Hey bro, we all go through this dilemma. Well, those of us with families and a need for the gym! I have 4 kids and a wife - and I try to hit the gym 4-5times per week. I don't think your family would hold it against you to take the personal time you need to get in shape and live a longer, healthier life. Here;s what I did/do:

1. Had an honest discussion with the wife about how much time i needed to be at the gym. She was very supportive and is keen to see me in shape.

2. Signed up for a personal trainer for 2 workouts a week. this motivates me to keep working out AND since I pay for it, I won't miss it! Also, the very real benefits of using a professional to guide my workout routines is very helpful.

3. I make special time for the kids. Instead of just "letting the day happen", I set up some specific activities on the weekends, around the workouts, and stick to the plan. I found it makes the time together seem a little more special - it's "our time" and since it's scheduled - nothing else gets in the way. Make sense?

Hope this helps! If you need to be at the gym to get in shape - do it! your family should be supportive and will understand an hour /day a few days per week. It's a great investment for your future!

//Sev

I work out most days in the morning when everyone else is asleep. I have a 24 hour gym 10 minutes from me and a trainer who will meet me at 6AM. I didn't usually see much of my wife & daughter's in the morning anyway so this works out well for me. I squeeze in afternoon or evening work outs when the kids are at their activities. My youngest has 2 hours of dance classes on Thursday nights. I drop her off and squeeze in an hour or 1.5 while she's doing her thing.

My daughters need to see by my example that health & fitness need to be a priority in our lives. One of the best lessons they can learn is that it takes an effort to eat right and it's important to make time for improving yourself.

Obesity has become an epidemic...and its a learned behavior.

Family = important , health = important. These things are not mutally exclusive. The fact that your considering the impact of one of the other shows you are not a selfish man. Cut yourelf some slack.

During the week I'm in the gym before work. I'm now more awake at the office than I have been in 15 years. I have to get my *kitten* out of bed a bit earlier but then its done. If you cant get out in the morning try lunch time. The weekend I bring the kids for a walk, well I walk/jog, they are on skates, bike and what ever the latest wheeled transport is. Its great fun, I get to spend some quality time with my two daughters while they still want to be seen with me. If we are all walking we get to have a good laugh and a chat. This is something that wouldnt happen normally as they tend to be planted in front of the TV. It also gives my fabulas wife a bit of me time too.

Well you are doing a good thing by trying to lose.. You are doing it for yourself and your family. Feel good about that and keep up the good work.
I am new to this site today after losing 15 lbs on weight watchers on line for a year. I started to gain and was talking to my neighbor and he told me about this site. So far I like it and cant beat the price. lol:laugh
pictue is a little dated 1966:huh:

With 5 kids age 2-17, and a wife, i know exactly what you are saying. These other guys have all made good points. I find that the only free time I have in the day is during my lunch break (and weekend mornings). Until recently my employer usually let me flex out long enough to get a decent work out. That said, i find i need to be a lot more flexible because work or family may get in the way of the good workout i really want it. I also try to include my family with my trips to the gym which is why i chose one with a pool and child care. For me, the key is understanding my priorities and getting back on the horse as soon as Im forced off.

My bigger challenge is trying to say no to my only daughter, age 10, whose heart breaks if I wont try her homemade baked goods and smiles if I eat a third cookie. My response is to deliberately hold back some calories for her surprises.

If you want add me as a friend.

I was just wondering if there were any other guys out there with the same problem as me.

When i do work out i am consistently struggling with myself feeling bad because i feel like i should be with my family. I love playing with my kids and being with my wife. When i am working out i almost feel like i am doing something i should not be doing. I miss my daughter all the time.

I don't really know how to explain it, does any one out there know what i mean. It may seem strange i guess but it is a concern of mine. Any advice would be helpful.


p.s.
And oh yeah, feel free to add me as a friend. I could use some encouragement sometimes to keep me going. Thanks.

I have found that I HAVE to workout in the mornings before going to work. Only thing that works with a family.

I am a husband and father of two kids and I work the typical 8-5 schedule. I struggled with this for awhile also since I absolutely love being around my family as much as possible. My solution:

M/W/F 5:30am-6:30am - Gym

T/TH - Jog during the evening with my wife/kids

It took me awhile to stop being lazy and get my *kitten* down to the gym in the mornings, glad I finally made it a habit!

I feel the same. Before my daughter was born i was working out close to 2 hrs a day. Doing all sorts of crazy workouts like P90X, Insanity whatever i thought would whip me in to shape. But since my daughter my fitness has gone downhill. I've been on fitness pal for 3 days now trying to get back on track. Doing a little nutrition tracking and get back in to a exercise routine. For now i am sticking with a quick 20 min workout that i can do with my wife, since we both have gained weight. I know i need to lose a good 30-40 lbs. Kinda ashamed - used to be able to do pull-ups.. Now I'd be lucky to get 2-3 reps.. argh it sucks.

Feel free to add me if your active on myfitness pal.

This a concern for me as well. Both my wife and I work full time. we have 2 children one gets on the bus at 7 the other 8:30. generally the older has after school activities that someone has to pick them up so that puts us home between 5 and 6. I leave for work as soon as I put the 7am son on the bus so I that I can be in a position to leave at 4 to get him on days when my wife works. I would honestly rather spend time with my wife an kids then anything else. BUT I want to get healthier as well. This is a struggle not just for me but for my wife as well. If we go to a gym then that's 1-2 hours out of the evening, if you get home at 6 plus 1-2 hours then your pushing 7-8, kids still need fed, home work and stuff before they go to bed. I know so many people are going to say "you have to take the personal time" but what do you do if you'd rather have your "personal time" with your family? if I take the "personal time" then I lose the family time and then that puts more pressure on my wife to do everything. Suggestions?

I second the ideas of working out at home and getting in your workout before eveyone gets up if this is possible.

I got used weights and a rack on Craigslist, and now workout in my garage before everyone gets up. This is my alone time, and I've really started to go from viewing this as something I have to do, to something I really like doing. To make this fit in my life, I've pretty much given up watching TV during the work week - I now go to bed soon after my kids!

I know this isn't an option for everyone, but it is working really well so far for me.

I have the same type of issue. 3 kids and a wife. The wife doesnt want me out every night. so i do 3 nights per week. any other time i get, whether its workout during lunch or if she takes the kids out or whatever, then that is a bonus.

at the moment its 1 night of karate and 2 nights per week of c25k, which is a 3 day a week program so i will obviously take longer to complete.