have zero time to get a work out in, but need exercise need help
tiffanySpeiser29
Posts: 1 Member
Mother of four and I work 60-80hrs. A week. I wake up at 4am get dressed drive fiance to work in pack kids get them feed, dressed for school off to school and day care head straight to work. Hey home about 6:45 take kids to practice and tutoring. Come home make dinner clean do laundry get kids then help get ready for bed take my shower set up everything for in the morning and go to bed at 11:00. It's all non stop but I physically, emotionally, and health wise need the exercise. I have a goal of losing 70-80lbs. That's not going to happen with put exercise... I need advice on what I can do to sneak something in or how to get the extra support from my loved ones in the house for mommy to get some of her own time to do something.
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Replies
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Lady! What! How did you even have time for this post!?
Firstly, you can lose the weight without exercise. You just need to eat less.
It sounds like your daily routine is very stressful. Exercise does have some stress-releiving qualities but when you first start out it creates mores stress because your body and brain have to get used to a new thing. I think you really need to take some of the stress and responsibility out of your life before you can make room for new exercise. Is there any way you can work fewer hours? You said you have a fiancé, can they pick up a household responsibility of yours (cooking or laundry or whichever)?
Take care of yourself, friend.0 -
You can lose weight just by regulating your calorie intake. Although, of course, for health it's important to get some exercise in.
Looks to me like sometime in the 4 hours between 7 and 11 you have time to get a workout in.
You don't say what you do for work, but surely you have time to walk around during the day or take a walk during your break?
At the end of the day if you want to make it happen you'll make it happen.0 -
I am exhausted just reading that. You are already running! Could you take a walk during lunch or go to a gym? Could fiance get a ride a couple mornings a week so you can use the time to work out?0
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rainbowbow wrote: »You can lose weight just by regulating your calorie intake. Although, of course, for health it's important to get some exercise in.
Looks to me like sometime in the 4 hours between 7 and 11 you have time to get a workout in.
You don't say what you do for work, but surely you have time to walk around during the day or take a walk during your break?
At the end of the day if you want to make it happen you'll make it happen.
This is just a shot in the dark, but I'm guessing you're not a mother of 4.
Looks to me like sometime in the hours between 7 and 11 she has time to (maybe) pee? By herself if she's lucky?0 -
holothuroidea wrote: »rainbowbow wrote: »You can lose weight just by regulating your calorie intake. Although, of course, for health it's important to get some exercise in.
Looks to me like sometime in the 4 hours between 7 and 11 you have time to get a workout in.
You don't say what you do for work, but surely you have time to walk around during the day or take a walk during your break?
At the end of the day if you want to make it happen you'll make it happen.
This is just a shot in the dark, but I'm guessing you're not a mother of 4.
Looks to me like sometime in the hours between 7 and 11 she has time to (maybe) pee? By herself if she's lucky?
[eyeroll]
As the mother of three, I find this a bit dramatic.
OP, can you get a lunchtime workout in? Can you put anyone else in the house in charge of some of the things you listed so you can get a little more free time for exercise?
Harsh truth: if it's a priority, you will make it happen.0 -
You are very busy. I think one way to approach this is not to think about "losing weight" but to think about "eating healthy food." So for instance, pack your food for the day when you pack your kids' food, and pack yourself only food where you can tell what plant or animal it came from. There's no potato chip plant or potato chip animal and no diet coke creek, so skip those. But there's an apple tree and clementine trees and turkey and lettuce & tomatoes, nuts, etc. You get it. Start by making the change to what your put in your body, since your body is working really, really, incredibly hard to keep up with everything you are asking it to do for you!! Also, consider introducing say, a walk on Saturday morning and a walk on Sunday-- even 15 minutes of alone time, just you and your sneakers, is good. Even if its cold outside, its still your time. Or have a "crock pot" night on Friday or Saturday for your family's dinner-- where you go to an exercise or stretching class to take deep breaths once per week, and they get their own food from the crock pot. Or go to an stretching class on Saturday morning. Small food and body movement changes can make a big difference in mindset and habits. Treat your body kindly by feeding it food it can use as it moves you through your day. Good luck!0
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tiffanySpeiser29 wrote: »Mother of four and I work 60-80hrs. A week. I wake up at 4am get dressed drive fiance to work in pack kids get them feed, dressed for school off to school and day care head straight to work. Hey home about 6:45 take kids to practice and tutoring. Come home make dinner clean do laundry get kids then help get ready for bed take my shower set up everything for in the morning and go to bed at 11:00. It's all non stop but I physically, emotionally, and health wise need the exercise. I have a goal of losing 70-80lbs. That's not going to happen with put exercise... I need advice on what I can do to sneak something in or how to get the extra support from my loved ones in the house for mommy to get some of her own time to do something.
