Staying in shape with kids - what do you do?
cdahl383
Posts: 726 Member
Just wondering how many on here are busy working parents and how you manage to maintain a fitness routine with everything else going on in life. I've found it difficult to remain consistent over the years since we had kids. So far it seems like working out on my lunch break and taking walks at night with my wife and kids works best, though it's not possible to do that in the winter.
Just curious what you moms and dads do and how you manage to stay in shape despite all of the demands placed on you each and every day.
Just curious what you moms and dads do and how you manage to stay in shape despite all of the demands placed on you each and every day.
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Have treadmill and use it in winter when kids are in bed, and workout DVD0
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Workout DVDs and a great accountability group. Plus menu plans and a meal replacement shake. Keeps me movin and groovin!
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How old are the children? I have involved mine. Ages 16 12 10 and 3. I invested in jogging stroller, we have silly dance challenges. Anything to move really0
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I lift weights sometimes at night once the kids are asleep. But there are times I'm just too wiped out to do it haha!
My kids are 2 and 4 years old. If they were older I'd get them more involved. At this point we just have them walk with us when we go for walks at night. We bring one stroller to carry our stuff and to give one kid a break now and then. Usually our 2 yr old sits in it most of the time since she's still so little, but our 4 yr old does a lot of walking.
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I have a 7 yr old girl and an (almost) 1 year old boy. I have a pretty good set up in my garage so
I bring my baby monitor and workout either during naptime or when they're down for the night0 -
I work full time, and have 3 young kids (ages 2, 7, 11). I go to the gym over my lunch break if my work schedule allows it, I go to gym at night after the kids go to bed.
I have a weight bench/plates at home for strength training, when I can't fit in a full session at the gym. I also have a treadmill I use when it's raining/snowing, and I can't get outside for a walk.
I like getting the kids active too, so I go for bike rides with the kids (the two bigger ones ride their own bikes, and I pull my toddler in the bike trailer). Or we go for walks together.0 -
I find it's best to workout either on my lunch break or at night when the kids are asleep. I don't like working out in the evening after I get home from work because then it takes away time from hanging out with them. I'm not a morning person either, tried getting up early a few times to jog or workout and I felt like crap the rest of the day.
I try to do the cardio at the gym on lunch, take walks in the evening for a little more cardio, and then lift weights at home in the basement when the kids are asleep. On weekends when I'm off I try to lift during the late morning or early afternoon. I find if I put it off until later I never do it.
Lots of good ideas here though. Thanks for the feedback! Keep it coming!0 -
I get up early in the morning and go to the gym. I find it is a great way to get motivated for the day. If I can't make it to the gym I'm not above doing body-weight/dumbbell workouts at home. With the kids I like to go for walks, play at the playground, do races (sprints, baby!), play tag and just have a good time. My boys think its fun to see if mom can do push ups with them on my back and they will do push ups and jumping jacks and stuff with me, too. Sometimes we take their bikes to the trail and they ride while I run. There are lots of ways to incorporate the kids into a healthy active lifestyle. It's a great way to spend quality time with your kids plus it sets a great example for them.0
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I have two very active kids 9yo boy who is deep into sports and a 17yo girl who is also deep into church, sports and life. I am at every event that they have and try to spend as much time with them as I can as well.
When it comes to working out if its a gym day I fit it in whenever I can sometimes its in the morning, during lunch, or after work. My kids understand that I am trying to get healthy and they cheer me on to do so. If I don't feel like going my kids will say I can do this so you can go or this so you can go so go.
When I have workout classes like my Boot Camp or my WERQ class my son goes with me and we do it together. He loves it helps him with his sports in big ways.
I am now 30 lbs down in two and a half month.0 -
That's cool, I wish I was a morning person, I would get up early and workout then too, seems like the most convenient time really. So far going on lunch is working for me with my current schedule. We go on nice long walks in the evening with the kids which is fun too. I should try doing pushups with them on my back, sounds like fun!
I agree, fitting it in wherever works best in your schedule is the best way to go. Sometimes trying to adhere to a set schedule doesn't work that well when things always come up. Congrats on losing 30 lbs, that's impressive!0 -
When I was working, I'd get up and get my workout in before work in my home. Sucked waking up earlier, but I actually didn't miss it. I felt better if I worked out!0
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Maybe I'll get brave and try working out in the morning again sometime. It was definitely much easier when my wife and I could just go to the gym together after work every other day. It basically boils down to you either make excuses and get fatter or you figure out a time that you can work out and stick with it.0
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I get up early before they do and lift or run depending on the day. Mine are 12, 9, 2, and 1. If I get the two littles to nap at the same time I will also do something then, then I work from 3 to 930, and am also in school.0
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^ Cool hair!
