Exercise ideas when you have kids

Melmo1988
Melmo1988 Posts: 293 Member
edited 6:01PM in Fitness and Exercise
I have a 5 year old and a 2 month old. When my oldest was a baby I used to go to the gym and I would run and lift weights. I miss being in shape like I used to be but I have my kids 100% of the time so other than workout
DVDs and walking I don't know what else I can do.
Tips??
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Replies

  • ohmscheeks
    ohmscheeks Posts: 840 Member
    Not sure if this falls under "workout DVDs", but Youtube is pretty awesome.
  • Melmo1988
    Melmo1988 Posts: 293 Member
    Unfortunately I only have internet sometimes on my phone. I may end up buying 30 day shred. I did it years ago but then stopped and gave it away but it was a great workout
  • rwhyte12
    rwhyte12 Posts: 204 Member
    Swimming.
  • Melmo1988
    Melmo1988 Posts: 293 Member
    I can't go swimming with a 2 month old
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    Run in place while watching TV.
  • Melmo1988
    Melmo1988 Posts: 293 Member
    I'll try that.
  • ramepithecus
    ramepithecus Posts: 40 Member
    Things I tried: Find a gym with inexpensive daycare (or use your husband/mom/sibling/friend as a sitter). Take the 2 month old to a mom & baby yoga class while the older is with friends/in another class/ in school. Buy a bicycle trailer or a baby seat/tag-a-long combination. Jogging stroller (mine hurt my back but you may have better luck). Take the 5 year old hiking with baby in a pack. Try DVDs at home and be prepared for 'help' - maybe check the library for ones you can borrow before shelling out $$$ to try it first.
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    Well...this might sound a bit strange...

    Come up with some exercises that you can involve your children in. Five year olds love to dance...hop...skip...etc...etc...

    You could walk in place while holding a baby or get one of those carriers that you wear with them on your chest or back.

    I used to babysit a three year old and a baby at times. The three year old and I used to do the Head/Shoulders/Knees/Toes song together...it was a work out. Chances are your 2 month old would sit in a swing/infant seat and watch.

    Try doing 10 minutes at a time if that is all you can get in.

    There are ways...ya just got to be creative. There are some videos on youtube (I think) about exercising with a baby.
  • quiltlovinlisa
    quiltlovinlisa Posts: 1,710 Member
    Fitness blender has online exercise videos for free. You can go to their website and put in the length, type of workout and equipment you want to use and then get choices that fit the bill. My kids are older (9-17) but between all five of them, I'm constantly running, so it's really my go to place when I'm actually not running.
  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    Skipping! A jump rope is cheap and it really gets your heart rate up. You can do it in front the TV and it's quiet too, so if the kids are sleeping they won't hear! Throw in some push ups, jump squats and some other body weight exercises and you'll have a solid work out.

    I like the website 12 minute athlete, there's an app too. Quick, high intensity, mostly body weight or minimal equipment.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    I think you can get fitness DVDs at the library, as well.
  • Zeppgirrl1316
    Zeppgirrl1316 Posts: 7 Member
    I would definitely try to do exercises with the kids I have a 7 month old and I hold her while I do leg lifts and do airplane with her... I encourage you to be kind to your body give it time to heal. you just had a baby! I know that feeling of wanting to get back to normal but you'll get there soon. Right now just focus on sleeping and eating healthy (especially if you're breast feeding!)
  • OldAssDude
    OldAssDude Posts: 1,436 Member
    2 months may be a little young for these things now, but here are a couple ideas for later.

    Jogging stroller?
    A bicycle trailer that will hold both kids?