Is there a parent who goes to the same practice/tutoring with whom you could take turns doing the transportation? Or have your fiance do it every other night? What about your fiance making dinner/doing laundry?0 -
_dracarys_ wrote: »holothuroidea wrote: »rainbowbow wrote: »You can lose weight just by regulating your calorie intake. Although, of course, for health it's important to get some exercise in.
Looks to me like sometime in the 4 hours between 7 and 11 you have time to get a workout in.
You don't say what you do for work, but surely you have time to walk around during the day or take a walk during your break?
At the end of the day if you want to make it happen you'll make it happen.
This is just a shot in the dark, but I'm guessing you're not a mother of 4.
Looks to me like sometime in the hours between 7 and 11 she has time to (maybe) pee? By herself if she's lucky?
[eyeroll]
As the mother of three, I find this a bit dramatic.
OP, can you get a lunchtime workout in? Can you put anyone else in the house in charge of some of the things you listed so you can get a little more free time for exercise?
Harsh truth: if it's a priority, you will make it happen.
hyperbole
[hahy-pur-buh-lee]
noun, Rhetoric.
1. obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally.
Although, honestly, as a mother of 2 I find it not quite dramatic enough. Let's have a contest over who's got it worse and who does more work and who can dish out the harshest truths. Battle Of The Moms!! lol0 -
tiffanySpeiser29 wrote: »Mother of four and I work 60-80hrs. A week. I wake up at 4am get dressed drive fiance to work in pack kids get them feed, dressed for school off to school and day care head straight to work. Hey home about 6:45 take kids to practice and tutoring. Come home make dinner clean do laundry get kids then help get ready for bed take my shower set up everything for in the morning and go to bed at 11:00. It's all non stop but I physically, emotionally, and health wise need the exercise. I have a goal of losing 70-80lbs. That's not going to happen with put exercise... I need advice on what I can do to sneak something in or how to get the extra support from my loved ones in the house for mommy to get some of her own time to do something.
Luckily, weight loss does not require exercise, it requires a calorie deficit. Get a food scale, and weigh and log accurately. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10257474/starting-out-restarting-basics-inside#latest
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_dracarys_ wrote: »holothuroidea wrote: »rainbowbow wrote: »You can lose weight just by regulating your calorie intake. Although, of course, for health it's important to get some exercise in.
Looks to me like sometime in the 4 hours between 7 and 11 you have time to get a workout in.
You don't say what you do for work, but surely you have time to walk around during the day or take a walk during your break?
At the end of the day if you want to make it happen you'll make it happen.
This is just a shot in the dark, but I'm guessing you're not a mother of 4.
Looks to me like sometime in the hours between 7 and 11 she has time to (maybe) pee? By herself if she's lucky?
[eyeroll]
As the mother of three, I find this a bit dramatic.
OP, can you get a lunchtime workout in? Can you put anyone else in the house in charge of some of the things you listed so you can get a little more free time for exercise?
Harsh truth: if you want it, you will make it happen.
Agreed. I could repeat the same busy working mom schedule as everyone else if I wanted but the point is that i made it happen because I wanted it bad enough.0 -
How old are these kids
Do you have to drive them to activities can you walk / run them there instead? What do you do whilst they are at these activities? Why can't they get there alone / with friends?
