Suggestions for exercising when no time?

wendygjc
wendygjc Posts: 45 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all, I am looking for some advice and suggestions on trying to fit in exercise. I work 40 hrs a week and am a single mom with a child that does extra curricular activites, have a home to take care of and a garden now... I get up at 4:30 a few days a week to go to gym or do a class, but I am not getting enough exercise to lose weight>?

Any ideas are appreciated!
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Replies

  • tycamsdad
    tycamsdad Posts: 126 Member
    When you child is in extra-curricular activities, take that time to go for a walk or run.

    Make an appointment in your phone, little black book, etc. to exercise for 30 minutes each day.

    Find an exercise friend that will keep you on task and motivate you to get out there when you don't feel like it.

    You can take your child to the park or a long walk or bike ride.
  • GnomeLove
    GnomeLove Posts: 379
    What about when your kid goes to bed? Do you have a treadmill or something? If not, you can sometimes get home exercise equipment cheap on craigslist.
  • wendygjc
    wendygjc Posts: 45 Member
    Thanks
  • fitbum19
    fitbum19 Posts: 198 Member
    Beachbody (makers of P90X) just released a new program called Focus T25 that i wanna check out. 25 minutes per day is all you need!!
  • judesmagudes
    judesmagudes Posts: 12
    I have committed to doing jumping jacks, pushups and situps every day. It is quick, easy to do at home and hardly takes any time. The jumping jacks (or jumping in place like you are jumping rope) can really get your heart rate up. If you do that in intervals you can get a good workout in. I sometimes squeeze them in before bed or right after I wake up. I also sometimes do them in the kitchen while I wait for the food to cook.

    Good luck!
  • Kr1ptonite
    Kr1ptonite Posts: 789 Member
    Whats your diet like?. Are you eating right in order to loose weight as well. You could invest in a treadmill for home. And do that in the early morning the time saved from having to travel to gym might help with your time shortage.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Weight loss is about diet, not exercise. Make sure that's in check.

    But to your question...
    My suggestion: make time.
  • LunaMischief
    LunaMischief Posts: 166 Member
    Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred program is only 30 mins a day. I do it in the morning before getting ready for work.
  • wendygjc
    wendygjc Posts: 45 Member
    Thank You, I do have a treadmill and I guess I never thought I could do that instead of the gym some days..
  • happy2mamma
    happy2mamma Posts: 14 Member
    i found these great 10 minute exercise videos on demand that i can sneak in & if i have time, i can do more than 1, if my time is short, I don't feel bad for 'cutting' it short, because i was able to complete it :)
  • Abells
    Abells Posts: 756 Member
    to lose weight you need to eat in a defecit....change your diet and watch the pounds fall off. you don't need to exercise necessarily. Go for a walk with child if needed
  • wendygjc
    wendygjc Posts: 45 Member
    How intense is this? I am a little new to exercising, wonder if I can do it?
  • sammiesmama73
    sammiesmama73 Posts: 14 Member
    if you wake up that early to go to the gym, save time and do a workout dvd at home then take a walk/run around the neighborhood. The time it takes you to get ready and drive to the gym could be time spent exercising at home. I also do laps around the store or parking lot when I go shopping.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Weight loss is at least 80% diet ....but exercise helps. Exercise is about how your body will look (and feel) after the extra weight is gone.

    Can you walk during your lunch hour? Nothing too strenuous (or sweaty) ... I keep baby wipes & deodorant in my desk. It's a nice break to get out & listen to my MP3 player (or audio book).

    When I can't walk outdoors .... I keep a "walking" DVD in my desk drawer. Walk at Home is the brand .... here's a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjduJjO1pLg&feature=related

    You can do these with the sound muted .... so they work after the kids have gone to bed .... or while watching the evening news ... no choreography to follow..... I set up a laptop by the TV and just "follow along" while the TV is on.
  • mbelle97
    mbelle97 Posts: 37 Member
    As soon as the kids are in bed, I clean up from dinner and clean the living room (my workout room).
    I try to maximize my time. I usually do some type of HIIT video for roughly 20-30 minutes. The goal is to burn as many calories and work a variety of muscles in the shortest period of time. If I have extra time on a weekend I will do a longer workout or take a good brisk walk with the kids.
  • NYCDutchess
    NYCDutchess Posts: 622 Member
    I feel your pain. And honestly finding the energy is really difficult for me too.

    I like some of the suggestions here. I'm going to committ to doing the jump rope, sit ups and squats daily until my trip next week.

    The 30 minute work out videos are good too, but honestly I like the idea of just doing impromptu workouts.

    Do try to eat the best you can though, seriously don't eat the white carbs, you'll feel better within a week (less puffy)
  • Iron_Lotus
    Iron_Lotus Posts: 2,295 Member
    Weight loss is about diet, not exercise. Make sure that's in check.

    But to your question...
    My suggestion: make time.




    This
  • ValMartin79
    ValMartin79 Posts: 65 Member
    Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred program is only 30 mins a day. I do it in the morning before getting ready for work.

