Excessive Exhaustion...

Run laps around the football field while the kids are at practice. Bring a bike and ride around the area. There are plenty of ways you can get some exercise in while your kids are at practice. Otherwise, you can get up an hour earlier and get your workout done before the kids even get up. I used to do the morning workouts and always felt incredible after!

I'm a big fan of working in work outs where ever you can! How about grabbing the running shoes and walking/running laps around the kids field? Or how about enrolling in a CLASS and making that as much of a priority as whatever the kids are doing? Remember, by taking care of your health, you'll be a better role model for them and you'll be around to love them longer!

You and I operate on a similiar schedule. I'm in bed around 10:30 on a normal night, asleep around 11ish, but I'm up between 5:45 or 6am. So it's possible to get up and work out in the AM maybe? Standarizing your sleep schedule IS HARD! I'm not great at it. Last night I was asleep around 2:30am and it was fitful sleep at that - but today I have a 5k to do (I challenged myself to running a 5 k everyday until 9/3) and I'm not missing out! A 5k is really only 45 minutes if I walk it, about 30 minutes if I run it.

How about going for a brisk walk during your lunch break?

You work eight hours with no breaks? Maybe it is time for your husband to help out with the routine some so you can get a break too. They are his kids. Trust me, as a stepmom and mother I know how hard it can be when you are taking on the kiddie responsibilities and working full time..

I agree with Nikki.. Try working out while the kids are at Football practice. You can walk ( at your own pace), take rope ( jump role), jog, etc. Or , if you can gather the energy, try waking at 6:15, 6:30 and do 30 mins of activity before the kids wake up. I understand how you feel, I have to work out before picking her up from camp. If not, I have to take her with me.

And, weekends, you could make it like family time. We got play basketball together. Really fun and burns a lot of calories.

I would try that too. Working out while at football practice. You never know, you may inspire another parent to join you! Also you can do double prep when making supper. If you are making meatballs make twice as many and freeze half for a busy day, same with rice(just pop the extra in the fridge), chicken, roasts, sauces, etc. Try doing a bunch of food prep if you have an hour or two on the weekends. Chop veggies and throw them in big zip locks for fresh eating or stir frys, throw together some casseroles that you could have ready in the freezer, pull them out to defrost the night before then heat them up for supper when you get home.

I'd challenge myself to walk around the field (hopefully it has a track) while they practice. See how many times you can do it the first week, then the next week try and up it 1 or 2 rounds...when you finally can (or you might be able to now, I just know I can't) try jogging/running a lap walking a lap, so on and so forth. Thus killing 2 birds with one stone. Also I've gotten lazy I don't have a dishwasher either (unless you count my own two hands) so I will use paper plates. On the weekends, try and prepare meals in "bulk" and then freeze them. Thus you can just defrost/reheat/microwave them to help save time. I can't think of any other way you definitely have a very busy schedule. You could also talk to some of the other moms and see if anyone would mind car pooling, swapping out days of the week, you take Monday and Wednesday (you walk/run/job these days at the practice), and they take Tuesday and Thursday (you can hit the gym or have sometime to yourself these days). I'm sorry it's tough...maybe this will help...Best of luck hun...

Oh yeah!
Make SURE you're getting your water, iron, and vitamin B in too! That will help you battle exhaustion!

I just realized you are in Port Charlotte too! If they ever do soccer or play in the same area, we can walk We seem to have the same busy schedule, lol

"ditto" all those people who suggested exercising at the practice field. I've seen lots of moms do that. How about driving home to make dinner while he's at practice so y'all can eat right when you get home? More driving, but also more sleep! You can also take time on the weekend to make main dishes ahead for dinner - Put it in the oven before practice then all you have to do is make a salad, etc & you're good to go. Crock pot meals can be a big help too. You can put a load of wash in when you go to bed, put it in the dryer in the morning, put another load in at that time and dry it when you get home. I keep a couple of loads of things that I don't care if they wrinkle (sheets, towels, undies, sock, jammies, etc). They can dry during the day or overnight & it doesn't matter if they sit in the dryer for hours. Some folks make sandwiches on the weekend & freeze them. Tuna works that way, also PB & J. Take them out when you get up, they'll thaw before you have to pack lunches. Are the kids old enough to help with laundry or lunch packing, or even dinner? My 11 and 13 year old can do some of that (usually with a bit of supervision!). And make sure you drink lots and lots of water and eat enough protein. Those both really affect my energy levels. Hope a few of my suggestions work for you - good luck & keep coming to your MFP friends - we're here to support you!

no Lunch break? is that freakin legal man??? i would defitnately run around the park, do some sit ups...jumping jacks..etc
(wow, you've got a full schedule!!)

Since he doesnt actually practice on the field then I am a little hesitant to leave him there alone.. what if he gets hurt?

I feel your "one vehicle" pain. I drive my guy to and from work too so I pretty much do all the commuting for us.
Anyway - maybe I'm from a different generation, but I played ALL SORTS of sports as a kid, soccer, softball, volleyball, roller hockey, football, etc, and I was ALWAYS left alone during practices from the time I was about 6 years old on up. (In the 1980's kidnapping was more the fear over injury, but still, danger is danger.) Maybe I got lucky, but my coach (sometimes coaches) kept a pretty good eye on us kids. One girl even broke her leg during practice and he was there with her, calling the ambulance from his cell phone and the parents next.

I'm going to assume the coach is a responsible adult and that the league forced you to include emergency contact information on your son's paperwork. Carry your cell phone as your run or walk. (I have to do this because My Sailor's schedule is so crazy that it changes day to day. If I don't carry my cell phone I won't know if he'll have to stay on base over night or if I should come get him, or if he fell through some plating on the submarine -God forbid - or something.) I actually downloaded the Pandora Ap and I listen to music while I run, but the music will be interupted if someone calls or texts. Gives my hands something to do too.

If something happens you'll be there as quickly as if you were in the same room (probably quicker 'cause you'll already be running)! As a goalie in soccer, I constantly came home with scrapes and bruises, and even a couple cracked ribs after a game. Girl's soccer can be pretty brutal when you're job is to throw yourself in front of a charging forward w/ a ball! lol It's par for the course and something you have to get used to when you play a rough sport, so I'm sure your son is getting introduced to the rough and tumble way that football works. But if anything more serious happened, the coaches would always call a parent. If you're concerned that the coach doesn't have your contact information, give it to him again when you get to the field, or tell him where you'll be if there's an issue.

Where there is a will, there is a way!