Busy Mom needs help with how to make it all happen

What you need to do is make time for you. Jillian Michaels dvd's 30 day shred ..level one takes 20 min. It's a start. When you have kids, you think, I am so busy with kids..but let me tell you, it never gets less expensive. Once your kids get school aged, join a martial art with them. That way you get to be with them, exercise and learn self defense.

You need to make time for yourself.
I work out in the mornings after breakfast, I put my 3m old in the swing or under a jungle gym toy and I work our when my 2 yr olds favorite TV show on because I know she won't leave the room. I sometimes sneak in another workout during nap times or when everyone else has gone to bed at night.

bumping so I can read later!

I am a Mom of three very active boys ages 11 - 15. In some ways it was definitely harder when they were small, because I can go for a walk or a run, and leave them at home. I also can have them come with and workout, too. But, my schedule wasn't as full then as it is now. I am very involved with their sports teams (team Mom); and do other volunteer work. I work full-time and then some.

I work out at lunch time most days. (Walk/ run near your office, if you have a shower available.) I am lucky that we do have a showers in our building, and a small exercise room that has a couple of treadmills, a couple of ellipticals, and a cycle. We did buy a treadmill to have at home, and have some free weights at home, too. Days that I don't workout at lunch, I use the high school weight room during my boys' wrestling practice time. Or, I use our treadmill at home before bed if I haven't gotten my time in.

Squats, lunges, wall sits, push-ups, crunches, steps (on your stairs, or a step up somewhere in your home) are all great things you can do several times a day, or try and carve out 20 - 25 minutes and create a circuit or two of 3 - 4 exercises each and do three sets of one or two circuits.

For me, I enjoy fitness classes, but don't have as much success with videos. However, they are great tools. (I find I am more embarrassed to do those by myself at home, than I am in a fitness class. The kids have friends around, etc.)

Just know that you are teaching by example. If you take them out on walks, they will learn to love to be outside. You would be surprised how many kids these days don't want to go out and play.

Good luck!!

I get up at 5:00 am. I first started out doing exercising 15 minutes in the morning. I have a Wii Fit but I also like the other sport games on it. If you can go to a second hand store or the local thrift store you will be surprised on how many exercise DVD you will find there as well as equipment (hand weights, bands and exercise ball) yoga mat. Most personal trainers will tell you it is the core that will keep you balanced. Try doing a plank every day. I started out I could only hold the plank position for less than a minute. Now I can do hold it for 5 minutes! It is the bay steps that lead to bigger and better steps. Just think of when you babies were learning to walk. They did not do it all at once. The first rocked on the hands and knees. Crawled then took their first steps. Now, I bet you cannot keep up with them... Make you goals manageable. I am going to walk in place for 5 minutes today. Then increase it each time. It may sound funny but all you got to do is move.

Diet is key. Keeping track on MFP is a must for me. Today I was hungry because I waited too long to have a snack. I thought about those peanut M & M’s but ended up with an apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter. So I really had to make a choice. If you want to be friends let me know.

Single mom who works 50-60 hours/week here. No dad in the picture, or family nearby. Here's my advice:

Tell the whole family that you want to make your body healthier, and that means there may be changes in what you will eat, what kinds of foods you can have around the house, and changes in what you will do--and that you want their help to keep you "honest" and on track (there is NOTHING more motivating than the support and encouragement I am getting from my son).

Do each one of these things until it becomes a habit, and then add the next thing on the list. It's hard to make big changes all at once.

1. Cook healthier meals--the whole family will benefit. It doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. You don't have to put everyone "on a diet," either. Check out some cookbooks from the library to get some ideas, or seach on-line (or in the forums here).

2. Practice portion control and stick to your MFP nutritional goals. Take a multi-vitamin to make sure you're getting it all in.

3. Add activity in your normal daily activities (park far away from the door, use the stairs, you know the drill).

4. Exercise. 20 minutes a day is good to start. There were lots of great ideas in the earlier posts for DVDs, improvised weights, craigslist fitness equipment). I started out with EA Sports Active for the wii (20 minutes/day), and burned about 200 cals/day. My kid either exercises with me, or runs around me cheering "go mommy!" You don't need a gym, or any special gadget or programs--you just need to move and sweat. If your income is limited, most Y's have scholarship/financial aid AND on-site childcare...if you really DO prefer to work out in the gym.