Erratic lifestyle

fteale
fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone else have a really erratic lifestyle that makes anything like a challenge or training program very difficult to implement? I am really fixed in around the children's term times, so the only time I get free in the week are 3 mornings, 2 of which I exercise, and I usually try to go for a run on Saturday morning, and do 2 evening circuits classes a week, but that's only during term time. In the holidays (UK private school holidays, so a month each for Christmas and Easter, 2 months in the summer, plus 2 weeks half term in October, a week in Feb and a week in May/June) I have absolutely no child free time in which to exercise, and all the classes I do are off during those times anyway. I am training for a 10k in 3 weeks, and for a half marathon in Sept, and all the training programs I have looked at say I should be running 5 times a week, but I don't have 5 times a week in which to run. I have weekends only.

Added to that I have family commitments which mean I am at my parents every other weekend (with the children), which adds to the difficulty.

I get very frustrated doing shed loads of exercise/running during term time, but for a third of the year being incapable of doing any at all. I know I can do things like the 30 DS but that doesn't help my cardiovascular fitness at all, and I really hate it. I can't stand exercise DVDs/exercising indoors.

Replies

  • beccarockslife
    beccarockslife Posts: 816 Member
    I find it really hard too, Charlie's school holidays are shorter than yours but he only goes mornings at the moment until September. I work in the day time as well (at home) so it's tricky. I have to be really strict with planning and make the most of weekends.

    Next week is half term here. I've booked Charlie in to Football Tots (I refuse to call it soccer tots lol) for 2 hours Tuesday, Wednesday Morning play group at the gym, Wednesday afternoon activity session, Thurs we are going out when hubby is home from work to swim/gym with the boy, Friday morning he's in play group again in the morning. I'll have to work in the evenings but I tend to work better then anyway.
  • candistyx
    candistyx Posts: 547 Member
    Can't you exercise with your kids. Lord knows kids need more exercise these days.
    Take them out to the woods and run around, it's fun, they can climb trees and stuff, you can have little competitions to see who can race from tree to tree fastest.
  • hroderick
    hroderick Posts: 756 Member
    Sounds like you really want time away from kids and exercise is a justifiable excuse for that. If I'm wrong then settle for what you can do at home, like a treadmill or the floor exercises you hate. If I'm right and you have a spouse, have an honest conversation and negotiation about getting some "me" time.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Can't you exercise with your kids. Lord knows kids need more exercise these days.
    Take them out to the woods and run around, it's fun, they can climb trees and stuff, you can have little competitions to see who can race from tree to tree fastest.

    Not really, they are 3 and 5, and already do a lot of sports (rugby, ballet and karate), I don't think they'd be up for an aerobics class or a 10km run!)
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Sounds like you really want time away from kids and exercise is a justifiable excuse for that. If I'm wrong then settle for what you can do at home, like a treadmill or the floor exercises you hate. If I'm right and you have a spouse, have an honest conversation and negotiation about getting some "me" time.

    Not at all. I wish I had more time with my oldest, I hate that he is at school all day, especially as I am usually busy in the evenings, so weekends are the only time I get to see much of him, so I don't want to be wasting that time by doing exercise. I don't want "me" time. I just want a bit of time to do some exercise without feeling guilty it's taking away time I could be spending with them. My husband works 8am-7pm, so weekends aside (when we are usually at my parents) he can't look after the children, as he's not there while they are awake.

    In many ways I wish I homeschooled and just had someone else have them for a few hours a week so I could get on with things that need doing. I hate having to fit my life and theirs around an arbitrary school timetable.
  • gemco
    gemco Posts: 129
    treadmill? not ideal but you could still run while they play in the garden or something? its a ballache. exercising with children is a nice idea but when you want to run a half marathon you just arent going to get adequate exercise in with them tagging along.
  • michiganderrdh
    michiganderrdh Posts: 151 Member
    I usually workout when the kids go to bed. I have P90x and some other Beachbody workouts so it really fits into our busy lifestyle well. We have a membership to the Y because my husband needs it for the pool (he does tri's) but I rarely go.

    Could you go for a walk/run while the kids are doing their activities? My daughter is in gymnastics and as long as the weather holds up I go for a brisk walk or jog during her class just outside the building. It's only an hour but it works ;) Every moment of exercise counts!
  • michiganderrdh
    michiganderrdh Posts: 151 Member
    Also, yes it is difficult to put aside the feelings that you're wasting your valuable time by exercising but you're not. Just taking 1 hr (which is 1/24th of your time) to exercise which makes you a healthier, more energetic, happier mother. You deserve to have exercise be part of your life. Your making time to better yourself which betters your family and will ensure that you'll be around to help them with their kids one day. :) You're also showing them how important it is to have exercise be part of their lives and your teaching them how to take care of their bodies.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I usually workout when the kids go to bed. I have P90x and some other Beachbody workouts so it really fits into our busy lifestyle well. We have a membership to the Y because my husband needs it for the pool (he does tri's) but I rarely go.

    Could you go for a walk/run while the kids are doing their activities? My daughter is in gymnastics and as long as the weather holds up I go for a brisk walk or jog during her class just outside the building. It's only an hour but it works ;) Every moment of exercise counts!

    I don't have a problem fitting in exercise during term time, when the children do their activities. I do a huge amount. It's in the holidays when they aren't at school/nursery and they don't have anything on that I don't get any free time.

    Anyway, I know what the limitations of my time are. I do go for walks etc, but I don't count that as exercise. I am someone who needs hardcore cardio etc to feel like I am doing anything useful. A walk is nice, but it's just that. It's not exercise. I do the 30DS when I am at home, but I am not at home much during the holidays, as we have relatives to visit all over the UK, and spend a lot of time in Italy (no TV so no DVD option). Like I said, we have a very erratic lifestyle. I was just wondering if anyone else is in the same situation. Clearly some are and some aren't. I would imagine most people with very young children and no childcare are in the same position.

    It's great showing them that exercise is important. I take them along to my evening circuits classes as my husband isn't home by the time they start, and they love following me around and trying to join in, but those only run during term time. I can't take small children out for runs with me, and I can't go on the rowing machine with them around as they don't leave me alone for more than 5 minutes, and try to climb on me or get in the way. It's just not safe, and I don't get any exercise having to stop and tell them off every 5 minutes.
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