Don't know how to incorporate exercise into my daily life

I was a heavy sleeper too I gradually started waking up earlier and earlier, did that for a while then started working out at 5 am. I got tired of that and started doing my workouts when my kiddo was asleep at night, and I like that a lot better.

You just have to fit it in. I know that sounds blunt, but it's true. I'm a mom of 3 young kids (ages 2-11), and work full time as well, and often have to squeeze in quite a bit of overtime if pressure is on at work. My oldest two boys are in several organized sports, so have sports activities almost every evening. But I try to fit in working out anywhere from 3-6 times a week. I take my youngest for a walk in her stroller in the evenings, I go on bike rides with my older kids, pulling my daughter in the bike trailer, I go to the gym at night after the kids go to bed, and if time permits at work, I go to the gym over the lunch hour or go for a walk. I bought my own weight bench and weights that I use when I can't get to the gym.

I look at it this way. No one else is going to make time for me to get fit, other than well, me.

You need to do the same. You need to make the time for you. Good luck!

I'm not trying to sound confrontational but waking up early is an option if its your only option. Try going to sleep a little earlier at night and force yourself up in the morning. Before I started my journey I used to say the same thing but I quickly realized, similar to you, coming home at night with a wife and 2 children was not very conducive to working out.

Having a meal prep day on Sunday can really help free up some time at night as well. If you can plan healthy meals that you prep and freeze it will make coming home from a long day at work and eating healthy much easier.

I hope this helps a little and if I can help any further please let me know.

Not meaning to be blunt, but that sounds like most people's lives. Work, commuting, kids, etc. is what most adults with families face. You just have to find a time that works. If mornings don't, then after the kids go to bed. Or on your lunch hour. On the weekend, incorporate exercise with your kids - go for hikes, bike rides, etc. Find a gym with a daycare (if your kids are daycare young), or join the Y so your kids can do fun activities while you work out. If you usually wait while they do a particular activity, then go for a walk around the block while they dance/practice soccer, etc.

Getting up early doesn't have to mean getting up at 5am. I get up literally 20 minutes earlier and go for a quick bike ride or run. I'm not burning masses and I'm not going to win any fitness competitions, but it's exercise I wouldn't otherwise fit in my day and doesn't mean I lose any significant amounts of sleep.

There are tonnes of apps with exercises you can do at home (again, so you don't have to "waste" time getting to a gym or anything). Do a 20 minute circuit with something like sworkit will get you sweating and takes literally no time.

pack a gym bag with you in the car. One day where you have a chance and leave work a little earlier, or if someone else picks up your daughter or she's at a playdate, at least you have the clothes with you and just go from there. Once you start it;ll be easier to incorporate it into your daily life. That's how I did it. I started fitting it in like that 3 days a week now I've started bumping it 5 days.

Like you, I hate mornings and always have. I choose to rise early and exercise because the gym is much less crowded in the mornings, my work out is done for the day so I can't get busy with life and make excuses to skip it, and I have more energy overall if I work out in the AM. That sounds like it isn't an option for you right now and that's okay.

Have you thought about meal prepping for your family for the week so once you get home from work you can just pop everyone's bins into the microwave and have dinner on the table in 5 minutes? Meal prepping takes up a few hours, but it saves so much time in the long run and makes the week much less stressful. Perhaps once the kids are fed, you'll be able to squeeze in some exercise?

I know lots of people who exercise during their lunch break. Would that be an option for you? There are virtually unlimited work out routines on Bodybuiling.com, YouTube, Pinterest, etc that can easily be done in 30 minutes- an hour.

On another note, exercise is not necessary to lose weight. As long as you are eating at a calorie deficit you will lose weight (barring a medical condition). However, I believe exercise IS important to good health and believe everyone should participate in some form of exercise. The bottom line is if it is important to you, you will find/make time for it. Even 10 minutes of exercise is better than no exercise at all. I suggest starting off with short workouts and building from there.

Good luck to you!! I hope you find some of my suggestions helpful!

purplemystra wrote: »

Thanks everyone. You all have given me some really good advise. I need to stop making excuses and make it happen.

I think most of us have been guilty of making excuses. Life changes can spark more excuses, but no one is going to exercise for you. If you have a husband/partner feel free to leverage that help and go to the gym on alternating days. I have a little one and between both my wife and I having a job and life obligations we definitely have to pull strings to make gym time happen. It's about priorities though and you have to make your health a priority.