Prioritise some time for yourself, even if it means your kids being restricted to 2 after school activities - research has shown it is important for children to develop the ability to deal with boredom .. it's a great tool you could give them making them responsible for entertaining themselves etc .. don't over-schedule them or allow them to over-commit .. it doesn't actually improve their results / levels of happiness
These are your children, you are a family unit and everybody in the family has the right to some self-actualisation
Unless you have SEN / Health issues or children are pre-school you can adjust schedules0 -
Also, have you looked into some crockpot recipes or cooking on the weekends in bulk and freezing for faster dinner prep firing the week?
And honestly, sometimes the only cardio I get is a lap around the house between stirring the pot. I can rack up some steps in my house. As others have said, exercise is not needed, but I've found even small changes to increase my number of steps during the day have greatly helped.0 -
While I boil the kettle or cook I do as many body squats as I can. It's an easy way to add in exercise. Also sometimes at the bottom of the stairs I drop down and push out 20 push-ups.0
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Can't your fiance help with the dinner, cleaning, laundry, helping the kids getting to bed and setting up everything ready for the next day?0
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When I was on my own with two kids, I tried to get up earlier than they did and do exercise videos in my room. (Wasn't always successful as they'd wake up and interrupt me.) The main difference between my situation and yours is not the number of kids; it's that I didn't have a non-contributing adult living in the house for whom I was ALSO responsible.
Seems to me your fiance can get himself to work (he seems to get himself home - that's not on your list). I'm also guessing that anyone who starts work so early is also home earlier and can manage dinner for everyone, or cart some of the kids around, etc. If there's only one car in the family, then he can make lunches for the next day, or take over any household responsibility keeping you from having a moment to yourself before bed time.
You're going to marry this guy; do you anticipate he will always be hands off when it comes to the kids? Or are you a team? Looks to me right now you're a single mother of five people - not four.0 -
HealthyVitamins wrote: »Can't your fiance help with the dinner, cleaning, laundry, helping the kids getting to bed and setting up everything ready for the next day?
This...what's he doing to pull his weight (so to speak)...have a word.
Also, bulk cook a bunch of stuff on Sunday afternoons and stock up your freezer, should free some time up during the week.0 -
In the UK we have a great guy who is doing really well with his "lean in 15" food and exercise - its 15 minutes of HIIT a day that you can do in your living room. Check out "The Body Coach" on You Tube and good luck
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Busy mum of 3 here yea its tough but everyone has 10 minutes. At the very least I do pushups and squats.0
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It's really hard but frankly, I used to use "I have no time I'm so freakin busy" excuse for a long time. when my mind was ready, I MADE time. I made exercise priority. I had to re-arrange my days. I arranged for my kids to stay at school 30 minutes longer twice a week, I quietly sneaked out of work 10 minutes sooner, I changed into my running clothes in the car, I parked near their school and had my 35 minute run there. Other days I plopped them in front of youtube and did short and intense videos myself (they did climb on me, and thought it was a game and tried to play along but eventually they got bored). I think short and intense is key in your situation, look into youtube channels for daily HIIT for example or NTC smartphone app. I hear ya for needing exercise, it is much easier both mentally and physically to create a calorie deficit if you exercise, I couldn't do without.0
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Behind a good woman should always be a good man.. if you've got a man! My husband would not hesitate to take on some load. And when I ever need "Me" time, there is a way to make it happen...
I know what it is like to have serious hustle and bustle in life (work, family kids, events, chores)...
But exercise can be 5-10 minutes several times a day, it does not have to be done all at one time..0 -
What are you doing on the weekends? If it were me I'd try to squeeze in a short workout or two during the week, and then plan for a longer period of time on the weekends.0
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I feel you! xoxoxo
I have 3 kids. 8,6,6mo.
Up at 4:30 - Home at 5:45-hour+ commute each way. And dont really stop til they go to bed at 8 and by then Im tired and still have my own stuff to do. So I started walking the entire lunch hour. I kid you not I walk laps around my building lobby or the parking garage if its a nice day. Then drinking a shake. I get 6 smalls meals a day so eating WHILE working isnt a problem. I know its exhausting. Lean on your man. Mine leaves before me and gets home after me so I am carrying most of the load. But I tell you what, when he gets home he gets to work. Eventually our goal is working out after we put to bed the brood. And after dropping some LBS we might have some energy reserves left to get in some exercise after 8pm. But thats why I take my lunch hour to do it because its truly the ONLY time to myself and I have energy at that time. Granted, the house is a mess, dinners are often fly-by and laundry doesnt take priority during the week. I dont care. I spend time with them and worry about the non-essentials on the weekend. Different strokes.
