Moms with small child(ren)...help me out!

I joined the gym with a kids club my little ones play and run off their energy while I run off my extra weight!

I got a baby gate lol I put my son in his room with every toy that I can find and let him go crazy for an hour while I workout. It has always worked for me.

ok i have a 4 year old lil girl so i can understand the stress. if you are working out at home if he is old enough have him do it with you or give him some activities within eye shot of to do while you work out. you have to figure out the time. it took me a long time to get out of my own way with this same issue but finally i found the hour i have that i have commited to me time. hang in there also what honeybea said is a great idea too, if its possible ^_^

Hello,

I do feel your pain. I have two girls aged 9 and 4 and they want (and deserve) a lot of attention. One of the benefits I have found is that when I do exercise I have far more patience and energy to give them better quality attention. Now, for me the scheduling does completely depend on what kind of day it is. Most days the girls want to try and do the videos with me so I just make sure I clear enough space and let them go at it. My four year old usually ends up getting distracted by something shiny and runs around but she is still close enough to me that I can see her. Sometimes if it's a big rush I make them dinner sit them down to eat and exercise then. Sometimes I will take them skating, public swimming or to walk to dogs in order to get some exercise in. I find just looking at your day and seeing what you can fit in but sticking with the fact that you must fit it in helps. Last night was really busy so I only did 20 mins, on the days when I can find a bit more I do 40. I also try to do things like squats, lunges, dips or whatever I can squeeze in while standing around making dinner; if you have a staircase to go up and down do that several times whenever you get a break.

I think it’s a great thing for your kids to see you exercising and putting effort into your health. It teaches them that it is important to take care of yourself and maintain a healthy lifestyle plus as a bonus makes you a happy more energetic mom.

Best of luck!

I have two boys 7 and 10 so they may be more self efficent then yours but I just make time.. I flat tell them mom is going to work out.. I am doing _____ whatever DVD it is and you can sit anf watch TV or play your game (video I know bad me) or workout with me. Sometimes i make the older one workout with me. Even if it is only thirty minutes I make time.. You have to not feel bad making time for yourself to get healthy... When they were younger I just kind of did it around them...

Find something they like to do with you that is exercing... walking, biking

I have a 2yr old and a 7month old. I have to do what I can when I can. Usually this means at 1130pm, when the kids are in bed I try to get in 20minutes of exercise before I go to sleep.

I wake up at 3:45 in the morning to workout while my 2.5-year-old is still asleep. It sucks, but it's the only time I've got.

This post is specifically for moms with small child(ren):

How do you stay motivated between working, cooking, cleaning, fussing, chasing, bathing, feeding, reading, playing, coloring,etc... and still workout? Had it not been for the pole fitness class I went to, I would have no exercise to speak of this week. I have my son on a schedule to go to bed at 8pm. But in about 2 minutes, here comes the pitter patter of little feet headed my way. I've tried to workout while he is awake, but that's when he wants to play and I'm scared I won't see him run behind or in front of me and I'll accidently kick him or something (a few close calls). Morning are impossible because I'm exhausted from trying to get him into bed. I really am one of those people who feel it's hard to function without 7 or more hours of sleep. Do I just suck it up and kick him in the head while working out or what?? (Just kidding). Real advice from real moms please. Thanks!

I have a 2 year old and a 10 year old. I make my son ride his bike next to me while I still little bit in the jogging stroller. BAM! Also, when I work out to DVD's (RI 30 right now) I give her a 2lb weight and she "works out" with me. I LOVE it!!!

I have a 5 and a 2 yr old, a night worker husband and i work fulltime.. I get up at 6am and work out while they are asleep. Recently they started waking up early too. I workout with them in the room . Sleep is a sacrifice for better health. and no workouts on the weekend. something to look forward to every week.

A portable DVD player was a lifesaver when my son was younger. I would put him in front of the Little Einsteins or something I taped for him and then I would have a DVD player plugged in same room. That way he would watch his show and I could still do some time with Jillian Michaels or Leslie Sansone depending on energy level. Plus, I was right with him and could watch what he was doing.

As he got older, we would do various Just Dance videos on the WII. Now that he is five, he is more interested in working out with me for a time period...then goes to his room and entertains himself. I think if they grow up knowing it is a part of your life, it is not so traumatic when you take the time for yourself. But I totally relate. Chasing kids is exercise in itself. Good luck!

I can feel your pain. I have a 3 and 1 year old. I also work full time and do the majority of the cleaning and cooking. I have started working out during my lunch break. I work across the street from a gym. I will admit i do not have time to shower after and i look a little flushed when i get back to work, but it is sooooo worth it to me to get the exercise out of the way before i get home to my family. It also helps me stay on track with eating at dinner since i feel accomplished from the lunchtime workout. Good Luck!!

I have two 1yr olds and a 6yr old. I'm a stay at home mom so I do my workout when the boys nap [they nap for 3-3.5hrs] whether have the energy or not I try to make myself knowing its my only timeframe unless I'm up late. If my daughter is home she joins in if I'm doing yoga, otherwise she amuses herself in her room or watches a movie on my bed while I'm on my treadmill. I do all my cleaning and cooking while the boys are awake, they love watching, and they've already learned to put their toys away from watching me do it soo much haha. In the evenings kids are in bed by 6-630 [my daughter watches a movie or plays quietly for a bit in her room until 8ish] so sometimes ill throw in a yoga dvd then or do another run. My bf has no problem watching kids if I wanna workout at a dif time but I can't get into it knowing I'm missing out on 'family time'. I'm due with another baby in a few months so I'm hoping ill find a new schedule that works or adapt all 3 kids to same nap routine.

I don't recall if you mentioned if you worked or stay at home mom and what age your child is, but there's always ways to work around a schedule you just have to force yourself to take advantage of that window.
Or like someone else mentioned get a gym membership that offers childcare, good socialization for your child and yourself also.

I wake up at 3:45 in the morning to workout while my 2.5-year-old is still asleep. It sucks, but it's the only time I've got.

Same here but not THAT early...LOL When I first started working out I would do just that, workout while my 2 year old and husband was sleeping. I'm so not a morning person, but that was the ONLY time I could find in my day to workout. My husband has to be at work at 7am now, so I had to regroup, because I was not going to stop working out. I get my butt up at 5:00am, get my little one ready and take her to daycare at 6:00am, go to the gym (which also has a childcare center), come home and get ready for work.

Try to find a gym with a childcare area. Or just suck it up and kick him. I've done it a few times. They are all three still alive and well :laugh: If those two options don't appeal, get up early. It's hard to make time with kids. If I didn't have my gym with their child watch, I would never workout. I am NOT a morning person! I dump them off and head to the gym or the class I'm taking. Love spinning!