Finding it tough to work out with little ones

I get up and workout at 5:00 a.m. and leave for work from the gym. That way, in the evening, I have total free time to spend with my 4 year old. Also, I will either do a pilates DVD at home, or Zumba on the Wii and sometimes my kiddo will jump in. He thinks it's hilarious to mess with me while I'm doing pilates - then it becomes a 'game' to see how much I can actually get done.

It's called waking up at 4:00am, getting to the gym at 4:30/5 and coming home by 6.

Wake up earlier, you'll have more time then.

Wow, what a mixed bag of responses....

When my kids were younger (they're now 3 and 5) I used to make sure I walked somewhere pushing the double buggy, now my youngest is at nursery I've been doing the shred as soon as I get home from work or pick my eldest up from school. My little one often joins in and I give her 2 little toys to use as her weights. If like last night, I can't get the shred done, I do the Just Dance on the Wii for at least half an hour to make sure I get some exercise done. Its fun and its a really good calorie burner.

I think people can be harsh and pretty judgemental on here though, we're all different and have different commitments and needs...there's no way I could get up at a ridiculously early hour to do a workout, my body and brain just don't function at that time, plus sleep can be a precious thing when you have young kids!!

I fail to see where anyone was being judgemental?

The OP asked for advice on how to make it work - specifically asking what other people have done. Everyone posted their experience. How is that judgemental?

I have two little ones: a 3.5 year old and a 1.5 year old. My husband gets home late a lot, so the only thing I have found that works is getting up early. The kids usually wake up around 6.30 or 7.00, so my husband and I take turns getting up early to work out. I don't dare do a DVD, either in the morning or the evening, for fear of waking them up, so I just go outside and walk or bike. The other thing I try to do is to move more when I'm with the kids (e.g., biking places with them, walking even to places that are a bit further, etc.) I feel your pain...it's tough with little ones.

Good luck!

I have 2 kids about the same age and i taught my almost 3 year old sit ups and squats he thinks its the best thing ever... Not to mention its very funny and cute to watch a almost 3 year old do sit ups lol!! Try it out your kid will love " playing" with mommy!

I can relate as I am a sAHM to a 4 year old, 2 year old and 1 year old. I cant get up early because I need to nurse the baby before I can workout, so I have to work within the confines of that schedule. I wait until the 1 year old takes a nap and then I set the 2 and 4 year olds up with an activity (painting, play dough, blocks, etc.) or a movie. I ignore their requests while I am exercising. If they ask me for something, I say "Not now, Mommy is exercising." over and over and keep working out. They get it now an usually dont bother me. Sometimes they jump in and I justify the time "ignoring" them because I think it is super important for them to see me exercising. Obviously, this doesnt work with the one year old, so it is imperative I workout as soon as he goes down for his nap. Some days I can only do a 20-30 minute dvd and I just have to accept that. When it is nice out, I do suicide runs and "races" in the backyard w. them and take them out in the double stroller. If I feel up to it after they are all in bed, I will do a yoga or pilates workout as well. I tried joining a gym w. childcare when I had two kids and it was just too much for me. I do much better now that I just accept I have to workout at home whenever I can find the time.

I like to exercise with my daughter in the room. Shes 4 and lately she will just run around in circles and tell me shes exercising. It's funny. But she is learning that exercise is part of my life, and I hope she embraces it as part of hers.

I have a walking, very active 10 month old son, I do my HIIT in the morning while hes in his high chair eating breakfast for 30 mins. I take him to my workout room to play in his exosaucer for 30 mins while I lift weights later in the day. Then I do 30 min shred and 30 mins eliptical after he goes to bed at night. I know it would be more difficult with a 3 year old. But thats what I do, Good Luck with your goals!

Hey darling,

I'm a single mom working full time. Perhaps as noted in others replies go to a gym with a childcare. Here the Y has income based memberships.

I have an 8 month old, so it's a little easier...I can pop him in the stroller and he's pretty happy. We go mall walking(since its cold out!) or go to the park, now that it is starting to get warm. If your husband will watch him when he's home then you can work out then. I don't go to a gym, but I'll do Wii Fit or something. Sometimes my little guy will watch and he thinks my doing yoga is a hilarious. It's definitely a good idea to include your kiddos when you can because it sets a good example for them!

I work out with my little ones. My 5 yr old likes the kettlenetics cuz she likes to feel like she is strong and can hold something. So I got her a super lightweight kid kettlebell on amazon and I use my one and I just put a line of tape on the floor in the room and tell her so we both have lots of room just stay behind the tape and she works out with me and I have a little water bottle for her and if she gets tired she just stops and sits down and watches or lays down. And if she's busy doing something like playing dolls when her older sister gets home from school then I do dance workouts with my teenager cuz he likes dancing and will do that dance ones or the billy blanks ones also cuz he likes karate alot while the girls play dolls. My middle daughter keeps busy cuz she is in basketball and volleyball. But now and then she will do the Billy Blanks JR ones off youtube cuz she thinks he's funny. She especially likes the Country Cardio one. Or when it gets nice out just take them for a walk or jump roping with them or hula hooping is great also and something easy to do with kids.

I have seen Youtube videos of parents incorporating their children in their workouts. The kids are sitting on them while they're doing push ups, or the kids are being lifted by the parents as they squat. Your older one might get a kick out of that.

I haven't read the other responses, but is it possible to do it early morning before they wake up? I am also a SAHM and finding your own time is difficult. My son is in school now, but I have the same problem in the summer. I specifically searched for a gym with many child activities/care for that reason. Good luck!

I have an 11 year old, a 3 year old, and a 4 month old and I get up every morning at 530 to do a Jillian Michael's DVD before everyone in the house wakes up.

Swing, snatch, and press them like kettlebells.

Edit to say: And there you progress naturally. The "kettebells" get heavier with time.