Even if its a short amount of time, get it in! You sounds like you are always on the GO already. Just eat at a deficit and you will lose some weight. For many busy moms working out time is a luxury that we have to CARVE out of our day with blood sweat and tears. YOU and YOUR LIFE is important too and your kids and fiance will respect that.
GOOD LUCK!!
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Plenty of good advice already. Most important is that you do not need exercise to lose weight.
I'd question whether or not you really need to work 60-80 hrs a week. If you are a salary worker, then I'm guessing it's not for the money. I'd used to use work as an excuse as well. Now I use exercise as an excuse to leave work. Getting regular exercise makes more productive, less stressed, and an overall better employee.
Now if you are hourly, it comes down to a cost/benefit issue.
And I'll pile on to the comments that it sounds like your fiance needs to help out more.0 -
You can lose weight without exercise. Eat less calories than you burn.
One of my favorite quotes is "you can't exercise enough to overcome a poor diet. Diet comes first".
I can imagine how hard it is with children. I don't think I could have done it when my daughter was growing up and I only had one child. Whatever you can do, will be beneficial. Parking farther away from the door at work. Walking on your lunch break. Taking the stairs. While waiting for your children walk around, even it is only in circles.
If you want this bad enough, there is a way to get exercise in, find a way, you are worth it.
Remember, weight loss is mostly about eating less calories than you burn.0 -
I do not want to get into who is busier and with how many kids, etc., but I believe part of that is how much are you willing to delegate and let others do, even if it's not to your liking? IME some moms / parents ARE overly busy simply because they insist on doing everything themselves. The fiance should be helping more (or maybe he is but from the limited info given it's hard to tell) but do you let him do things his way or insist it is done your way only? I'm not picking on you specifically, OP. Just making note that sometimes we have to realize we cannot and should not control everything. A family is a shared unit. Kids should be helping with household chores. You should have more time for yourself, but you have to MAKE it happen.0
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As a father of 4, I repeat the question: Where is the father? Even when we were our absolute busiest I made sure to give my wife a little time to herself pretty much every day.0
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What about this time slot? Do you need to be there with your kids for this? Could be a good time to get exercise in, even if a half an hour as you cut calories.tiffanySpeiser29 wrote: »6:45 take kids to practice and tutoring.0 -
tiffanySpeiser29 wrote: »Mother of four and I work 60-80hrs. A week. I wake up at 4am get dressed drive fiance to work in pack kids get them feed, dressed for school off to school and day care head straight to work. Hey home about 6:45 take kids to practice and tutoring. Come home make dinner clean do laundry get kids then help get ready for bed take my shower set up everything for in the morning and go to bed at 11:00. It's all non stop but I physically, emotionally, and health wise need the exercise. I have a goal of losing 70-80lbs. That's not going to happen with put exercise... I need advice on what I can do to sneak something in or how to get the extra support from my loved ones in the house for mommy to get some of her own time to do something.
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60-80 hours of work per week ??? my issue wouldnt be excercise !! I have three Under 10 and i couldnt even think of working like that, even if i needed to.0
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tiffanySpeiser29 wrote: »Mother of four and I work 60-80hrs. A week. I wake up at 4am get dressed drive fiance to work in pack kids get them feed, dressed for school off to school and day care head straight to work. Hey home about 6:45 take kids to practice and tutoring. Come home make dinner clean do laundry get kids then help get ready for bed take my shower set up everything for in the morning and go to bed at 11:00. It's all non stop but I physically, emotionally, and health wise need the exercise. I have a goal of losing 70-80lbs. That's not going to happen with put exercise... I need advice on what I can do to sneak something in or how to get the extra support from my loved ones in the house for mommy to get some of her own time to do something.
I have 6 kids and work about 80 hours a week as well. I work 6:30 pm to 7 am. Even if it's with the kids and only 20 or 30 minutes I'll turn on music and we'll dance together and act goofy or I'll turn on a Zumba dvd and kids sometimes do that with me.0
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