHM friends.

Replies

  • sds76
    sds76 Posts: 215 Member
    I just do it. When the weather was nice we did a lot of walks. I put my 2 younger kiddos in the wagon(because we walked a long way and they aren't too fast...lol), pulling a 90lb wagon for 4-6 miles is a pretty good workout.
    If I'm doing a video, I usually have a kid or 2 doing it along with me or on me but I figure a kid climbing on me while doing it is still doing it.
    I use the treadmill and the elliptical and put a tv show on for the kids or the youngest will sit in a chair right next to me and yell "go momma".
    I am one of those moms that put myself last(which I am fine with), it is just the way I am but when it comes to working out I know that it isn't only benefitting me but them as well. It's leading by example and getting and keeping me healthy :)
  • magj0y
    magj0y Posts: 1,911 Member
    How old is she? I would suggest fining a stay-at-home mom group in your area. Some of them will swap babysitting duties. perhaps you can find one?

    There is;
    letting her play with her "special toy" only when you're working out
    or a reward system of what to do after you work out. If she behaves it can be something she chooses. **Let her know what her choices can be and what your very boring choice will be. After a few times of your boring choices, she'll get it.
    so you'll work out, if she doesn't behave while you work out, you choose something seriously boring. If she behaves, it's fun.
    Maybe a movie at home for the two of you, or that obnoxious cartoon that you hate.
    packing up the stroller and hitting the indoor mall for some walking could also be beneficial.
  • Carol_123
    Carol_123 Posts: 69 Member
    Thanks for your reply and congrats on your weight loss!

    She is 3yrs old. I should mention I do have access to daycare sometimes to go the gym. I am just trying to figure out an at home routine with my daughter and am probably ultimately just struggling with the anxiety I feel of balancing her needs and making time for myself. It's a fight with her to exercise and sometimes the fight doesn't seem worth it and/or I tend to just put her first and not my exercising. She wants to walk now so is it fair for me to try to make her stay in the stroller so that I can exercise? You know, that kind of thing. I just thought it would help me to hear about everyone else's routine with their children to help get me through some of my issues around it and learn some handy tips in the process!

    I just know my track record. If I don't exercise in the morning, I just don't do it, outside of walk or some household stuff and I literally start almost stewing about "having to do it" later if that makes any sense.

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