Single Working Parents: when do you workout?

I get up at 4:30am to have an early burn.. is the only time i have

I am not a single parent, but I am a very busy father of two young boys and here are some suggestions...

1 - drop the gym...gyms are nice, but not necessary to get some exercise.

2 - If you insist on a gym, find one with a daycare

3 - Remember that a good, solid workout can be had in 30-60 minutes...you don't have to spend hours upon hours exercising.

4 - There are numerous home DVD workout programs out there at your disposal...these could be done in the AM before the kids are up or in the PM after they're in bed.

5 - I sacrifice my lunch hour 4 days per week to get my rides in...this means I end up just eating at my desk while I work.

Once you get on a schedule and a routine, it gets easier...it just becomes another thing you do during your daily.

MscGray wrote: »

Not a single parent, but we get so busy it feels like I am at times!! I prefer working out in the morning, its nice to get it in before you start your day (when you do have some time to yourself). I felt it like it gave me a little more energy for the morning too. PM work outs after the kids have gone to bed have a way of being bumped due to running out of time and/or energy, and if you do complete them you may find yourself ramped up and unable to sleep. Although with your schedule sounding just as hectic as mine, I say get it in where ever you can!!

This!!
I was fitting it in in the morning - until my toddler decided to start waking anywhere between 5/6am! Added to this, she's gone from sleeping through to 1-3 night wakings!!

I'm now going to try to alternate am and pm workouts where I can. It's not easy but I need to get in shape!

During my lunch break. I worked out then even before my husband died and I became a single parent again. It's really the only time I have. So many things to do in the evenings at home.

Is there any way to switch to a gym that provides child care?

Is it possible to find a gym with a daycare? For me personally, I know I would never work out at home. There are too many distractions and too many other things that need to be done. So going to the gym and putting my son in the childcare room is the only way I get a workout in. He has fun in there, so it's a win-win.

When I used to work from home, and before he was school-age, I would sometimes take him to daycare early, go to the gym, then back home to work. That worked then because I had no commute so putting him in daycare for an extra hour or so wasn't so bad.

My sister (not a single parent, but the advice still applies) gives the kids (age 3 & 7) something else to do while she works out. She sits them down with their tablet, coloring paper, homework, or they play in their room. It's just a half an hour, the kids can occupy themselves for a little while.

Actually, her girls sometimes join in with her videos. It's really cute to see them doing push ups and stuff with her. The 7 year old goes out running with her as well.

Another great idea is to start doing family walks after dinner or after school. It's a great time to catch up and chat and instills healthy habits.

I am so happy that I found this thread. I too am a single mom and have found it very difficult to find time to work out. I am self employed with a startup business so I am working about 50 hours a week easy. I ended up getting a bicycle trainer and I wake up early in the morning to ride it before my daughter wakes up. But that's all I do. No way I would be able to do a gym as much as I would love to Even the ones with childcare you have to pay for the childcare $2-6/hr which can add up fast if you are at the gym 5 days a week. So on top of the gym membership you are paying about $120/month in additional childcare costs. I can't afford it and I dream of one day getting to just go to the gym. I'm going to check some of the ideas for youtube exercises above.

I did a plank challenge which was pretty fun and I find doing little challenges helps me test myself but I am a competitive person. I find it very helpful to give myself rewards (non-food), or make it a game to see how many days of the week I can be active. Like at the end of the week if I was good and worked out at least 4-5 days I would do something special for myself. Before getting the myfitnesspal app on my phone I printed out a calendar and wrote down my exercise and daily water intake. I put it on my fridge so I saw it throughout the day which helped. I sacrifice sleep a lot (in busy business times) but that in itself can cause you to gain weight or not lose weight. It's a delicate balance. I used to stay up after my daughter went to bed but started going to bed when she does at 8:30-9am and then I am able to wake up at 4:30-5am without sacrificing sleep and I get to have me time for 2-3 hours before I find myself the most motivated and active in the early mornings. But you have to find when you are the most motivated. I find that I have to set myself up for success. If I set up my trainer before I go to bed I wake up to it in the middle of the room staring me down and I have no choice but to hop on it. I make sure I also set up work out clothing so it's all there and ready for me to do.

Another idea I have had (but I have not implemented yet) is to form a single mom exercise group and have one person alternate as the care giver while the others worked out, even if it's another girlfriend that is trying to exercise, doing a childcare exchange a few days a week so the other can go work out or do whatever they need without having kiddo around. Lots of ideas. I hope that helps. Good luck with your weight loss!!! It's soooo hard just to maintain a normal life as a single momma so just surviving the day sometimes is a workout in itself. You are doing great!