Single parents- Working mothers** Help

I don't go to the gym .. quick mile run, takes 20 minutes or a Jillian Michaels DVD 20 minutes, if you did the JM DVD everyday and a run 2/3 times a week, that would be enough ... wot's 20 minutes ??

you can do it ...

I work 10.5 hours a day 5 days a week. I have to get up at 5 am to be get me, my 1 year old and husband ready by 6:30 when I have to leave for work. I don't think I would ever have time for the gym but I did find that it is much easier to get some workout equipment at home (i bought an elliptical used froms craigslist and some dumbells) or I will work out to a video (i love netflix fo this) and work out after my son goes to bed. I don't know about you but that is the only way i can do it. I know that getting up any earlier in the morning certainly wouldn't work for me :laugh: I just hope you can figure the best time for you! Good luck!

I am with you. I am a single mom, work fulltime and I am a pt masters student. Is it possible that you can get up earlier and work out with a DVD. Alot of people are doing Jillian Michaels 30 day shred and are having great results. You can get it at Wal-mart for 10.00. Is it possible that you can prepare your meals on Sunday? That way all you would have to do is warm the food up and it would free up a little more time in the evenings? Can your childs father keep him a little longer in the evenings so you could go to the gym right after you get off work? What about your lunch breaks at work mayb you could squeeze in a work out then. I hope it works out for you!

As soon as you figure that out, let me know!
LOL.

I've just worked out a deal with my 10 year old to do his morning routine by himself while I take the dog for a walk and his sister is still asleep. However, she is 4, so it's quite a bit different.

Gym time on a schedule like yours is rough. You may only get to go in once or twice a week, depending on visitation with the other parent, but hey, that's once or twice a week you weren't going before.
Taking it in pieces that fit into, and change your overall daily lifestyle with the kids is a better way to insure that you'll stick with it. It'll just become the way your family works.

Maybe at this time all you can focus on is eating/cooking healthy, maybe going for after-dinner walks or somesuch. Either way, if you put your thoughts into nutrition, results will follow on that route too, and you'll be feeling a heckuva lot better when you do have some alone time to workout.

Good luck!

Yeah the thing that is going to help you is getting up at 5am to workout. Trust me it is challenging but you can do it if you want to and after you do it you will feel that much better when you are goin to work and being with your kids. I am a single mother as well and that is what I have to do. Better yet, involve the kids, afterschool or when you get home get a workout DVD and let the kids watch you do it. They will join in and it can be family time. You may have to use sunday evenings to cook or plan means thru the week that will be easier for you. But it can be done. My father had a heart attack on sunday and it has put a new fire under me! No matter how things are going it has got to happen. Maybe "babydaddy" can watch the baby for 30mins - 1hr longer so you can get a workout in at home...maybe? If not you make it happen for those babies... they need you! Stay Encouraged!

I have a one year old and work full time too...I leave my house by 7:15 am and get home by 5:45pm, I had the same problem until I just figured that an investment in an elliptial or any type of workout equiptment you like to use and a couple of workout DVDs, few weights is cheaper in the long run and I dont have to take the time to drive to the gym and it wont take to much time of the little time I get to spend with my little girl...I will work out on the weekends and everyother day in the morning during the week....I will wake up at 5 am instead of 5:45am that way i get it in take a shower before she is awake....also I plan my meals thoughout the week...make a little extra for next days lunch, that way you have time for cooking dinner and anything else before bedtime.

Hope something helps!!

Try freezing fresh meals and cooking them later, and I dont go to a gym either, I have 4 kids and I just bought a stationary bike and some weights along with some dvds....I found that first I needed to get my diet under control, (it was waaay worse than I thought it was) so for the first 5 or 6 days, I got my calories under control, then I added cardio, which I am currently doing. Ive been doing that for about 2 weeks. I plan to add the DVD in a week or two, Im just doing it at my own pace. Its a lifestyle change, not a "get skinny quick scheme." Good luck on your weight loss journey, I think you have found the right place. Most everyone here is helpful and you can get a lot of good ideas here. Welcome....:flowerforyou:

I started getting up just a 40 min earlier to excersise and plan out dinner...I use my crockpot ALOT also if were having something like spagetti, hamburger help or taco's I go ahead and cook the meat and make or cut up veggies for the salad while getting the kids breakfast then that is just a few steps closer to being done at night! I also try to walk for atleast 30 min a night! It is hard at first to get into this routine but after about a week you'll feel so much better!!! I have a 14 10 and 6 year old...

