How does a busy mom find the time to exercise?

Also, don't think you have to workout at the same time everyday. I've got two kiddos, and we're homeschoolers. My husband and I own a small business, and I run a non-profit organization. I work out at different times pretty much every day because our schedules can be a little nuts.

Take them on a walk, Go to the park and play on the equiptment with them, play ball with them, jump rope with them, dance with them, do races with them, go skating, go bowling, go swimming. I'm a single mom too and it took awhile but I realized that the trick isn't "getting away" from my son to exercise but including him... he learns to be healthy that way and we both have fun...

I take advantage of the daycare room at my gym. My son loves to play with the other kids and I get to do my workout without interruptions - like being crawled on/under in the middle of a yoga stretch or "push-up". :laugh: Our center also has a pool so some days I'll drop him at daycare go for a swim & then take him for some play time in the kiddie pool. We also go for walks and play at the playground or in our backyard. For the days I just can't get my butt out the door, I play one of the fitness games on the xbox or wii.

When I first started trying to incorporate exercise I made a commitment to go to the gym 3 days a week and over the course of the last year I worked up to doing all of the above. Don't feel it's an all or nothing kind of thing, look for ways to add activity into your day. Maybe leave a little earlier and walk the kids to school/bus stop. Park a little farther away from the stores when shopping. Nobody said you have to workout for an hour straight for it to count as exercise - do it in 10-15 minute increments if you must.

One last thing, pick an activity that you really enjoy. The more you enjoy it, the more likely you will be willing to make time for it.

I think for us busy moms it all depends on what works for your schedule. I am on the move 24/7 so I feel your pain. However, I found something that I can stick with and that is what you will need to focus on. I work full time I have 3 kids 16, 13, and 5 I'm the first one to wake up in the morning, then my husband followed by the teens and it ends with the little one. Luckily my husband drops the boys (teens) at school I am left with the little one to take to daycare. While she eats breakfast I do weight lifting (dumbbells do not have an actual gym at my home). That combined with calorie counting I have successfully lost 15lbs steadily but I know they will stay off.

I would recommend you try different methods and see which one works for you some of my tries was late at night when the kids were a sleep. Another one was during my 1hr lunch I attempted to go running at a near by walking trail. Or you can do what I do and attempt to squeeze it in the morning. Good Luck!!

I get my 3 year old involved. She lifts weights with me (I use a barbell, and she uses an empty dumbell without any weights on), we jog together, we follow fitness DVDs, we go for long walks and race. I'm ordering a new hoop soon so we can hoop together.
I get to fit in more workouts, and she's learning how to keep active at the same time.

I have to get up at 5:30 am to get my run in before the household gets up and everyone needs to rush off to school/work/daycare/summer camps/friends houses etc etc etc....

I do in home daycare, i take care of 7 kids. I used to do T25 during their nap time.
Now i workout at the gym when they all go home. I am losing weight to get pregnant.
No one is ever too busy to workout. it is all about time management. If you want to lose weight bad enough, its simple, you will find or make the time!

just remember this quote
"excuses dont burn calories!''

If you want it, you make time, not excuses.

3 kids 5 and under tand and 4.0 gpa in my 3rd year of school. I worked out for 45 minutes today and burned 600 calories.

I love that attitude.

I don't have kids yet, but my husband and I both work out religiously and have no plans to quit once kids come into the picture. I already get up at 5AM to exercise Monday-Friday, but if I can't do it at that time for some reason, my husband will watch the kid(s) for an hour in the evening so I can lift or whatever. And I'll watch them while he goes to the gym if he can't do it after work before picking the kid(s) up. I also plan on staying active with them whenever possible - kids need exercise too!

It would be harder without daddy there, but it's still doable if you want it bad enough.

I'm not a mom but I do know some gyms have daycares that allow you to take kids about 2-3 years old and up. Also depending on your financial situation a babysitter if not you could also consider doing a workout video at home. Try finding something that works for you.

I recall before my weight gain, every object I ever encountered was a workout machine from my bar stools, to my desk at work, to my chair in my computer desk (eventually I switched it out for a ball).