Busy Parents - How do you make time for exercise?

I make gym time, me time. I take a few hours in the morning before the kids get up and hit the gym.

This^^^

My kids are 2&4. I'm at the gym by 4:30 so I can be done around 6, home by 6:05am

I am in a similar situation! My hubby goes to work super early (3 am) and comes home late a lot of days (he commutes to his job) so i don't have the opportunity to work out before or after work due to taking care of my 2 year old. The only time i am really finding is taking some time out of my lunch break to exercise.

You'll have to get a little creative. I did the split-shift thing too, so I know how that can go, except I worked days so I could get up early and hit the gym before work, while my husband & kids were sleeping. It still kind of sucked.

At least your son is getting to an age where you should be able to do some workouts with him - google "playground workouts" and see if there's one that looks like it'll fit you. (Please. I shouldn't be the only crazy mom doing pullups on the monkey bars, let's start a trend!) Or you can look for bodyweight circuit workouts - most of them take about 20 minutes, 30 with a quick warmup & cooldown, and you can do them at home while your kid tries to copy you, which can be pretty funny. I've been doing "You Are Your Own Gym" while traveling lately, it seems like a pretty good system, but there are plenty of free ones on the web too.

There are also tons of free videos if you like a guided workout - I've never used Fitnessblender, but I know people like it, and I have done the "Fit For Duty" videos that the Pentagon puts out on their YouTube channel, they have a couple of great full-body bodyweight/resistance band workouts.

Mostly you just kind of have to do it - and remember than anything is better than nothing. Even if you just do five minutes of jumping jacks a few times a day, you'll feel better than if you have to just sit all the time.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/918054-what-is-your-excuse-pics-included?hl=what's+your+excuse+pics

See if they will let you use a stability ball to sit on instead of a chair... It is work to stay on those all day long and you can do some sit down exercises with it.?? Or if your watching Tv at home do some stretching?

Just accept that this time in your life is NUTS, and get in things where you can. I find that the more I got anxious or beat myself up about what I WASN'T doing, the less energy I had for anything -- beating the crap outta yourself when life is just nutty and you're doing the best you can just wears you out.

Some things I did? I used to take my son for a stroller walk for an hour before lunch -- all over town, fast as I could go, and up hills. He loved it because he loved to be out, and I got in my "exercise" without feeling like I was shoving him somewhere while I did it. I played "chase" with him in the house (we have a long hallway down the middle of the house), even just for a few minutes. I wasn't always great at fitting it in, but I tried.

There were also some good workouts on our cable system -- free stuff, changed all the time, and in different categories, like kickboxing, yoga, aerobics, whatever your taste. I'd do one after he went for a nap, even if it was the last thing I wanted to do.

I can't imagine working nights, though. :noway: :noway: What really gave me consistency was getting up at 5:30 a.m. every morning before anyone was awake (and before I could think straight) and getting my hour in at the gym before anyone needed me. I could also walk to my gym from home (my warm-up and cool-down). Then again, I didn't have to be at work until 8:30 a.m.

Hang in there -- it's hard. But think of it as your "YOU" time / sanity time instead of something you SHOULD be doing. That always made me a little more excited to make time for it.

I work from home doing child care but my husband works at an office during the day & from home 5 nights a week. We have 2 kids (10 & 4) so we have a short window between supper ending & kids bedtime to fit something in, usually about an hour & a half. So I had to come up with a plan. We trade off nights. A few nights a week I go for a walk alone, he stays with kids. Then at least twice a week he will go for a bike ride & I stay with kids. We also have a walking trail that we love so we take the kids & go there at least once a week, sometimes more depending on our week. The kids ride their bikes & we walk. Now that its summer & school is out (he drops off our daughter every morning), he rides his bike to work whenever the weather is good. He also uses his lunch hour to go for a 30min walk or ride on his bike. This allows me the evenings to go as often as I like or weather permits since he got his exercise in during the day.

It isn't easy but you have to make it a priority. If you are short on time & get maybe an hour with your husband, then use that hour a few times a week (3-4times) to do something. Either get your husband involved too or tell him that you are taking that time for yourself. I find it a great way to de stress when I get out alone for a walk & since I've been exercising I have alot more energy. It doesn't have to be 7 days a week, 3-4 days is still better then nothing at all!

I think a 2 1/2 year old is the best gym equipment you can have. Take him for picnics in the park, you have dinner there, play on the equipment and run around. It's quality time with your child and great exercise for you. Come home give him a bath and he'll be out in no time. When we were kids we didn't need to work out. We played, hard. I see so many moms sitting at the park while their kids run around. Run with him, Concentrate on making big movements when you push them on the swing. Bring a ball and chase it around. Have fun with your child. You will be in great shape in no time.