People with kids-when do you exercise and for how long?

@ 5 am in the morning.

My answer: Whenever I can.

I bought a double and single running stroller (some days I have both kids, some days I have one) and I started jogging with them. I also bought Jillian Michaels DVDs and do those before the kids wake up, or after they go to sleep. On weekends, I can get workouts in during nap time. Doing the JM DVDs helped me recognize that circuit training is good for me because I can burn more calories in a shorter length of time than I can otherwise.

For times when I work out when the kids are around/awake, I've bought "play weights" so they can "work out" with me...but I usually try to find a time when they're asleep. I'm an attorney and often spend at least 10 hours a day at work. I arise around 6:00am and go to sleep around midnight. I occasionally find myself getting a workout in after 11:00pm...but whatever it takes, right?

Whatever you do, good luck to you!

ETA: I also have a big bag of sporting goods and some days, we'll just go to a park or local high school and "play sports" for an hour. My HRM helps me track those workouts just fine.

I work out at lunch time or after bedtime if I don't have help. With help I can work out during bath time.

Maybe carpe the 30 mins of overlap your husband has with your child being awake.

I don't work, I'm a SAHM but my husband does a lot of overtime too and I'm not really able to get out. I just do what I can when I can. While the kids are playing, eating or napping. Short but intense exercise videos are my firend. I'm a big fan of you tube, personally. the BeFit channel on youtube is great, I like the butt bible, also found on youtube as well. I also have a ton of jillian Micheals vids and the p90X series and some yoga videos that have been given to me. I also picked up a couple of sets of dumb bells at walmart for pretty cheap. Also body weight exercises are awesome. Nerdfitness.com has some great, great stuff.
Combine all that with what you're doing, little bits of what I can throughout the day and what I can on weekends.

I try to scarf down a sandwich while I am at work and take a brisk 30-40 walk during my lunch break a couple of times a week and then I go to kickboxing three days a week from 8:30-9:30 (after kids bedtime). I didn't want to exercise so late but it works best to keep me from having to get up super early (I am not a morning person) and doesn't take away from the few precious hours I have each day to spend with my kids.

I also work full time and have a 3, 10 and 12 year old and I am not a morning person so I can't get up any earlier than I do already but if you are you could consider getting up at 4:30 or 5 am and doing some sort of workout either at home or away.
I run 3x's a week generally (sometimes 4 if there is time) and do 2 workout classes outside of the home. I have a hard time doing video's at home, for some reason I do then half a**ed or my 3 year old will interupt and want to workout with me or need something (even if my older kids and dh are home...she still wants my attention).

You could also consider getting a sitter in your home for maybe an hour or an hour and half once or twice a week. I have done that on occasion that my husband has had meetings and I didn't want to miss my workout class....grandparents, aunts or cousins are great for helping out too and that way they get to see your child.

My kids are also in lots of different sports and activities that I have to carpool them to...granted the older 2 I can leave there and go do my workouts but my 3 year old I have to stay.

I am a stay at home mom of 3 kids and i try to work out in the mornings before they wake up and in the evenings when they are in bed. If i am doing Zumba on the Kinect i let them do it with me and it's fun for all of us! I have tried letting them workout with me but it usually ends up with someone needing a snack or needing help finding a shoe or sock or 'where is my doc mcstuffins and can you wipe my hiney?' I end up starting and stopping so much it's frustrating..so if i can i try to wait until they are fast asleep! lol

check into a local YMCA.. they have awesome kids activity rooms and kids staff for while you workout PLUS pools for fun/workout.. if cost is a concern..they are also income based. we love our membership.


got off topic:
i wake up @ 445am then head to Y - workout from 600am-645am shower then head to work...

I'm a single mom and I found I was in the same boat as you, especially when my son was in daycare. He is 7 now, and goes to before and after school during the school year, and during the summer he is in camp (with pre- and post-camp as well). I always felt like I still needed "me" time. I felt bad to put him in the childwatch after he has had a long day at daycare/preschool. But I realized, I needed to do it in order to be healthier to stick around longer for my little guy.

Now, it is easy. I get off work around 4:30 or so and go before I pick him up. Or, if he has soccer practice I jog/walk around the track or go when he is there (we are friends with the coach and I can drop him off with no issue). But when he was younger, I would go home, spend some quality time, and then later in the evening go up to the gym and put him in childwatch for 30-60 minutes, depending on if I was going to a class or using a cardio machine.

I am not a morning person, so even if I did have someone to stay with him while he was sleeping I probably wouldn't get up that early in the morning, but if it is all I had I may have to change my mind. But I personally don't feel bad about my decision to put him in childwatch even if he has been in preschool/daycare. To me, it was not my lack of wanting to spend time with him, it is that I DO want to spend many years with him. Just my own opinion.

I raised my son who is 18 now and I feel your pain. I know the feeling of not wanting to put your child in the gym daycare when your child has already been in daycare all day long. I still feel a twinge of guilt for working before my son was in school but he survived and turned out great. Last year a married a man with 3 kids - they are now 14, 11, and 9. We have them every other week for the full week. They all do travel soccer and we are busy almost every night of the week until 9 at night. Many weekends we are traveling for soccer games. Here is what I have learned. Try to combine exercise with other activities. Make it a habit like brushing your teeth. I walk 6 flights of stairs 3 times during each 15 minute break at work. (18 flights total) That totals 30 minutes of stairs walking slowly and talking to two coworkers as we walk. This combines socializing with exercising. My husband and I set a goal. We downloaded a training plan for a beginner half marathon. We help each other stick to the plan by laying out our clothes the night before, telling each other how many miles we are doing in the morning, and we run together while the kids sleep. We plan ahead of time when each of us will run the longer runs on the weekends. We commit to it by planning it out loud. Neither wants to let the other down. Sometimes we run the short runs at the soccer field while the kids are practicing in the evening. This gives us time to talk and we feel closer because we are working on a goal together. We also have a weight bench and weights in our bedroom. Not a pretty site but we both agree it is more important to make exercise convenient than to have a "perfect" bedroom. Run with a running stroller if you have to. I ran with a running stroller when my some was little. Also, remember that weight lifting doesn't have to take that much time. Waking a half hour early is not as difficult as you think once you commit to it. Working Moms are way more successful sticking to a workout plan when they do it before everyone else in the house wakes up. Hope this helps.