How do you find time?

Hi! Your life does sound full and chaotic. I have been a morning workout person for 2 years and I love it. My toddler is now in college so I don’t have the time issues you have. I’m up at 4:30am and get to my 5:30 am workout classes. I go 5 days a week. I like getting the workout done so I don’t need to worry about it. It also gives me lots of energy all day. I recommend it. Plus I get in 20 oz of water first thing in the morning. So that’s a bonus.

What is your job like? I work from a desk. I keep weights next to me. I work in 50 minute blocks and take 10 minutes off. Research has proven your mind works better if you focus for 45 to 50 minutes solid then take a mental break. I get water or coffee and do 20 pushups, 15 military presses (one arm) and 15 or so KB swings are Goblet squats 2X a week. I also workout at lunch (I assume you do get a lunch). I used to take a walk at lunch before I worked from home and eat in 10 minutes at the end of the lunch hour. 40 minute walks are wonderful at lunch.

It's always tough to find time to workout. That never ends, even after kids! My kids are grown now but I have three dogs, two cats, a wife with Fibro that can't eat gluten or dairy (I do all the cooking), I have a business that demands 9 hours to 10 hours a day plus now I'm doing Probono work with the local university helping startups ramp up. Oh yeah, I also feed the animals homemade food and help with the house chores. My animals act like todlers! I also do chores to help my wife because she has physical limitations.

Working out doesn't have to be going to the gym or sitting on an elliptical for an hour. I used to play soccer with my son starting at around age 3. It was exercise and fun for us. He ended up getting D-1 schools interested in him after playing for years. Play outside with your kids when they are old enough.

Desk jobs that entail 8 hours of sitting require one hour of movement to stay healthy. You want to stay healthy especially for your young one over the long term.

There's ways you can add exercise in without it being an actual exercise session. Take the stairs at work. Go for a walk at lunchtime, as @MikePfirrman suggested. Park as far away from the shops / workplace as possible to make you walk a bit further. Take a break every hour to walk somewhere; when you go to the loo, if there's a choice of more than one, go to the furthest one away. When you have to talk to someone at work, go and see them face to face instead of sending them an instant message (if you're in that sort of workplace). March in place while watching TV, do jumping jacks during the commercials - your toddler will probably think it's hilariously funny and try to join in. When you go to the loo at home, do lunges all the way to and from instead of just walking there. Do squats while waiting for the kettle to boil, or for something to heat up in the microwave. Do squats while reading MyFitnessPal!

Or alternatively, get up half an hour earlier and do a workout session. I often go out for a run first thing before my body realises what I'm up to, after grabbing a quick glass of squash. You don't actually need to eat before exercise unless you're planning on a really marathon session, and even then you only want something light so that it doesn't sit awkwardly in your stomach. Just go for it.

When my son was little, I worked out on my lunch break. It was the only time I could make it work.

Single mom of 3 checking in here. I get up at 5am and get my workout in before I do anything else. If I don't get it done first thing, it won't get done because I'm WAY too tired at the end of the day.

There are lots of good suggestions here to try out. I'd suggest trying a few different things and figuring out what works best for you.

Really, there are no easy answers or tricks. It's just something you choose to make time for or not.

It's hard with work and children. I work out at home using Jillian Michaels dvds. I do a 40 minute workout on Saturday morning and Sunday morning before kids wake up. Feels great to work it in that way early and have some extra calories those days. But the exercise wont matter for weight loss if you are not in calorie deficit.

I get up before everyone and get it done. Meal planning and food prep helps save time. We also just got a multipot and hubs likes trying new recipes(win for me since he'll cook) but it's also faster.

It's so hard when you add in other people's schedules to the mix - but you can do this! My typical day - Up at 4:45 and I go ride my horses until 6:30. It keeps me sane and I start the day with a bit of exercise. 7:00 - leave for work. I do Yoga Burn in my office for 30 min at lunch or go for a walk - have a protein bar or cookie instead of a real lunch. I try to sneak in 20 min bike ride in the evenings 4x a week. It's not easy with the kid's activities. I try to keep evenings free for family time. Just work in bits during the day - walk, take the stairs, do some squats - it all adds up! You got this!

Single mom to a four-year-old here, also with no support system. Like others, I am up at 5-5:30 to get that workout in. It's the only way, friend. Ya gotta just suck it up and get out of bed early, sorry to say. Beachbody On Demand is awesome, there are short 20-30 minute workouts that slay. No travel, no fancy gym clothes, no worries. Sometimes I go skidding downstairs with mismatched socks, no hair tie and yesterday's exercise pants on ... I kick the toys and laundry out of the way and give 'er. I've worked out with no shoes on. Take those 20 or 30 minutes to yourself and your body will thank you! You can do it!