Moms, how/when do you fit in exercise?

hey there!! I am a mom and its hard to fit a workout in!! Kids are very demanding but i actually just include them! They go on wlkas with me everyday! If you want to go to a gym i have heard that some have a playroom for young kids! If you can get some home equipment and just work out with them home with you! i am joing a gym here soon but again the one i am joing has a playroom for them!

Whenever the kids sleep. Most of the time 10 pm is workout time at my house when doing an at home workout. Otherwise anytime the gym daycare is open.

I have a 4 month old daughter so fitting time in to work out is hard. I go on walks with her every evening...weather permitting. I also work out 6 days a week and I try to fit it in in the morning when she is napping. I am not sure how old your child is, but I would try to see if there is a time when they are entertaining themselves and take that time for yourself to get healthy and looking good Good luck!

Ask your partner to support you, if possible. If not, try to trade kids with a friend or neighbor, use the kids' club at the gym, or depending on the ages of the kids, have an older one be in charge of younger ones.

I have 4 kids, 3 of whom are in school. I bring my youngest with me to the gym sometimes, or I ask my husband to be in charge. She goes to preschool 3 mornings, so I take that opportunity to ride or SUP (outdoor activities with no child-sitting available).

My husband takes over for evening activities or my Saturday morning rides; I am very blessed to have him support me.

edit: if I can't get out anywhere or there is limited time between drop offs/pick ups (school and/or other activities), I just work out at home. Kids know they have to let me have my 45 minutes to rehearse my dances, or what have you. Also, my husband works out mostly on his elliptical in the garage, and kids know NOT to disturb him during his exercise time.

I try to get out with my little guy when it is not to warm outside. For the most part I exercise in the morning when he is still sleeping. Sometimes I get a quick 10 minute cardio in while he is eating his breakfast and watching KVIE. When he plays his favorite game, Doritos Crash Course, I get another 15 - 30 minutes in. During his rest time around 2:30 or 3, I get an hour - 3 hours of free time to exercise or whatever. Finally, I get few hours once he is down for the evening. I keep my pedometer on and I count the unstructured steps when playing with him, chasing him around, cleaning, fixing meals and baby trips to the bathroom. I have been stepping 5 miles a day! When I am playing video games with him I march in place with high knees. I guess we just have to get creative

I wonder about this too but have a few methods so far for handling it. Reading over the above comments has given me some more ideas though, especially that comment about fitting the kids / home / work around the gym rather than the gym around everything else. I think that is something I need to start doing to ensure I don't come up with excuses not to go.

My methods:
- walking home with my daughter (especially good when she's tired & I have to carry her up the hills - free strength training :laugh: )
- childcare + free time = must go to gym
- going out for family activities eg pools or play at the park
- trying out child exercise dvds.. I've tried this once so far and it was ok but if you do this make sure you get a very interesting dvd to do so they don't get bored
- dancing at home (very successful)
- playing. This is actually quite good, eg jump on a trampoline (a lot harder to do as an adult than I remembered it)

I'm up for work at 5,30am so getting something in before work/kids is impossible. I need some sleep. Home from work at about 5pm, collect the kids from creche at 5.30pm and then the fun starts!!!!!!

I go the the gym/walk etc when the kids go to bed. So I'm at the gym for about 8pm. My husband stays at home with minding the kids. I get back from the gym at about 10pm, bed at 11pm. It's hard and I get tired but it's worth it. I work out 4-5 nights a week like this.

I have a 10 month old. Every day is a struggle! I work full time so I can understand how hard it is.

I always do some kind of activity on my luch break. Go for a walk or use the stairs as your gym. bring some mini weights and use them to do some curls. anything you can fit in.

Take your kid(s) on a walk.Play a game like 1.2.3 jump where you use them as a weight and are still interacing with them. chase them or crawl after them playing i'm going to get you.

Use your friends, family, and significant other as a tool in your healthy lifestyle. They will help out.

Remeber that everyday is a struggle and sometimes you are not goint to fit every thing in. But the point is to fit something in.....

My daughter's sometimes a crappy napper so I at least try to get the 30 Day Shred in since its really only 20minutes. If she doesn't nap at all, I get it in after she goes to sleep round 7:30pm. It's tough doing it at night since I'm usually tired myself but I have to do it at some point

children do make it a challenge to fit in exercise! I have three--3 month old. 2 yr old and a 3 year old. i think your questions depends on what ages your children are...everbody's solution will be different based on what their schedules are and if their babies sleep in or go to bed early. nad as soon as you get a schedule together with it...they will change and you will enter into a new phase! so it is tricky! i do involve my children ALOT!. we do alot of dancing! i have a playlist on my comp of motiona nd action songs that is over 30 mins long. tha tis somehting i can turn on and sing along with them and i can amp up the cardio on the motion and movements for myself and have my heart rate up in no time. i want my children to know that movement and exercise are important for health so we paln that into our afternoon and evening schedules whether it is a walk or going to play "soccer" or taking some balls outside to throw and run after. i never thoguht i would be a person who enjoyed exercise DVDs but now that i have children i love their flexibility. i can work out at 10pm at night or at 6 am inthe morning...whatever works with how my week is going. i know that is not ideal--and when my children are a little older i would ike to have a more consistant schedule--but i keep reminding myself that being the important part is to be doing something...even if it is a Tae Bo DVD at 11pm like last night! don't get discouraged! be creative and contine to find ways to MOVE!!!