What exercise would work?

I don't have kids - but I work a lot. I know a lot of people with children either work out before the kids get up, or after the kids go to bed. If you added in a good work out dvd AFTER the kids go to bed for a half hour or 45 minutes, in addition to the walking, it would probably help a lot. On the weekends you should try to incorporate the kids into the work out. i.e. go for a nice long walk while it's nice outside.... go for a long bike ride.... Bowling is great fun, and it's a great calorie burner.

I work full time, am writing a novel and have to do housework, as well.

I still manage to grab an hour a day (or more) to work out. Sometimes, I choose to be lazy and not do it, but it's the rare day that there isn't time for it.

I know school takes a lot of free time, but so does trying to write 2,000-4,000 words a day on top of everything else.

It is hard I will not lie but you have to find time in your day and force yourself to do it. I get up early prior to waking up my little ones and do one workout and then when they go to bed I will wrap up the house. After this I will do another workout session. It is really hard sometimes especially if the kids had a bad night. But when your body starts to change it is completely worth it. Hope you find a balance and a way to fit it in.

Also I do inside exercises at the house such as Videos, Xbox Kinect, and the treadmill. Once you find what you like it will be something you look forward to .

Good luck

I have work out DVD's and I try to get them in before the kids get up and that way it is out of the way

Hey i have 3 kids 5yr old 3yr old and a 11month old. So im back and to to school 3 times a day at 40mins each go.
Then when there in bed ill do a dvd. or ive been doing my aerobic step so i can watch my telly as well lol

I had to really make adjustments in my household in order to fit my exercise time in. I used to make excuses about having too much to do in the evenings. I was also VERY tired in the evenings, but once I started exercising daily, my energy levels have gone way up. I used to love to get up early and exercise (very hard to do at first, but made me feel great ALL day)...but with my schedule I would have to get up at 4am to fit it in and that is just a bit too early for me! Now I exercise at 8pm right after I put my kids to bed. I do about an hour of cardio including Turbo Jam video & workouts by Lindsay Brin of Mom's Into Fitness. Lindsay Brin has a workout video called "Post Natal Boot Camp" which includes several workouts that are 5 & 10 minutes, which you can mix and match. Her favorite video of mine is called Shred 5 Fast, but it is a 30 minute workout which includes kickboxing, core & strength (weights). Luckily, I have never been a big TV watcher, because there is NO time in my weekly schedule to watch TV, especially working out at 8pm. I miss everything! I don't even bother to attempt to DVR as I know I would never have time to watch later. Also, I have to kick my husband out of our large living room with the big TV to do my workout. He complies & retreats to the bedroom to watch TV. Also, I have had to be okay with some nights the dishes just don't get done or all the toys don't get picked up, etc. Also, I do get up about 15 mins early in the morning to do things I sacrificed the night before (pack lunches, pick out the kids clothes, pack a diaper bag, etc.). I know it's hard, but once you find the routine that you are okay with, it will all fall into place. Sacrifice and change are very hard to do!
Here is today's status quote from the Turbo Jam facebook page, which I thought was fitting: "It's all knowing what to start with. If you start in the right place and follow all the steps, you will get to the right end." ~Elizabeth Moon

Also, if you are interested in the Mom's Into Fitness Workouts, I heard that they will be featured on the Babysteals website today. www.babysteals.com They post the new "steals" at 9am mountain/11am Eastern...so in about a half hour from now! They usually feature a good deal on these DVD's!

I get up at 6;15 am, get my daughter up and off to school, drop her off at 7:15, but 7:45 I'm at the gym, work out and I'm home to shower by 8:40, and to work by 9 am. I work out on weekends, so only have to do this 3x a week, but I'll never miss my workout. I love it too much.

I try to walk 30 minutes on my lunch break and 30 minutes in the evening. If it is raining or too hot or too cold at lunchtime then I try to drive to a nearby mall for my lunchtime walking but of course the short drive time cuts into the amount of time I have to actually walk so it might only be a 15 minute walk instead. Still, 15 minutes is better than no walk. If DH isn't home to help with our son in the evening then sometimes I have to wait to do my evening walk on the treadmill until after I put the toddler to bed (7:30). If you don't have a treadmill though you could do a video after putting the kids in bed.

You've been given some great advice already. Here's another thought about that housework...can you hire a maid for some general cleaning twice a month? It can really help take some of the housework off you. My ex and I do it since our house is for sale. For not that much a month, we don't have do to much upkeep between her visits (granted, no kids involved).

Also, want to reinforce what others have said. 30-60 minutes a day is plenty of time to workout. You can get an excellent workout in during that time.

One thing you could do is take those 30 minutes per day of walk time, and turn up the intensity. Start jogging or running during that time. You could also bike if you have one.