    ^^This. It take about 20 minutes a day. Cardio, weight, abs all combined.
  • rumplesnat
    rumplesnat Posts: 372
    if you wake up that early to go to the gym, save time and do a workout dvd at home then take a walk/run around the neighborhood. The time it takes you to get ready and drive to the gym could be time spent exercising at home. I also do laps around the store or parking lot when I go shopping.

    ^^^This!

    Also, make it a priority, just like doing household chores and things you are required to do every day. Don't make it an option or something that will be the first thing to get cut from your daily schedule if on a time constraint. You're worth it!
  • Andrea681
    Andrea681 Posts: 178 Member
    Take your kid with you. My mom was a single parent of three kids and every day after school/work she would have us grab our roller blades or our bikes and we would go blading or bike riding while my mom ran. We have a 6 mile waterfront stretch in our town and she always made it work for her. You can make this work.. just be creative. Maybe some workout dvds would be easier for you too. Your kids can do them with you, or you can set them up with a movie or a book while you do your DVD. Be creative.
  • tryshaantonelli
    tryshaantonelli Posts: 41 Member
    Dance in your chair at the office. I do chair zumba!
  • noKTdidnt
    noKTdidnt Posts: 61 Member
    Look for the JNL exercise on bodybuilding.com - She has a couple of exercises MADE for busy moms. And seeing her before and afters are really inspiring! Some of my mom friends wake up early to get in their exercise. Some wait until the kids are in bed. Find what works for you! Try it out for about 2-3 weeks before deciding if it works.

    Good luck!
  • Leigh_b
    Leigh_b Posts: 576 Member
    I'm a working mom in a similar postition... work full time and my husband travels for a living so I am often on my own with the kids (2 girls 3 and 6) so my evenings are usually filled with getting dinner put together, baths, etc. not to mention trying to find time to do the laundry, clean the house, etc.

    It's been suggested a few times here, but Jillian Michael's videos are very good for time starved moms like us. Because they are only half an hour it is not impossible to fit them in your schedule in the morning before your day begins... of course, that means having to get up early, but it sounds like that is something you are willing to do.

    Also, as a way to really burn calories in a short window of time, I took up running. It was hard and horrible when I started but I took it VERY slow at first but stuck with it. Now I have come to really LOVE running and have completed quite a few races (including 5 half marathons) in the past year and a half.

    Take a look at my profile and add me as a friend if you think we are a good match. I am here every day and am happy to be a source of motivation and support... I would not be where I am now without my MFP mom friends!
  • RobynLB83
    RobynLB83 Posts: 626 Member
    What extracurricular activities do your kids do? For example, can you run laps in the park while they are playing soccer? Can you help coach and run around with the kids a bit? I've heard of people keeping running shoes in the car so they could get in a mile if an extra 10 minutes pops up in their day. You can throw in a jump rope. If you're waiting to pick the kids up at school, pop out and jump rope for that 5 minutes.

    Can you throw on some ankle weights or wrist weights while you do house chores and incorporate some extra leg or arm lifting?

    Can you park farther away at the office and take the stairs? Can you walk on your lunch break? Take a 15 and jump rope or walk up and down the stairs.

    You might have to get over looking silly, but whatever, no one should be that serious anyways.

    Is there anything in your life that you are doing that you could do less of? Less hours at work? Less hours taking care of the house or gardening? Sometimes you don't need what you think you need, you don't need to "do it all," but you do need to take care of yourself.
  • janalayn
    janalayn Posts: 510 Member
    At work my friends and I hula hoop during our breaks, we get in 30 to 40 minutes of hooping a day.
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    most people who say they have no time watch some tv. if you watch any tv at all drop those programs and exercise instead.
  • TinaBean007
    TinaBean007 Posts: 273 Member
    Jump rope! (There are awesome programs online/youtube and they will kick your butt)
  • frankyk89
    frankyk89 Posts: 173 Member
    i am also a single mom of two who are in almost every sport and i also work 40 hours a week. I am not one to get up early! so after work i will do either HIIT or tabata training, seriously they take 20 to 30 minutes. Just Google them and you can find plenty of workouts to do at home. I run two days a week, I do C25K but i only do weeks 1 and 2 just because i like the interval running and i have no desire to run 3 miles staight. I try and run Sunday mornings and one day during the week. This week I ran on Wednesday and didn't start until after 9 pm because of my daughters softball game. i also lift weights at home 2/3 days a week (Stronglifts 5x5 - app on my phone) this doesn't take long either. I also walk at work 2 or 3 times per day; at break and lunch. Basically what it boils down to is how bad you want it... if you want it bad enough you WILL find time. Good luck, you can do it!! :smile:
  • michellechawner
    michellechawner Posts: 892
    You make time. If it's important, you will make the time.

    I try and do walks on my lunch break though.

    Also, depending on what you do for work - I work at a telephone company and when I receive the shipments I carry the boxes to the warehouse instead of letting the techs do it - gives me some extra calories burned and muscle building!

    I also dance when I clean the house. Anything to get the heart rate up!
  • JenK71379
    JenK71379 Posts: 8 Member
    Park further away from the Mall entrance, grocery store and or work, take the steps instead of the elevator or escalator, make more trips up and down the steps at home. Walk on your lunch break.

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