Tell me your secret...

Sounds to me like your husband should help a little more in either the afternoon or the morning so you can get in some work out time without the kiddo around!

It may be easier at night -- but why can't he give your daughter a bath? Something like that -- so you can take a good at least 25-30 min chunk out of that time to do some exercise?

Or if you cooked -- he could clean the dishes and put away the leftovers?

I definitely think having him help with some things would free up some time for you to do what you want!

OR you could try to have lunches and whatnot done the night before, and that way in the morning when you wake up you can workout, then shower, then leave for work like normal...

just throwing some suggestions out there!

I would agree also with previous posters in that you should perhaps ask your husband for more support/contribution to the housework side of things. You both obviously work outside of the home so it would be more fair on you for him to say wash the dishes or bath your daughter. In a completely unfeminist way of looking at things, and I don't mean this coarsely, but he has a lot to gain from your being more healthy/losing weight. Not only a wife who loves herself and looks and feels better but also someone who is not at so much of a risk of burning out in a few years' time. Hip Hop Abs has some work outs which are only like 25 mins long so if he bathed and put your daughter to bed that would be a similar time frame. I know he's is ready for a rest after coming in from work but so to also are you - you get up earlier than he, make his meals and still manage to work a full day whilst being a mummy too. I don't want to sound as if I'm making your husband into a monster (I understand traditional male-female roles as was brought up in that way and I actually like playing the role of house wife at points too to be honest) because I'm not but I think it will be helpful for you to have a word with him. If this is not something you are happy about (or you like your roles at present or if you know he wouldn't be up for bathing or any of that jazz) I would suggest to cook a long meal (if that makes sense) and then use the time it's in the cooker to do a quickie workout. I think home workouts are going to be your secret to sucess! Good luck!

http://www.aturtleslifeforme.com/2011/06/freezer-meals-on-cheap.html

This blog post has a lot of meal prep suggestions for prepping ahead of time and freezing pre-made meals to save time during the week.

Even though my kids are grown and gone, I do work full time as does hubby. And it seems I am busier than before. We all have the same amount of time in a day and it's up to us to manage it to our benefit.

One thing that has worked for us and I believe another person had posted similar - but I prepare most of our meals on Sunday afternoon. If the baby is a year and a half and will still take naps, that could be a perfect time to get the food prep/cooking done. I shop on Friday nights or early Saturday so I have everything I need. I will grill/cook 6-8 chicken breasts or pork. Cut up into bite size pieces and use for our lunch meals (salads and pasta combos). I chop and grill our roasted veggies for the week on Sunday as well as prepare a pot of quinoa, beans, pasta and/or rice (all are refrigerator friendly and quick to reheat). These are the most time consuming items. I portion out lunches so they are grab and go each day (so be sure to buy enough containers or use old product containers).

Another option is to look into preparing frozen meals. There are a lot of options out there. Even for the two of us, I will often make larger batches to freeze for those days when you just don't have the time.

Slow cookers - have everything prepared to dump and go in the morning (use the liners or spray inside very well).

If you like fish as your protein, having your veggies and grains already cooked helps tremendously. Frozen tilapia only takes 10 mins to grill or bake and salmon not much longer. I don't get home until late on workout days, so it's wonderful to only have to heat something up quickly...reduces "grazing".

With regard to exercise - Are you able to workout on your lunch hour at work? Can your sitter keep the baby 30 more minutes? Is there a gym where they have daycare?

It wasn't easy when mine were little either, but they did get used to mommy's exercise time. I incorporated the baby with my "step" videos way back in the day. Is hubby able to help with the little one more? Maybe pick her up a couple of nights a week so you can have your exercise time? Hubby could possibly help with the clean up of the kitchen while you take care of the baby or vice versa. You are a team and you will need his support to succeed, but there are some very good options being presented. I hope something works for you. Good luck!

could your sitter watch your daughter for an extra hour or so a couple times a week so you can get a workout in? or when it gets warmer, take her for walks with you? it's definitely a challenge to find time for yourself, but you are important and worth it! :flowerforyou:

I sang "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" with my kids while doing the movements. Find some games and activities you can do with your daughter like putting her in a laundry basket and pushing her around on the floor. A workout can also be silly dancing in the living room to a Sesame Street tape. I also try to plan my meals so I do my shopping and much of my prep on the weekend (maybe hubby can help with daughter). This makes a world of difference and frees up a ton of time during the week.

Sounds to me like your husband should help a little more in either the afternoon or the morning so you can get in some work out time without the kiddo around!

THIS

It may be easier at night -- but why can't he give your daughter a bath? Something like that -- so you can take a good at least 25-30 min chunk out of that time to do some exercise?

We used to argue over how who take care of the kids. Bath time was always a hoot and whoever needed the stress reliever for the day got to do it.

Or if you cooked -- he could clean the dishes and put away the leftovers?

We do that now - great way to share duties and allow each other some down time.

I definitely think having him help with some things would free up some time for you to do what you want!

THIS!

Weight loss, diet, whatever, esp with a family IS a family event. I don't know how one person could do it and not include or be supported by the others.

Incorporate your daughter into your exercise. Dance with her. Pick her up and toss her around. Do pushups with her. Race with her. Make it fun for her, and it will be fun for you AND you'll be moving and exercising. Bonus - togetherness and calorie burning!

Side note: Get yourself a small trampoline/rebounder and put it in your family room. I get up at 4:30 every morning and start a day very much like yours, except my kids are older and my hubby helps a little more. We are all busy. But at the end of the day, if we have time to sit down and watch TV, I bounce on the trampoline/run/twist/whatever - just to move. If I can't make it to the gym, I'm at least moving thanks to the trampoline - AND I get to move while my mind is elsewhere. LOL!. And my kids love to use the trampoline too.

Sounds like hubby needs to help a bit more. If he wants to sit down and relax, then make that daddy daughter time for 30 mins. Have them read a book, color, etc, something he can do sitting down that's not going to involve chasing her everywhere.

Also, when I was growing up both my parents worked, and my dad has a pretty physical job. The rule in our house has always been whoever cooks it, the rest clean it up. If my mom cooks, my dad cleaned the dished up. If he got home early and cooked, she cleaned it up. Now that I'm an adult but still live at home, I pull that trick out of my bag sometimes too. If I cook, they clean it up! :laugh:

If this were me, and it was once...I sat down with my husband and told him my personal goals for well being and how important it is to me. We then worked it out together how I could accomplish my goals and he his. Supporting each other and being open about what we each want for ourselves and our family keeps us connected. I joined the local Y because they offer up to 2 hours free child care and they also have late & early classes. I had to get over feeling guilty taking the kids to the Y at 6:30 at night or leaving them with him so I could get to a 7:00pm pilates class. And he had to get used to the "MYO" nights (make your own) that I incorporated into our weekly meals twice a week. This allows me to make a great big salad full of my favorites and not worry about him, and he can make his meat and potatoes and not worry about me. If you can manage 2 workouts during the week and then shoot for 2 more on the weekend, you would be working out on a very consistent basis. I'm not going to lie, there are nights when it is -20 out and the last thing I want to do is go to the gym to work out, but I motivate myself and go knowing that the workout helps not just my body, but my mind- I always feel better! And if earlier is better for you, it's only 2 days during the week that you would be getting up before the sun (start small). You might find that you really love the peace and calm that time of the day provides and increase your workouts during the work week. Good luck- you will find a way!