Full time parents - how do you exercise?!?!

My kids are older now, but I can remember those days. I used to put the kids in my double stroller and go for a long walk. I'd give them a snack and drink and a couple of little toys to keep them occupied. If they were good, we'd stop by the playground afterwards. They loved getting outside.

I feel you, I have two little girls ages 5 & 6 and it took awhile for me to finally find the time. (I think I may have also used it as an excuse not to workout)

I live 3 hours away from all my friends & family, so I dont have help and I also work a 8-5pm full time job. What helped me initially was working out during my lunch breaks. I have a full hour, but you can do it in 30 minutes as well. I would walk / jog / or bring in a video and sit in one of the empty offices.

This year I found a gym that provides child care, so now after work I just bring the girls to the gym with me. Which has made life alot easier. lol

Hey! It is tough, but you have to make time! Get up a 1/2 hour to an hour earlier (that's what I do). Go for walks...push her in the stroller....stay up later. Lunch break? Babysitter? Gym with daycare?

Good luck!

Have you tried putting her in a pushchair and going for a run/walk?

As far as the shower goes, my 4yr old still wants a shower/bath whenever I or my OH has one. If I'm having a shower I make my 4 yr old undress and let him get in with me (this also means I have time to dry and dress myself while he is entertained)

I guess I would say to try to broaden your definition of exercise. If you can, try to get outside with her and get moving --- take a walk, go to the park and run around (you can chase her --- my almost 2 year old used to love that), or dance together. Or maybe try to find another mom and switch off your kids --- go to one person's house/apartment, and one of you watches both kids while the other works out, and then vice versa. If you have the resources and will, you could try joining the Y or some other gym and make use of their child care --- many places have somewhere that you can drop your child off for an hour while you work out (and, bonus, shower alone!!) But I know that may not be possible financially.

It is really hard to to ANYTHING when they are that age, so I know it is a challenge. I didn't really work out when my were that age, but now with work and dinner it is still hard to fit in time. The most I could do when they were little was as meglet175 suggested: go on long walks. when they think they are too big for the stroller, a wagon is a fun way to haul them along and adds a little extra workout too.

Now I get up really early and excercise before I have to get the rest of the house up. I get up at 4:15 a.m. and must be finished by 5:15 to wake up my son and get his breakfast, then I take my shower while he is eating and get out in time to wake up my daughter (he is in Middle School and she Elementary so their start times are different).

Is it possible to go to a gym early in the morning, or at another time of day, where there have a kids club to watch your little ones for an hour? My kids are older now, but I do remember the challenges of working out when they were much smaller. I feel for you.

I've had the same problem. What I find helps is either to join a gym with childcare available and/or get your exercise in with something they can join you with. Walks and bike rides are a great option. My personal favorite is playing Just Dance or getting them involved in some kind of sport and coaching them so you're being active while spending time with them.

If you really want to find time, you will. I do it late at night. Am I more tired in the morning, yep, but it's worth it. I have been managing to exercise 6 days a week and I work full time, my husband works full time and goes to school nights and weekends and we have newborn twins and a 3 year old. Find yourself the time to do it. You deserve it!!

Ahh, the joys of parenting! I, too struggle to find time to exercise. I have a two year old AND an 8 month old!! Love them to death, but it is very difficult to keep both of them entertained long enough to get a work out in. I work 8 hours a day, so I passed on the gym membership to stay home and exercise, so I invested in a treadmill. My 2 YR old thinks its a toy conveyor belt for his cars and spiderman figurine!! (I have stepped on his toys while running...not fun!) Sometimes he wants to get on the treadmill also and it ends in a crying session. Then ,my little one is tired or hungry so sometimes I have to stop altogether and cut my workout short. Fortunately, I have an amazing partner who helps with keeping them busy while I TRY to at least get a half hour in, 4 days a week. Do you have any family members that could help? (Sig. other, Sisters, Cousins, Mother?) Try using her as a "weight" and she'll think it's a fun game that you lift her up and down. (That actually burns some calories.) You say she goes to sleep after you, (my 2 yr old does that sometimes also) what time exactly? Maybe you can start her on a new routine where she is falling asleep before you, then you can get your work out in after she's down for the night. Good luck, I certainly know what you are going through!!