I remember working and going to school, that's a lot of work! Just working is a lot easier, hopefully you're almost done with your program, then you might get some actual free time occasionally.0 -
I have an almost 4-yr old and 19-month old. I committed to weight loss and exercise when my littlest turned one when the baby weight excuse expired.
I started by going to the gym after they were both in bed. Got sick of that a month ago and switched to mornings. I'm up at 4:30 now. It has been way easier to get up in the morning having been in the habit of going to the gym. But you do have to give it a few weeks (at least) to get used to the early mornings. 0 -
I take them to my gym's daycare. They play/socialize, i get a workout. Everyone wins.0
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Yeah that has to take some getting used to getting up that early. I could probably get up at 6am and still make it to the gym and then to work around 8:30-9am. Not sure how busy my gym is at that time. It's pretty dead when I go in there on lunch around noon, kind of nice like that.0
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I have three 6, 4, 2. I workout first thing in the morning - if my husband is home and able, we take them out for a run (2 in the jogging stroller, 1 riding her bike). If he's not here, I workout at the YMCA before work after dropping the kids off at the sitter's house. On days I don't work (I only work 3 days a week), I take the kids with me to the YMCA (free childcare) or I run on my treadmill at home.
I like getting it over with first thing in the morning. Then I don't have to think about it the rest of the day and worry about whether I'll be able to fit it in.0 -
I find the time. Either before work, for lunch or once my kids are in bed.0
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As above, single dad with two 5 year olds (twins). I gym during lunch and make up work time if need be when I don't have my kids. I have a desk job, so I can eat at my desk.
We go out biking on weekends - kids bike, I run. Usually managing two is a challenge, so I usually have one on my shoulders when we are out - makes a great weight vest/squat challenge. We are active, only stay at home if the weather is poor, I always plan activities for the weekends that involve walking (park a block away) or go to a playground that is big enough for me too :-)
It might be that getting into an actual gym is a challenge, but you can plan activities that the kids enjoy that you will have to ad-lib - example: their favourite activity at the moment is a trampoline park in town, it is a wicked workout for me and them, we go once a month for an hour and look for other activities like that - they do consider me the 'fun' parent so it's not a big deal for them that I am active and they are learning good active habits - they are 25kgs each and can also double as free weights while in the supermarket line when playing 'how long can you hang on to daddy's arm' type of games.
Good luck, your kids will pick up your healthy eating and activity habits, so every effort you make will be worth it.0 -
That's cool, I wish I was a morning person, I would get up early and workout then too, seems like the most convenient time really. So far going on lunch is working for me with my current schedule. We go on nice long walks in the evening with the kids which is fun too. I should try doing pushups with them on my back, sounds like fun!
I agree, fitting it in wherever works best in your schedule is the best way to go. Sometimes trying to adhere to a set schedule doesn't work that well when things always come up. Congrats on losing 30 lbs, that's impressive!
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I have three 6, 4, 2. I workout first thing in the morning - if my husband is home and able, we take them out for a run (2 in the jogging stroller, 1 riding her bike). If he's not here, I workout at the YMCA before work after dropping the kids off at the sitter's house. On days I don't work (I only work 3 days a week), I take the kids with me to the YMCA (free childcare) or I run on my treadmill at home.
I like getting it over with first thing in the morning. Then I don't have to think about it the rest of the day and worry about whether I'll be able to fit it in.
Seems like a common theme here working out in the morning. Maybe I'll give that a shot sometime. Working out on lunch (or in the morning too) is nice because then when I get home it's over with, no need to try and fit anything in or take time away from other stuff during the day. Having a treadmill or bike at home would be nice too, I just have weights and a bench in the basement for weight lifting right now.0 -
FitnessTrainer69 wrote: »I find the time. Either before work, for lunch or once my kids are in bed.
Simple and to the point! Cool jean jacket vest!0 -
As above, single dad with two 5 year olds (twins). I gym during lunch and make up work time if need be when I don't have my kids. I have a desk job, so I can eat at my desk.
We go out biking on weekends - kids bike, I run. Usually managing two is a challenge, so I usually have one on my shoulders when we are out - makes a great weight vest/squat challenge. We are active, only stay at home if the weather is poor, I always plan activities for the weekends that involve walking (park a block away) or go to a playground that is big enough for me too :-)
It might be that getting into an actual gym is a challenge, but you can plan activities that the kids enjoy that you will have to ad-lib - example: their favourite activity at the moment is a trampoline park in town, it is a wicked workout for me and them, we go once a month for an hour and look for other activities like that - they do consider me the 'fun' parent so it's not a big deal for them that I am active and they are learning good active habits - they are 25kgs each and can also double as free weights while in the supermarket line when playing 'how long can you hang on to daddy's arm' type of games.
