Finding the time to exercise.. Single Mum works Full time

I deal with the same thing but I get up at 4:45 to work out in the morning. I work at a CPA firm so this time of year I am working 50+ hours a week, and my son has school and extracurricular activities.

That is a super tough schedule. I'm not a single mom, but I do work quite long hours. I find that the only way I can fit exercise in is to do it before my children wake up. Having said that, I totally understand that you might not have the energy, but it's what works for me. I do DVD's at 5:00 a.m. in the basement , and I also go running at that hour. I actually have grown to love it...quiet me time. When I was a single mom a few years back--I would have a friend come over for a bit to watch them so I could go for a run. maybe twice a week...hope that helps.

Hi, I am single mom and I work also so I was hoping to respond. I have a fitness coworker at work so we have been walking daily and we just increased it to 2 miles per day. I also use fitness pal which is a big help. After reading your post I see that exercise during work is not an option for you. When my son was in Elementary School I would walk 2 miles per day once I put him on the bus, then go to work. Sometimes I would walk in the evening. Now that my son started Middle School and goes to school so much later, I started the walk at work during lunchtime. I have an excercise bike that I really use a lot for the evenings. I would love to join a gym but its too hard and expensive for me to work it into my schedule right now. I have also had my son to go walking, jogging, riding bikes with me also to incorporate more exercise.

Like all things it is possible to do it if you want to. You will need to find creative ways to increase exercise into your day. You may need to plan on 15 minute exercise breaks a day, or something like that inorder to be able to find a way. Good luck and encouragement. Marilyn

You're making excuses, you'll make time if you want it bad enough.

Wake up earlier, go to bed later, go for a walk or a hike with your son, while he's occupied doing something put in an exercise DVD, look on youtube for exercise videos (I found a lot that were only 10 minutes), dance...

I work full-time and am a single mom of 3 boys. I get up at 5am to workout. That's the only time that I can do it consistently because, as you know, evenings can get a little hectic and I just don't have the focus or energy for a workout in the evening. I workout 5-6 days/week.

Maybe you can find a workout DVD to do at home? Half of it in the morning, half of it later at night? Depending on the age of your child, maybe he/she can join in or even bounce around the room with you!

Good for you to try and keep activity in your life despite a hectic schedule. I hope you find something that works!

You're making excuses, you'll make time if you want it bad enough.

Wake up earlier, go to bed later, go for a walk or a hike with your son, while he's occupies doing something put in an exercise DVD, look on youtube for exercise videos (I found a lot that were only 10 minutes), dance...

I agree 100%! You'll find time if you really want it. Otherwise you'll find excuses!

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/07/26/priorities/

Truth.

I am a single mom with 3 kiddos, work and go to a university full time so I completely understand you. When our gym goes back to regular hours, I go at 5:30am or after they are asleep. Other times when I am not able to leave the house, when they go to sleep I use a workout dvd that I have. Not my favorite but it is at least doing something. Good luck!

I was a single mom of two so I understand how difficult it can be. Try finding exercises that your son can do with you like fitness games on gaming systems. I personally like the hula hoop and one of my co-workers has just started doing it with her daughter. I hoop at work twice a day for 15 to 20 minutes at a time while my co-workers have their smoke break. Remember that you will be setting a great example for your son by making exercise a priority.

I work full-time and am a single mom of 3 boys. I get up at 5am to workout. That's the only time that I can do it consistently because, as you know, evenings can get a little hectic and I just don't have the focus or energy for a workout in the evening. I workout 5-6 days/week.

I'm a single mom to two kids. I work 50+ a week, and my commute is about 1 hr per day.
I decided the best way (for me) to work out, is to incorporate my kids into it. We do taekwondo together, my daughters class is right before the class my son and I take together. It's not only been a GREAT workout, it also has been a great social experience, and it's much better than getting home and sitting on our butts watching TV every night
Also, if it's been a particularly stressful week, I'll go on Weds nights, and the Friday nights I don't have my kids.

This is an excellent idea!

I'm a single mom of 2, I work full time with on call support and I go to school full time. I have a house yard and animals that all need to get taken care of. I have set my priorities in order to take care of them and working out is part of it.

I workout whenever I can find time, walks at lunch, gym at lunch, commute to work by bike, 15 minutes session multiple times a day.

1 plan all my meals and cook on Sunday when I have more time. Then all week it just heat and server with salad on the side (pre cut veggies)

I record whatever shows I want to watch in the week and watch them on Sunday while doing laundry or cooking my meals.

You can do it, you just need to find a way to make it work for you. Be creative.

Either skip the TV time or workout while you watch TV I usually will put a workout video on my laptop and put that in front of the TV and do the video while I watch TV.

This!

I've done my one workout video enough times I have it memorized so I made myself a strength training prgoram that I do while watching TV, best part is, if I absolutely positively MUST stop mid-workout, I can and I can just pick it back up after a minute or two, not the end of the world. When I run on the treadmill in the morning, well, I am NOT stopping mid-workout unless it is an emergency!

Make a list of quick ways to burn 100 calories (i.e. 10 mins of jumping jacks)... then if all else fails you can just do something from the list and get some kind of workout in!