exercise ahh!

As a young mother, you have to carve out time for yourself or you will end up even tireder and more overweight (been there, done that). IF you like doing TV workouts, you are going to have to make yourself commit to doing just 1 a week, then 2 a week, then 3 a week. You WILL feel more energized once you complete a workout; that I promise! With a 1 year old and a 2 year old, you should be able to place them in a playpen or crib, once they are fed and diapered, and leave them there long enough to work out. I encourage you to make time for yourself, because if you are healthier you will be a better parent and spouse because of your increased energy level and sense of well being. Please make time to do what is good for you! It will be good for your family too! Don't procrastinate or make excuses, just adopt the Nike slogan and "Just Do It"!

do you go to work or you a stay home mom? The only thing I can suggest is to find a way to incorporate some exercise in your daily routine. If you go to work maybe find a way to walk on your lunch break and if you stay at home put the kids in a stroller and go for a walk. I used to take my son to the mall to walk--part of it he would be in the stroller and I would try to brisk walk then and when he was out of the stroller we walked together. Maybe go up and down your steps at home several times here and there throughout the day, every little bit counts. And time to be the boss in your house and get that baby to bed before midnight!!! I can't imagine how stressful that must be. I have a 4 year old and a 3 month old, but they go to bed between 8 and 9 and sleep until 6 or 7. Also, sometimes when I am just not in the mood to exercise I make myself and within 5 minutes or so I get into the workout. Sometimes that energy creates more energy and I feel so much better afterwards. I hope you can figure something out, even if you can get in 10 minutes here and there it all adds up.

May God bless you and your little ones. Motherhood is so challenging. I would first look to see what you can do to get a little more sleep. Maybe for the one who goes to sleep at 7 you could try bathing him at 7 instead so that he/she goes to be at 8 and for the fighter, do what you can to establish a nice bedtime routine. Is she fighting it because she wants to be near you or because she isn't tired? If she wants to be near you it might be better to keep her near you...if she isn't tired maybe you could try waking her up earlier so that she naps earlier etc. If you could shave off an hour on each kids schedule that would give you 7 hours and that is an improvement.

Then I would look at ways of excercising with the kids. It is so hard to push them aside. So try something with them Put them in the stroller and go. or lift weights by lifting them... do push ups by tickling their bellies each time you come down, etc. Check out some DVD's from the library that are for baby and me.

This might not be the right advice for you but think out of the box and get creative. Instead of looking at what you can't do try looking at what you can do and know that every little bit counts.

D

Well I can honestly say this was always my problem. I let myself slide to the bottom of the pile always and ended up fat, unhealthy and unhappy. So my advice is to first work on getting those babies into a sleep routine, which is hard I know....I have 4 kids! But you'll be thankful after all the crying stops and they go to bed regularly. If that just doesn't happen, then yes I strongly agree that you need to make time for you. When you're husband gets home, take 20 or 30 minutes and go for a jog, a walk, a run, anything. As Bob Harper says on Biggest Loser, the best gym is right outside your front door and it's free. But it's very important that you make some time. You could also try working out to a dvd while they play. I hope this helps you out some! I know what you're going through though! :flowerforyou:

I have a 5 year old, 2 year old and a 6 month old and I take the stroller when i get the chance and walk down to my son school which is about a 2 min walk both ways. and they come with me but weather here isn't always kind but I eventually get my 2 year old to sleep and my 6 month old to sleep at the same time (don't ask how I do it it just happens) and me and my oldest sometimes go out and play catch for a while. This week we have plans that my neighbor watches my other two for about 45 min while I take my sons bike down to his school along with mine and we ride home. I might even take him up to the local convinence store up the street to get him a slushy and then ride back. I know its hard being a mom I wonder how I have any time at all I manage about on average 2 to 5 hours a sleep a day and i take naps. sometimes with the kids. And I work. But its managable. Got a stroller use it I do.