WORK/LIFE/ FAMILY/WORKOUT BALANCE STRUGGLE

I did struggle with this. My 2 year old likes to sleep most of the day and up at night. I have tried everything to get her back on schedule, and she just is on her own schedule. Now, my fiancé started working nights, so it actually works out. He is on her schedule. So, I get up at 4 am, do my work out between 5 and 6 am, and then get ready for work. He is up with her at night, so I am able to try and get to sleep around 8pm or 9 pm. Honestly, without his help, it would be extremely hard. But, he helps me meal prep and we both make sure we get sleep. Right now, this really works for us. Of course, we all still get up early and go out and about, so I am only referring to the average day.

I believe the trick is finding when you have the alone time to focus on you. In my case, it is early in the morning, while the two are sleeping. I have quite a few hours before the day's activities begin. Waking up this early really took discipline, and finally it became my daily routine.

Maybe find something else besides these classes? Maybe just do a DVD at home? Maybe go for 30 minutes most days instead of an hour? Is there a dad in the picture who can help with things? Maybe don't do meal prep? I've never really done meal prep other than throwing together my breakfast and lunch the evening before...my lunch is often just leftovers or I make a sandwich or something.

ETA: I've been crazy busy the last 2-3 months with the madness that is going on at work and a wonky schedule along with house hunting, making and offer, and going through the closing process. My exercise schedule has not been what it typically is because ultimately when you're talking about balance, you can't prioritize everything the same...something had to give so instead of my normal scheduled out rides and gym time, I had to just go with flow and do what I could do, when I could do it, as with what was currently going on, it was the least important of priorities.

Things should fortunately start calming down around here tomorrow and I should be able to get back to normal.

I agree with what someone previously mentioned about trying home workout DVDs. For the last year I've been working 60 - 70 hour weeks and the only way I was able to get myself to work out was to get that DVD on because it was 30 minutes and I was already home. Going to a facility really eats up your time. I don't meal prep with all of the containers and such. My weekday meals are generally the same; breakfast wraps made with microwaved Perdue short cuts, hummus, avocado, and baby spinach. Lunch is generally a Lean Cuisine (I always look for sales and stock up) and a side salad with light dressing. I mix up my snacks and such; Greek yogurts with granola, nuts and a cheese stick, a protein shake, banana on a slice of toast with PB, etc.

I don't do bulk meal prep very often. It's not at all required. I use a food scale and just weigh things as I go. If I don't have time to log, I take a pic of the food on the scale, zero it out, add the next ingredient, picture, zero it out, etc and later when I have time I go through the pics and add each ingredient with grams to my diary.

You don't need to work out to lose weight. The most flexible workout option is probably youtube videos. I love Fitness Blender because they have loads of free no-equipment workouts. Do them with your kiddo!

Another "meal prep" option is to go more with portioned frozen foods/ready meals. I like bags of steamed veggies in the freezer aisle.

Almost literally in the same boat. I have two kids one 9 and the other just turned 2 today. I have to leave for work at 615am so well before anyone is awake for school which means home workout DVDs are out. I always hear things like you just have to make it work or find the time but can anyone really tell me where to find the time when work is an hour away and I want to be more than just a part-time dad as my wife calls me which means after work workouts don't get to happen. Financially we can not afford to join a 24/7 gym which leaves working out at home in the early AM trying to not wake up anyone. I mean how can I crawl out of bed at 4 am to work out when all I want to do is sleep....*sigh* rant over.