hi, i really feel for you. i work the same schedule, 8-4:30 and it's a desk job too. i am married but my husband has to be to work at 5 so he is out the door as soon as i come home and then gets home around 11. afternoons/evenings are so busy. my kids are 10 months and 3.5 years old and they are a little bit wild. lol. as all kids are i'm sure
anyway, i saved up and bought a $200 stationary bike. i know that to get a really good bike or elliptical, it costs so much more but mine has done just fine for me so far. hopefully it will hang in there. after i get the kids to bed and clean up a bit it's about 8:30, so they do go to bed earlier than yours, i ride the bike for about 30-40 minutes while i watch tv. now that the weather is nice, we can go for walks on the weekend, i pull them both in their wagon to the park which is about 20 minutes there and 20 minutes back home. it's too hard to do that in the evenings though because there is too much to do. but i guess if i could just start squeezing in 15 minute walks that would really add up!
i started keeping track of what i eat on mfp and riding my stationary bike about 3 weeks ago and i have lost 5 lbs. you can do it!!!! good luck!!!

Just my son (3.5 year old) and I and I work everyday from 7:15 - 5:15. I get a workout in everyday. When I make dinners, I am making enough for 6 meals, placing 4 meals in little individual tins and then freezing them. During my lunch I try to get a walk in and also take advantage of a program that our YMCA has called MiniY, a gym and swim class that is 90 mins long for my son so that I can hit the gym myself.

I know that as a single-mom we already have a ton of guilt and try to spend the most time with your children, but you also need to make sure that you are taking care of you, as the main caregiver for your family.

I too, am a mother of two boys... one being 16 and the other 8! I try to incorporate at least 1/2 hour of recreation time....that is have them exercise with you. I don't have to worry about my 16 yr old, but my 8 year old is a busy body....so I tell him it's exercise time...and he gets all excited. He even changes his clothes to his "work out" clothes... It's cute. That way, I get the 1/2 hour of cardio that I need....and so does he... which tires him out quicker as well. I do this about 2x's a week. Try it...might work out for you....

Hi! I am a single mom, two kids active duty , and attend onine college Navy- First get a HRM or a Body Bugg, it's easier to track what your doing i recommend a Body bugg i just upgraded if you can afford it. Here's my schedule

Up at 4am work out till 445 - wake up kids (3 and 5) give them their cloths while they get dressed i take a QUICK shower
5:15 kids are dressed watching amorning show, i give them a ceral bar
Continue to get ready

540 help them with their shoes and we are out the door by 550, daycare by 6 at work by 630
3X a week the navy lets me pt for an hour - either way off work at 1530
1600 at home-1630 home work
1630 - cook dinner
1700-1730 go get kids
home by 6 eat dinner
630-7 play with kids ( burn a lot of calories there)
7 kids in bath - I clean the kitchen (more calories)
730 kids bedtime show
8pm bed time story kids in bed 815 finshi cleaning, and do homework- in bed myself by 9

My work outs are at home I do jillian micheas 30 day shred, power sculpt, cardio max
Billiy Banks Boot camp, rock solid abs
just recently purchased INSANITY

I don't go to the gym anymore, I work out in my basement once the child is in bed...I have basically the same schedule as you do, but my son goes to bed at 8pm...from 8:30 - 10:00 is when I work out, from 10:00 - 11:00 I eat and drink my protein shake, and I'm in and out of the shower by 11:30 and then bed time...repeat 5 days a week...sometimes 6...and I'm on my own.

As a single mom working full time (with 1 hour commute) I TOTALLY depend on help-- and shortcuts. Do what you can to make meal prep easier- pre cook and freeze or crock pot, this way you get home and warm up whatever you need to and eat right away.

Does the Y have a daycare? Is there a park nearby? I think a dvd option would be good for you once your kiddos are asleep or first thing in the morning. If you have a library nearby you can see if they have any to check out- or look for something online.

I know its hard- and stressful- but you can do this.

I'm trying to figure out something myself right now but I think it's important to find what's right for YOU because if it doesn't work for you then you won't stick with it. Try all these wonderful ideas you have been given & don't give up until you find something that you can stick with!

I agree .... try these wonderful ideas and see what works for you. At home DVDs are great when the kids are asleep. Pre-cooking meals is also a great idea. Me personally, I have a 3yo and I get up at 5ish to do my workout, and yes I am dragging out of the bed and still yawning halfway into my workout but I manage to complete an hour. Somedays I take him outside to play after I get off. It can be done, trust us.