Moms! How do you do it?!

If you have a treadmill or elliptical, put it in front of the tv. If not, just look up tv show workouts. You can catch up on your favorite shows while still getting your workout in!

Get the kids in the car tell them it's time to go on a nature walk fond a pretty place to get out and go for a nice long walk

seasonsdreams wrote: »

Thanks for the "tv show workouts" i just googled and saw some good ones on pinterest.

You're very welcome!

My 3 LO's are 19, 20 and 22 now but I remember the days of having 3 under 5. When my kids were that age most of my exercise revolved around them - silly dancing to Elmo songs, doing Gymboree videos, running around the playground, dragging them through the snow on a sled or pushing them in a wagon. bonus - they sleep better. When my oldest turned 5, we signed up for a karate class together and hubby had the other 2. Now when they come home from college we still find time to go on long walk and talks. Build bonds through exercise now that will last a lifetime.

I think a big thing is just *really* wanting it. For so long, I'd get that "me" time and want to just melt into the sofa, and then would get frustrated that I had NO TIME to exercise, etc. I had to hit that point where I wanted it bad enough that I WAS motivated do move once I got the time. It was really hard, because relaxing is in my blood, lol. But after a little while, I started looking forward to it, which was a HUGE change for me.

I am in the same boat- 3 kids 4(almost 5), 3 and 1. At first it was hard for me to find time, I kept making excuses but then I realized how important it is for me to be healthy for my kids. I started waking up 10 minutes earlier every couple days to get in a workout before they woke up. So at first it was just 20 minute workouts and after about a month I was getting up at 545 with no problem and getting in at least an hour workout. Sometimes they wake up before I am done but they just dit on the couch and talk to me while I finish, sometimes they join in. After a couple months I have noticed a huge difference in my endurance, which is providing me more motivation- knowing I can do way more activities with the kids without getting wore out.

My gym has free childcare. I have a 5 month old and I go to the gym immediately after dropping him off at daycare, but if your kids don't go to school or daycare during a time that you could get to the gym, it's an option. I haven't taken my baby to my gym's childcare center yet because I get 5 workouts in during the week when he's at daycare, but I might if I ever need to get in a quick workout on the weekend. So far on the weekends I've been getting away with getting a nice calorie burn from cleaning and doing all my chores for the week and also from going on walks with the baby in the stroller. I get that it's hard while it's cold outside but once it warms up do you have parks where you live that you could go to? I know some moms too who just spell it out for their kids, that from a certain time to a certain time, mom is exercising and they are not allowed to interrupt except for emergencies. Then the kids go play in their room or entertain themselves for a half an hour. I know it's tough with kids that age, but maybe if you set the expectation and enforce it that exercise time is "mom is off limits" time, they will be okay for 30 minutes. Also, I know some moms are anti-tv but if you're not, I find that a 30 minute baby Einstein video keeps my baby very calm and entertained if I need a shower or to cook something without holding him. My sister used to do pilates in her livingroom after she had her son and he would just sit on the floor next to her and play happily with his little toys or try to imitate her movements while she did the 25 minute dvd workout. All kids are different, all moms are different, so you have to just find what works for you. If it's a priority to you though you'll have to be firm and make your household respect that your exercise is not up for debate. I had to do that about diet with mine.
To be completely honest, working out has so many benefits not just for the body but for the brain now too, they're discovering, but if your goal is weight loss and you can't get in frequent workouts during the winter, don't sweat it. Diet is 90%. You CAN lose weight without working out.

My daughter has three children, two under school-age, and runs a daycare in her home. I filled in for her the other day when she took the three year old to preschool eval. After picking up toys and before lunch we turned on some Youtube kid's exercise videos and danced to several songs while waiting for lunch. It sure felt like exercise to me and what a great way to get your kids involved in moving! Even my not quite one year old granddaughter was dancing along and we were all having fun!

seasonsdreams wrote: »

As a mom of three I'm having a really hard time finding the motivation to exercise! All three of my LOs are 5 and under and when I have a moment to myself the last thing I want to do is exercise. Well I want to but like I said, finding the motivation is the hard part. How do you find the time/motivation? Help! Tips or tricks? Feel free to add me!

I can totally relate... I just somehow do... Try to think of your workouts as a routine that you HAVE to do.. like brushing your teeth in the morning.. I make the time right after I drop off my youngest at school.. and under my clothes, I already have my workout clothes on.. so I just get right to it when I get back home. I do videos at home so I just have to follow the video and am done.. I try not too think about it too much. Also, pick a program that you will like.. if you try something that you don't really like, you may not stick with it.

Like me for example: I love weights. So I choose programs that use weights as part of the main routine.. I am not into dancing or major impact cardio, so I stay away from that..

Mix it up too.. Change the order of things... As a famous trainer says: "Variety is the spice of life!"

I get up 2 hrs before everyone else.5 am I get up have a cup of coffee,then workout by 6 I take a shower and start breakfast.its hard and doesn't work everyday but most days.

When my son was tiny (4 or 5 months) I went tried to go back to the gym and put him in the childcare there. He wasn't keen. If you go that route, I'd say try to talk the gym into giving you a free week pass to see if your kids do okay in the childcare.


(That goes for any non-mom caregivers, too )

As far as finding motivation, I found a picture of myself from college where I just look fantastic (for me). I think of that picture when I want to be lazy, skip a workout, or eat like a little piggie. Find your picture. It especially helps that it is of ME and not some photo-shopped celebrity. It is obtainable and seriously motivating.

I have 4 kids. My oldest just turned 8. 8, 6, 5, 1. I also babysit another 1 year old a few days a week.

I had my oldest 3 in 3 years...it was tough!

I started working out regularly when they were 3.5, 2 and 6 months....joining a gym with childcare was a way to escape and have a few minutes of child free time each day. If you can do it.....its a lifesaver!

I also am millitant about a 7pm bedtime. It gives me some sanity in the evenings which in rurn gives me more energy and motivation the next day. Recharging makes everything easier!

EddieHaskell97 wrote: »

Like I'm gonna trust a dude named Eddie Haskell. lol.

My gym membership includes 2 hrs of daycare a day (family ymca membership). However, I didn't join until Feb 2015.

I have a 4 yr old ( Dec '11) and a 21 month old (May '14). Before the gym membership, I tried to get workouts in during naptime. Sometimes I would do a workout video while my youngest played on his tummy mat while his brother colored. If either of them needed anything, I'd stop what I was doing but tried to remain in constant motion by marching in place (unless it made a task to complicated that is) and would just go back to the video when I had taken care of their needs.
Both of my boys love dancing with me when I do Just Dance and my oldest likes to play wii sports with me.
When the weather is nice we walk to the park. Last year this meant a double stroller, but this year it will probably be me pulling them in a wagon.