Where do you put your children so you can workout?

Hi OP! I hear you girl, I have two and three year old twiblings and their father is gone for extended periods. You are not alone, although I know most of the time it prly feels that way! Here are a few things that help me get the job done.
1. Remember, weight loss really happens in the kitchen. If you are gaining it's not because you are not working out enough. Log honestly and put that deficit to work for you!
2. Make them take a nap! Lol, easier said than done I realize but seriously, save your sanity and make them nap for an hour, even if that means sitting quietly in their room for an hour w/ toys or a book. Also, 8pm bedtime, you work all day, you deserve a break, put them kids to bed earlier!
3. When able, invest in a bike and bike trailer. I'm broke too, I get it, but found a clearance bike for $90 and a trailer on Craigslist for even less. Kids love it, great exercise, and many trailers can do double duty as jogging strollers, also, cheaper than a gym membership.
4. Do they watch any television? If so, allow them one show while you workout in another room. Sure some snooty moms will judge, eff em, you deserve to have a moment to take care of yourself and so long as they're not glued to a screen for hours, they will be fine.
5. Make the most of trips to the playground. It took me some getting used to self-esteem wise, but now when I bike/walk the kids to the park I do stepups on a bench or picnic table, walk briskly around the park, do calf raises on a curb, do planks in the grass, supported chinups on the play structure, get creative and put in a serious effort and I promise you'll feel the burn the following day.
6. Just dance! Turn up the music and get sweaty just dancing around like a fool with your kiddos (may help tire them out for bedtime).
7. If your hubby asks about gift ideas, suggest a nice used treadmill or weight set
8. If you have a yard another good investment and one time expense might be a trampoline. Honestly the most joyous form of movement.
9. Stagger your lunches so the kids are eating lunch before you (usually happens naturally anyway, no? Lol) then do a short workout while they are occupied, then have lunch be your recovery meal.
10. Have you heard of MOPS or other groups for sahms? Perhaps if you attend some meetings you'll meet other moms who you can swap childcare with.
I know it's uniquely challenging to get workouts in with little, but remember every movement counts. Break up your videos into four ten minute segments if you need to. You CAN do this! Good luck!

I'm sorry, I don't have children or this problem or a probable fix to your predicament; but I wanted to drop a line to CONGRATULATE you and every parent on here who has given you ideas on how to work around your obstacle..... for trying different things.... for wanting to stay fit.... for not using your children as an excuse not to workout. In my book, you're a champion!

Keep on!

I noticed someone else mentioned it, but I would also suggest childcare swaps. Find someone you're comfortable with who has children (or a child) around the same age, and swap playdates with them. Could come in handy for all sorts of reasons other than exercise.

Hi OP! I hear you girl, I have two and three year old twiblings and their father is gone for extended periods. You are not alone, although I know most of the time it prly feels that way! Here are a few things that help me get the job done.
1. Remember, weight loss really happens in the kitchen. If you are gaining it's not because you are not working out enough. Log honestly and put that deficit to work for you!
2. Make them take a nap! Lol, easier said than done I realize but seriously, save your sanity and make them nap for an hour, even if that means sitting quietly in their room for an hour w/ toys or a book. Also, 8pm bedtime, you work all day, you deserve a break, put them kids to bed earlier!
3. When able, invest in a bike and bike trailer. I'm broke too, I get it, but found a clearance bike for $90 and a trailer on Craigslist for even less. Kids love it, great exercise, and many trailers can do double duty as jogging strollers, also, cheaper than a gym membership.
4. Do they watch any television? If so, allow them one show while you workout in another room. Sure some snooty moms will judge, eff em, you deserve to have a moment to take care of yourself and so long as they're not glued to a screen for hours, they will be fine.
5. Make the most of trips to the playground. It took me some getting used to self-esteem wise, but now when I bike/walk the kids to the park I do stepups on a bench or picnic table, walk briskly around the park, do calf raises on a curb, do planks in the grass, supported chinups on the play structure, get creative and put in a serious effort and I promise you'll feel the burn the following day.
6. Just dance! Turn up the music and get sweaty just dancing around like a fool with your kiddos (may help tire them out for bedtime).
7. If your hubby asks about gift ideas, suggest a nice used treadmill or weight set
8. If you have a yard another good investment and one time expense might be a trampoline. Honestly the most joyous form of movement.
9. Stagger your lunches so the kids are eating lunch before you (usually happens naturally anyway, no? Lol) then do a short workout while they are occupied, then have lunch be your recovery meal.
10. Have you heard of MOPS or other groups for sahms? Perhaps if you attend some meetings you'll meet other moms who you can swap childcare with.
I know it's uniquely challenging to get workouts in with little, but remember every movement counts. Break up your videos into four ten minute segments if you need to. You CAN do this! Good luck!

I love this response!

I totally feel for you...I have 5 kids, aging 4,5,7,12,14....Needless to say, it was only recently that I was able to really commit to fitness.

I do not agree with the suggestions of you getting a job.

How about hooking up with another mom who wants some free time and swapping kids for an hour or two every day?

Where did you put them while you wrote your really long post, OP?

It's a post i've been working on for about a week now, which is why it is long and whiny. It contains a week worth of frustration and stress. I managed to post it because it is a rare occasion that my husband took both kids for a drive to visit his parents and I'm enjoying being by myself.