    I took my granddaughter out in my kayak last weekend and she loved it. She is 3.
  • kiki_anitoni
    kiki_anitoni Posts: 40 Member
    If you have a high school nearby you can go to the track. My local high school has the track surrounding the football field and I let my kids run around or take their bikes while I walk. You can take your stroller for your baby as well :) as a mom I know how hard it is to focus on yourself. Best of luck! You can add me if you'd like :)
  • erimethia_fekre
    erimethia_fekre Posts: 317 Member
    I have a 7 year old and a 11 month old and I exercise at home with a dvd every morning at 6am before they are awake. I've lost 20lb and got back into most of my clothes that way.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    There is nothing you really can do with the 2 month old, other than workout when baby sleeps or wear the baby and go for a long walk. When my second baby was born I invested in a treadmill for this reason, as my then preferred exercise was running, which was out of the question with a young baby. But, walking is great exercise for cardio. And if you can also google some bodyweight exercise routines, you can start doing strength training at home, even without weights.
  • adescut
    adescut Posts: 19 Member
    My friend used to dance hard for 30-45 mins when she was a stay at home mom and she lost a bunch of weight. She probably did it while the kids were sleeping.
  • AsISmile
    AsISmile Posts: 1,004 Member
    Have you considered baby wearing in a (woven) wrap?
    It is not exactly exercise, but you do cary around some extra weight that way, and as the baby ages the weight increases.
  • Patttience
    Patttience Posts: 975 Member
    Get a pram to push both kids in and run behind it.
  • Melmo1988
    Melmo1988 Posts: 293 Member
    I do have a carrier and that's the only way I bring her out as I don't have a stroller so I do plan on walking. I did just borrow my sisters stroller so that would help too.
    I was planning on walking at a trail not too far from here too, i live walking or biking there.
    I wish I could go biking, I miss it but I'm not comfortable with those baby seats for bikes and I def don't have the money for a trailer.
    And I have only ever left the baby with my dad for 2 hours while moving last week so I'm not quite comfortable with that yet but I'd love to eventually join the gym again but right now I can't afford that either.
    I'm gonna check out the library and see what they have for DVDs.
  • Melmo1988
    Melmo1988 Posts: 293 Member
    And I'm proud to say I've lost 45 pounds pretty much effortlessly within 2-3 weeks after her being born but my eating habits are terrible so I'm hoping to lose another 75 to get to my ideal weight.
  • AsISmile
    AsISmile Posts: 1,004 Member
    Melmo1988 wrote: »
    And I'm proud to say I've lost 45 pounds pretty much effortlessly within 2-3 weeks after her being born but my eating habits are terrible so I'm hoping to lose another 75 to get to my ideal weight.

    Well, 80-90% of weightloss comes from getting your diet under control, so if you have a hard time working out, use that time to focus on diet.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Melmo1988 wrote: »
    And I'm proud to say I've lost 45 pounds pretty much effortlessly within 2-3 weeks after her being born but my eating habits are terrible so I'm hoping to lose another 75 to get to my ideal weight.
    Focus on changing your eating habits. Unless you plan to train like an olympic athlete, you will not outrun a bad diet.
  • kristydi
    kristydi Posts: 781 Member
    Melmo1988 wrote: »
    I do have a carrier and that's the only way I bring her out as I don't have a stroller so I do plan on walking. I did just borrow my sisters stroller so that would help too.
    I was planning on walking at a trail not too far from here too, i live walking or biking there.
    I wish I could go biking, I miss it but I'm not comfortable with those baby seats for bikes and I def don't have the money for a trailer.
    And I have only ever left the baby with my dad for 2 hours while moving last week so I'm not quite comfortable with that yet but I'd love to eventually join the gym again but right now I can't afford that either.
    I'm gonna check out the library and see what they have for DVDs.

    Check Craig's list for bike trailers. There always seem to be several on there in my area for pretty cheap. Have you seen the front mount bike seats? You might be more comfortable with those.
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    Gym with a daycare. Start getting equipment for your home, adjustable Dumbbells, kettle bells, a bench, small rack, etc., then you can workout whenever you can fit it in. Go for walks with your kids. Dance with the older one while the younger is sleeping. Checkout fitnessblender.com for some great quick workouts. Mommy and me yoga. Use the kids as weight while doing squats, push-ups, etc.
  • Melmo1988
    Melmo1988 Posts: 293 Member
    Oh I know weight loss is mostly about diet but I miss feeling like I was in shape and could run. I love running and lifting. Maybe some day I'll have a gym membership again it for now it's not affordable for me and the only gym with a daycare is too far to bus there
  • louiseyates1
    louiseyates1 Posts: 108 Member
    30 day shred is great as it is about 25 mins in total so children won't be too bored. I have a 3&1\2 yr old girl and 11 month old boy. :)
  • supersocks117
    supersocks117 Posts: 169 Member
    Some are *with* my toddler and some are around my toddler -
    Go to the park, walk baby in the stroller or carrier on path, then let older child play on the playground and follow them around. Keeping my toddler wrangled into just the playground area is like a whole extra workout.
    Do a DVD or exercise equipment at home while the baby sleeps and the older on watches a movie/tv - I pop on Doc McStuffins or Daniel Tiger and get 30 minutes to ride the stationary bike. (or have the babysitter, ie your Dad, at your house playing with them. No need to worry what they are doing with him, since you are nearby, but they are entertained)
    Most things you'll want to do while the littlest is sleeping, but they do make swim wraps, you could walk in the water with baby strapped to you, the resistance is good workout :)
    A gym with a daycare. (I know the YMCA sometimes does discounts for low income, if money is an issue)
  • becky53012
    becky53012 Posts: 78 Member
    Oh I know the struggles with kids, I have 3- 10, 6, and 6 mths :) I fit in anything when I can! Leg lifts, squats, arms.... the quick workouts add up! When my hubby gets home from work its a brisk walk- no exceptions. Even if its 15 minutes. Im learning not to feel guilty taking a few minutes to myself to work on me :) there are some great suggestions on this thread!
  • Melmo1988
    Melmo1988 Posts: 293 Member
    I forgot about the YMCA! It's pretty close to me too! I'm assuming the Y has daycare?
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