My 3yr Old Won't Let Me Workout

So I have a 3 yr old girl who refuses to let me workout. I have tried including her - I even got her own little weights. Tried doing a dancing routine like Zumba ,etc. Its always the same she is into it for like 2 min and then stops and grabs onto my leg or is weaving in and out of my legs or needs something every 5 min. I have resorted to getting up at 5 am so I can work out in peace but find that this is leaving me with less sleep than I need and wears on me after awhile. Unfortunately waiting until she goes to bed doesn't work either as she refuses to go to bed without me and it ends up being a massive battle. I work fulltime and my husband is stay at home during the day and has a business at night so basically as soon as I'm off work he is working and I have the kids. Any suggestions?

Just say NO

does your gym have a child care center?

or are you working out at home?

I generally only ever let my 2.5 yr old watch tv when I'm on the treadmill. So I play 1-2 episodes of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and he is thorougly engrossed and doesn't give me any trouble. Before I started doing that it was practically impossible to get my workout in until he was in bed (DH takes college classes in the evening so isn't available to help).

When my daughter was three she'd do the same thing. I told her that when mommy is playing with her weights she needs to stay back because she might get stepped on. This worked fairly well. Then one day she ignored the rule when I wasn't paying attention and I clocked her with a dumbbell. I felt horrible, but she hasn't tried to cling to me when I'm working out with weights since.

Hmm. That sounds like I'm advocating hitting your child- Which I'm not. If you're doing dance and stuff, have her do it in her own little area, maybe?

Mine does the same thing. Will dance around with me for a few minutes then grab my legs, etc making it impossible to work out. I end up going to the basement and my husband or mom has to stay upstairs with her. I tried doing it once when I was alone with her and put my foot down and told her stop it and she literally cried for the duration of my 40 minute "stress relieving" workout....I feel your pain.

You could try distracting her-maybe let her watch something on netflix on your iphone if you have one while you do your video?

I'm so glad I'm not alone. My three year old son comes in after about 20 mins and says" No exercising mama. My exercise has increased over the last months and he has noticed. I agree with allot people are saying. No matter how much I get him set up , it's about him trying to get his way. I just keep telling him that he will be able to see and play with me in XX mins.

I'm brand new here and I'm shocked and disturbed at some of the responses to your question. Making a 3 year old "obey" you is a ridiculous suggestion. Forcing your child to go to bed without you deprives BOTH of you of cuddle time and, if you work, that might be the best time you have with her during the week.

My suggestion is to find a neighbor with a child who you can swap a half hour of babysitting with. You watch his/her kids(s) while they work out (or run errands, or whatever) and they return the favor. You could alternate days. Also consider incorporating her into your workout. Have her sit on your shoulders while you do push ups (do them on your knees). Give her a shoulder ride while you do squats, bench press her, do curls, leg extensions, etc... She just wants to be with you so let her.

IMO, the one thing you should never deprive your kids of is yourself. If it helps, my son is 5 now and he runs with me part of the way and then plays at the park (which I can see) while I run around the track. Also, the best workout I get during the week is the one I do at the playground. I do pull ups, burpees, squats, hanging leg lifts (abdominal).

My son's favorite exercise that he "helps" me with is when I lay flat on the floor. He stands at my head and I "hold on" to his ankles. I raise my legs and he pushes them back down to the floor. I lower my feet to within a couple of inches of the floor and raise them again for him to push back down. He laughs and feels like he's really helping (torturing) me... and he IS helping. The extra momentum of his push makes the exercise a bit more difficult AND his laugh makes ME laugh which is also good for those abdominal muscles, right?!

Involving them in the workout is the BEST way to show them love, teach them the importance of exercise, model good, healthy behavior. Scolding them, ignoring them, or whatever other process these people use to make them "obey" seems frustrating for both of you.

Good luck and feel free to write/email me if you want more suggestions on working out with her as she grows and gets older. I'm only 2 years ahead of you.

vicki

It's so hard to balance it all...but you can do it. it sounds to me that your daughter just really wants some time with mommy. you're gone at work all day and she's with daddy. so when you get home, she's wants some time with you. give her half an hour of your attention...play dolls with her or do puzzles...just give her your full attention so she knows she's also important to you. Once she's had her time, make sure she knows that now it's your time to work out. invite her to join you, but if she decides not to, give her a few activites she can do independently. i also like the idea someone else had mentioned about having a special toy or activity she gets to do only during mommy's work out time. Hopefully once she gets her special mommy/daughter time she'll give you the time you need as well. and bedtime may be easier as well.