Well, you made it a priority to find time to write it. Now make it a priority to find time to workout. You're not going to find a lot of touchy-feely sympathy in these forums, but you will find good, honest, no-sugar-added advice. Here's mine: if you want to find time, do it. You shower, go to the bathroom, and make meals, right? Find another 15-20 minutes to work out.

Where did you put them while you wrote your really long post, OP?

It's a post i've been working on for about a week now, which is why it is long and whiny. It contains a week worth of frustration and stress. I managed to post it because it is a rare occasion that my husband took both kids for a drive to visit his parents and I'm enjoying being by myself.

Well, you made it a priority to find time to write it. Now make it a priority to find time to workout. You're not going to find a lot of touchy-feely sympathy in these forums, but you will find good, honest, no-sugar-added advice. Here's mine: if you want to find time, do it. You shower, go to the bathroom, and make meals, right? Find another 15-20 minutes to work out.

It is easy enough to type on computers whilst holding a child or having a child hanging off you - especially if you do bits at a time - not so easy to effectively work out.
I used to type on computers and play computer games whilst breast feeding - that's not to say I could workout whilst doing it.
Not helping OP by making snarky smug comments about her finding time to be on computer.

Some kids don't nap - especially 3 year olds. Maybe they will be the sort of people who just always survive on less sleep than others.

OP I think your best bet, if you cant organize parent swap time, is to do things with your kids - like pushing them in a stroller (you could take both in a twin stroller or little one in a back pack) at fast pace and do little 10 minute mini workouts at home whilst kids in play pen or high chair.
You might have to let go of the full on gym type workouts for now.
You can still lose weight - of course, as long as you also adjust your intake accordingly

I have 5 kids of my own and am fully aware of the challenges they bring, but thanks for enlightening me. :flowerforyou:

I'll tell you what I'd do, and have done. Keeping in mind that as a Navy wife my husband is gone for months at a time.

1.) The kids go to bed at 8pm. They don't have to sleep but they aren't leaving their rooms. Buy a gate. Buy blackout curtains if you need to but there is no reason they need to be up later. Boom you now have time to workout.

2.) If they're up before 7 am they're stuck there until 7 am. Again they can play quietly or look at picture books, or color but at 7 am it's still quiet time. Again time to workout.

3.) Most gyms have daycare. If I remember correctly 24 Hour Fitness was $20 a month per child.

4.) Involve them. Get a bike and a trailer or a double stroller.

5.) Eat right. 80% of it is diet, or so I'm told. You can not exercise away a bad eating plan. Don't clean their plates, either wrap it up and put it in the fridge for them later or toss it.

6.) Institute quiet hour. Play-doh, coloring, picture books, simple puzzles. They can do these while up at a table while you get some exercise in.

7.) Start a show for them. Most kids shows are fairly predictable. Every time someone say's "where's Perry?" do squats, or jumping jacks. Every time Leo conducts do sit-ups.

8.) Lose the excuses. You are overweight because of YOUR choices. It's the same reason I'm overweight. I chose poorly, and now it's time to fix it.

You can do this you just have to want to do this.

When I was litle my mom had a special toy drawer for us when she needed to make important or business type phone calls. We only got to play with those toys during that time. If we interrupted her call for something not safety related or life threatening the toys were taken away and we spent the rest of the call in time out.

Maybe you could use something like this for your workout time? If your kids have something special to play with that they only get to have during that time, they'll more than likely want to play with the toy instead of bug you and get it taken away. I know my brothers and I did, especially after we learned the hard way that mom was serious and DID take them away. It may take a few days to get them used to the idea but once they catch on, it's time for you and time for them! Double bonus if you can use a baby gate to keep them out of the way and safe while they happily play with the special toys.

I have a almost 2 y/o and I am horrible about getting up early or going to bed late. I work from 8-6 M-F at a desk job. I come home cook, eat, then we go for a walk every night and have outside play. So I completely get what your saying! My solution to lifting weights is using things in the kitchen when I cook(milk jug, cans). I also use this time to do some squats while cooking and when he's not looking I can run in place and do some jumping jacks and burpees. It may not be a whole hour dedicated to workout but we have to do the best we can. On the weekends if we are at the park, you can do steps on some of the kiddie equipment for a great leg workout. And if your kids insist on you picking them up, just use them as weights! Good luck! Don't give up!

I have a almost 2 y/o and I am horrible about getting up early or going to bed late. I work from 8-6 M-F at a desk job. I come home cook, eat, then we go for a walk every night and have outside play. So I completely get what your saying! My solution to lifting weights is using things in the kitchen when I cook(milk jug, cans). I also use this time to do some squats while cooking and when he's not looking I can run in place and do some jumping jacks and burpees. It may not be a whole hour dedicated to workout but we have to do the best we can. On the weekends if we are at the park, you can do steps on some of the kiddie equipment for a great leg workout. And if your kids insist on you picking them up, just use them as weights! Good luck! Don't give up!

^ It's not rocket science as you can see. just START MOVING MORE.

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/exercises-to-do-with-your-baby

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/fitness/mom-baby-exercises-0811#slide-1

http://happybabyworkout.com/

We start our day at 5am and go through until 10pm with neither kid taking naps

You are doing it wrong.

^This. I mean, I hate to sound judgmental, but 7 hours isn't enough sleep for small children. 10 hours would even be on the low end for the 3 year old and 12 hours would be on the low end for the 1 year old. Get your kids on a healthy sleep schedule and you'll have time to get yourself healthy.

^^^I agree. Small children need enough sleep, and so do you.