Good luck, your kids will pick up your healthy eating and activity habits, so every effort you make will be worth it.
You must be one busy dude! I'm in the same boat with the work situation, desk job, gym across the street from the office, eat at my desk then head over to the gym then head back. I can usually eat in about 15 minutes and then get to the gym and back within an hour. My kids are 2 and 4, so it'll be a while before we can all bike ride together, maybe in another couple of years. That sounds like fun though.
We have been going on long walks in the evenings and our 4 year old walks just about the whole way now without complaining about being tired. Our 2 year old will walk for a while but she gets tired after a while, her legs are so short she must take 5-6 steps for every one of my steps haha! We bring one stroller for her and to carry our junk. Works great when the weather is nice.0 -
I lost my first 30 as a single mom with a full time job, full time college load, and two two-year-old boys. It can be done - I'd hit the gym every night after work and picking the kids up from daycare. They'd play in the gym daycare and I'd put in my time. I'd also memorize math formulas while lifting or read my texts while I ran. What was important for me was that I not go home after work. If I went home, my night was over and I wasn't leaving again.
My mantra:
If it's important, you will find a way.
If it's not, you will find an excuse.
I still live by that today. I did wind up dropping out of college though, so evidently a tight @$$ was more important than a community college education.
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That's cool. Where there's a will there's a way right? I hear you on the going home stuff, seems like I get busy after I get home from work with the kids and then before you know it they're in bed and it's 9 or 10pm. Better off getting things done before that if possible.
Haha nice! Well maybe you'll go back to school again and finish one day. Like you said, if it's important you'll find a way. I finished up my Masters degree when we just had our first daughter and it was tough, but now it's over and done with. My wife started and finished her Masters while having both our daughters in between and that was no easy task either. At some point you need some sort of balance though, going gung ho 24/7 everyday isn't sustainable for most people. Hopefully you can find a balance and fit it back in some time.
Good job on losing all that weight though. My wife had to lose around 30-40 lbs twice after each kid, she said it wasn't easy but she wasn't going to just let herself go either. That has to be hard to gain all that weight and then have to work on losing it all again. Only reason us guys have to lose weight is because we just ate too much and didn't move around enough haha!0 -
Just wondering how many on here are busy working parents and how you manage to maintain a fitness routine with everything else going on in life. I've found it difficult to remain consistent over the years since we had kids. So far it seems like working out on my lunch break and taking walks at night with my wife and kids works best, though it's not possible to do that in the winter.
Just curious what you moms and dads do and how you manage to stay in shape despite all of the demands placed on you each and every day.
I know how that goes man. Monday-Friday I hit the gym after work which sometimes is pretty late because I work 60-80 hour weeks. Weekends we go on walks by the river and hikes but like you we can't do this during winter because of the cold. My goal is to be in the gym 4-5 times a week and then I try to balance everything at night and on weekends with the family life. My wife workouts out in the morning and this routine seems to help the best.0 -
I drop mine off at the gyms day care room while I work out. My son watches movies , plays with other kids, paints and colors at the day care room while I work out. I only go to gyms with child care for this reason .0
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Wow man that's some serious hours you're putting in. Is that year round or just cyclical at certain times of the year? I used to work 60-70 hours during the winter months when I was in public accounting and that was tough, felt like I lived at work. If you can find time to get to the gym then I certainly can!
Yep here in Michigan it sucks in the winter. Can't do much outside at all. The kids are still too little to have them out there for too long when it's 10 degrees outside with a foot of snow. Summer is the best time, can be outside almost all the time as long as it's not raining.0 -
That's cool. Where there's a will there's a way right? I hear you on the going home stuff, seems like I get busy after I get home from work with the kids and then before you know it they're in bed and it's 9 or 10pm. Better off getting things done before that if possible.
Haha nice! Well maybe you'll go back to school again and finish one day. Like you said, if it's important you'll find a way. I finished up my Masters degree when we just had our first daughter and it was tough, but now it's over and done with. My wife started and finished her Masters while having both our daughters in between and that was no easy task either. At some point you need some sort of balance though, going gung ho 24/7 everyday isn't sustainable for most people. Hopefully you can find a balance and fit it back in some time.
Good job on losing all that weight though. My wife had to lose around 30-40 lbs twice after each kid, she said it wasn't easy but she wasn't going to just let herself go either. That has to be hard to gain all that weight and then have to work on losing it all again. Only reason us guys have to lose weight is because we just ate too much and didn't move around enough haha!
Thanks - I'm down 50 now and two pounds away from my official goal. Luckily the "single mom" gig was temporary and my husband and I worked it out in the end, so I stay home and homeschool all three of the kids. I might go back once the little ones are older (they're 6 now), but right now the priority is their education and rearing. And a tight bum. LOL0
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