I'm totally with you on not being a morning person, so all my activity comes in right after work....it's also a great way to let out all that work crap so you don't bring it home with you

If you really want to work out, you'll start getting up earlier.

I work out in the evening once my little man is in bed, granted my house is slightly less tidy but I've prioritised, lol. I bought a cheap exercise bike and knock out an hour most nights whilst watching TV, I'm seeing great results and I've found it fits in pretty easily round my life

Work out during lunch. LOTS of people I now did that. Then eat at your desk later.

Otherwise you either need to get up earlier or do it in the evening. If you want to do it you'll fit it in. If not, it's easy to find excuses not to.

purplemystra wrote: »

I’m a working mom with 2 kids. During the school year I bring my daughter to school on my way to work. She has to be there between 8-8:30. Then I head to work for 9-5. Traffic gets me home around 6. That is if I get out of work on time. Then its home to cook dinner and do chores or errands. I’m off on the weekends but it usually gets full of kids activities, parties, volunteering. It’s always something. I can’t figure out how to insert exercise into my life. Waking up early isn’t an option because I’m a heavy sleeper and find it very hard to wake up in the morning. I’ve been like that my whole life. Please share how you fit exercise into your life and (or) if you have any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Can you walk your daughter to school?
Can you walk at lunch?
Do you have the option of taking the stairs at work?
When you go shopping and run errands, can you park some distance away and walk?

At home in the evenings, can you bundle up the family and go for a walk to a park after dinner together? Or play tag in the yard?

On the weekends, do you have to drive to all these events, or can you walk or cycle to them?
If the kids activities include things like, say, soccer practice ... can you walk up and down the bleacher steps or around the field or something, rather than just sitting?

Some examples:
One of my former coworkers used to take his son to swimming practice. He'd sit in the bleachers while his son swam up and down the pool. Then one day, it dawned on him that his son was fine on his own, and that the pool complex had a decent walking track and weights room. So he started jogging and lifting weights while his son had the swimming lesson.

My husband and I live about 300 metres up a hill from a small grocery store. The big grocery store further away has more stuff and we'll go there every other week or so, but once or twice a week, we'll walk down to the small grocery store to pick up a few items because it is more convenient and gives us some exercise. Often we extend the walk by walking down to the beach and then swinging by the grocery store on the way back.

You have to find away to do it for yourself and your kids more for yourself.. You could do a 30 min program in the morning or when everyone has gone to bed that way your body will have time to recharge for the next day. You say your a hard sleeper but set your clock and you must commit to getting up and working out. It may seem hard in the beginning but, if your turly want this you must find everything in your self to do it. Excuses don't burn fat. I have a 2 yr old and 5yr old so i know it's not easy. While at work use the steps more and if you get an hour lunch go for a brisk walk and the eat a health lunch and don't forget to drink a lot of water. Don't find excuses cause that won't help just do it and soon it will become a habit to you that will be hard to break. I wish you all the luck in the world. Commit!!

Ignore people telling you to wake up early, sleep is important and having less isn't going to help you feel less overwhelmed. Working out at lunch can be a pain and messes up hair, I understand if you don't feel like doing that.

If you're not a single mom, get help from your partner with dinner. If you are a single mom, get your kids to help you prep. Seriously.

Then, go for a little walk after dinner - maybe with the kids, do a family walk. Just for 30 minutes. Set a timer on your phone for 15 minutes, walk as far and fast as you can in that time, and then turn back.

On the weekends, do some strength training (it's the best-value exercise for health and looks). Plan for it and protect that time. Do it while your kids are doing their activities, maybe?

Between that and keeping a calorie deficit with diet, you can reach your goals.

blondeinnj wrote: »

Dont need to be rude tomatoey! I was merely making suggestions. Yea take advice from a blank profile.

How was I rude? Oh ok right you posted just before me. You weren't the only one saying that. I think it's not great for people who have trouble in the mornings, like the OP. Sleep really is important, for everything. And actually I'd say people who are shortchanging themselves that way for workouts, with e.g. 5-6 hours sleep a night, are doing themselves more harm than good in the long run, in all kinds of ways.

Lol re lack of picture, I have no need to put one up.