Parents of MFP, how do you get your workouts in?

Great question, just like with anything else, you have to adapt.

I have commitments with my kids, who are older, that take up 3 nights a week. So getting to the gym those nights are nearly impossible. The way I adapt, is I do cardio at home on those nights, I'm fortunate to have some equipment at home, then the other nights/day I get to the gym to lift.

It is different from my previous routine and I had to adjust, but it still serves a purpose and I still get my ME time.

In answer to your questions. My energy level? As high as a fat man's can get on 4 hours of sleep per night. How often do I work out per week? At least 5 times, usually more. 2 strength sessions, and the rest cardio. Do I stay at home or go to the gym? About 50/50. Strength is all at the gym.

It is tough.

First, it is easier to base all workouts from home, so that way I don't waste travel time. I have lots of dvd's and lots of dumbbells up to 25 lbs, and will add more as needed.

Second, I took up running as my primary form of cardio because it burns a lot of calories in a short time, and it can be done from anywhere as long as you pack some clothes and shoes. That way when I am stuck at an activity, I can still squeeze in a bit of burn.

Other options are early mornings or after kids' bedtime.

Unfortunately, it will be very difficult, and you will just have to make it a priority. You may have to scale back a bit, and compensate by eating less. Just find the balance that works for you. And it will change as the kids grow.

Mine drive now, so I feel like I've been let out of prison! But I've been there. . . .

I have five kids, the older three are in elementary school and the youngest two are 14 month old twins. I stay at home, but my gym has a limited number of hours with child care. Mondays and Fridays I get up at 4:45am to go to the gym so I can be home before it's time to start the morning rush. I can only do early morning those two days because my husband runs the other mornings super early before he heads in to work; those are his rest days. Tuesday and Thursday I go in the morning with the babies after dropping the big kids at school. Wednesdays I can't make it to the gym during childcare hours, and the weekends I typically don't go to the gym.

During the work week, I ride during my lunch breaks on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Friday. I go to the gym to lift after work on Tues and Thurs and my wife takes care of my two boys...getting them fed, bathed, etc. I do the same on Mon and Wed when she hits the gym in the evenings.

On Saturdays I meet with a trainer in the morning and will usually take the boys out to do something in the afternoon to give my wife some time to go run or go to the gym or whatever she wants to do for her sanity.

On Sundays we usually all go do something fun as a family like going to the zoo...my wife will usually load up the boys in the car and I will take off on my bike and meet them there...as long as I get in a good 25 - 30 miles I'm cool...don't care how I get them. Occasionally I ride with a group on Sundays as well.

I would also add that I ride my bike or walk for quick trips to the grocery store to get a few items (not full on shopping)...sometimes I just hook up my bike trailer if I think it's going to be more than I can handle in my backpack. Really, pretty much any opportunity I have to get on my bike, I take it...I use everyday things and turn them into a part of my training.

I found a gym close to work and go during my "lunch time". I can get there, change, slam out a 30-35 minute workout, take a quick shower and back to the office in an hour. Then just eat at my desk.

My husband and I take it in turns to go out and exercise after our child goes to bed. OH runs, I go to fitness classes. It's not easy finding classes that late but they are out there. If I don't have to work at home in the evenings on OHs running day I will sometimes do a home workout from youtube. Plus I use my 30 minute lunch break to go for a brisk walk.

Its hard, and you have to be very adaptable - and determined otherwise that time can easily get eaten up by other things! I have an 11 year old with autism, and a 2 year old. I work part time, but rarely have any time at home without the kids. Me and hubby try and each go to the gym at least one night in the week, so basically I go out as soon as he gets home as youngest currently wants me to put her to bed all the time! I do a spin class on a Sunday morning at 9am, which works pretty well means hubby still gets a bit of a lie in, and I am back in time for oldests swimming. A while ago I started jogging back from sons swimming lesson (he likes us both to watch), and now my son likes to do this with me - whereas this is slower, I'm really proud of him that he wants to this and think its really important he's starting to exercise too. It's 3 miles.
I'm fortunate really both kids are happy to walk, so we do a lot of this, eg we walk the mile to scouts and I jog back. When I'm struggling to get out to exercise, eg school hols, I have some fitness stuff recorded on the tv.

Sometimes I feel really tired, and don't want to go out to exercise, but know I will feel better for doing it, so I try never to use tiredness as an excuse not to exercise. When I'm struggling with that I remember how much worse I felt when my oldest was a toddler, and I was 5 stone heavier - that's motivation not to give up!

It has been a struggle for me during some stages, and other times it's been easy. It all just depends on your routine, where your child is developmentally, naptimes (if your kid takes naps), bedtimes, etc. And all of that stuff can change over time, which is why sometimes I have a good workout routine, and sometimes I don't. But the toddler stage has been the most challenging for me, especially when my husband is on the road. It's hard for me to get anything done, much less a workout. Of course, having a toddler can be a work out on its own! When I just had one child, and she was to the point where she'd go to bed at the same time every day, I'd work out as soon as I got her in bed (at home, with workout videos). I did that consistently until I had #2. She has never been as good of a sleeper as my first. These days I just try to fit it in where I can. If my husband is home, I might sneak in a workout while he watches the kiddos. Or if I get them in bed at a reasonable time, I might work out then. Lately I've been squeezing in some exercise on my lunch break at work. I think it gets easier as they get older and can entertain themselves better. I actually haven't been to the gym in about 6 years, because I just find it too tough to coordinate--all of my workouts are at home, in my office at work, or walks in the neighborhood, and most workout sessions are 30 minutes or less. I've still managed to lose weight, though (69lbs after #1 and 31lbs so far after #2).

My kids are recently 1yr and almost 3yrs. My only real chance to work out is after they go to bed. There's no way I'm getting up any earlier than I absolutely have to since neither of them sleeps through the night, still. I'm not adding to the sleep deprivation willingly! I only do home workouts, though at the moment.

Obviously, I cannot answer the energy level question for you, since I am male, which means I slept through most everything -- even the serious nudges. But, we used a running stroller. (Don't go before one year is the recommendation, I think. Little ones can get detached retinas.) Kids loved riding in the stroller. And, I would drive the car, with the kids, to the wife's work to pick her up at the end of the day, and then I would get out of the car and run home. It was about 5-6 miles. She was not home for very long before I was. Worked great.