Mom of 3, how do you find time to exercise?

mwoods4146
mwoods4146 Posts: 30 Member
edited October 6 in Fitness and Exercise
OK I am a mom of 3 children, 9, 7, and 5. I am finding a hard time finding time to exercise and finding exercises that would benefit me in the little time I can find. Any ideas?

Replies

  • KrissyG83
    KrissyG83 Posts: 13 Member
    So I am not a full time mom but my sister went thru the same thing. She actually found that it was easier to just get her kids involved in the workout. She would put on a dance video for the kids and jump on her Treadmill. LOL she said that she ended up loving the video and doing that too. The plus is she said the older kid viewed it as a chore and stayed far away durring "fitness hour". LOL :laugh:
  • wendyw8
    wendyw8 Posts: 86 Member
    I am a mom of three also, but only two of mine are in school. Luckily we have netflix so when I am doing a workout video I just have my youngest watch a cartoon on the computer, and when I run on my treadmill I have him do an activity at the table or I wait til they are all in bed. Sometimes I can get my 11 yr old to watch the other two and keep them entertained. It is a struggle but well worth it!
  • wendyw8
    wendyw8 Posts: 86 Member
    I also have a friend that gets her kids involved when she does yoga and she said they love it, I have been thinking about doing that.
  • iuangina
    iuangina Posts: 691 Member
    My husband and I worked out a schedule, so that I have specific time each week to go to the gym. This helps a lot!

    I would also do it when the kids are at school.
  • eellis2000
    eellis2000 Posts: 465 Member
    Yep get your kids involved, when I joined the military my chidren were 7, 10 , & 11. I would do running, push-ups, and sit ups and my children would count for me and run with me to help me with the physical fitness side of the military. They loved it and now that they are 22, 20, & 18 they are active and healthy. Whenever they are home they still exercise with me be it running, dancing, or dvd's.

    edit: you could walk or use a stroller for the younger one. There's also volley ball, frisbie, soccer, swimming, or any other sport your children enjoy doing.

    Ps: sometimes exercise tires children out while making them happy to have spent time with family. If my youngest son doesn't exercise he drives me crazy pacing. lol.
  • jessicamckay13
    jessicamckay13 Posts: 297
    I have two small kids, one of which doesn't believe in sleeping, so I figure it's almost like having three :)

    I used to lay my clothes out the night before, set my alarm for 5am, roll out of bed and go to the gym. Or running. Whatever. Now I meet my husband at the gym at 3pm right when the daycare opens. If it's a running day (on the injured list now) it's still early morning. If I can't drag myself out early then I go to the park and look like a crazy person doing lunges and squats and pushups while the kids play. I may look crazy, but I'm fit!

    I can also get them going on an art project and then do some living room abs and such.

    Good luck! You'll be setting a great example for your kids :)
  • heykatieben
    heykatieben Posts: 398 Member
    How about working out with the kids? Take them on a walk, hike or bike ride... find a karate class that you can all do at the same time.. go roller skating with them, play outside sports - soccer, basketball, croquet, catch. Would they be interested in joining you for Zumba videos? What are activities that all four of you might enjoy? Then you'd be helping your kids be healthy, too! :)
  • heykatieben
    heykatieben Posts: 398 Member
    Do you have a dog? Walk the dog, or family trip to a dog park?
  • lynnonamission
    lynnonamission Posts: 53
    I'm a mom of 3 too but all the kids are in day care or school....that gives me alot of time to exercise. When I worked full time, I would go to the gym (Bally's) with them because they have a Kid's Club. :wink:
  • elvb
    elvb Posts: 423 Member
    I also am a mother of 3 - ages 12, 10 and 6 - plus my other full time job. When it was warmer outside I was jogging 3 days a week while hubby would watch the kids. I don't have a treadmill and I have grown to dislike dvds. lol I just requested the use of my sis-in-law's treadmill 2 days a week and will continue to workout on the weekends.
    Pretty soon we'll have Dance Central 2 for the Kinect. I plan to do this regularly with my kids so they'll have fun and I'll get a workout. :wink:
  • Ricia22
    Ricia22 Posts: 7 Member
    I have a 5 and 3 year old- I find the 30 day shred and ripped in 30- the most useful. They are quick and work. It's 27 minutes from warm up to cool down- I am able to put my kids down and work out upstarirs in case they do get up. We are an active family as it is- so I like my time to work out without them under foot. MInd you they do like to "work out" with JIllian too!
  • mommygirl81
    mommygirl81 Posts: 37
    My two boys go to school and my daughter stays at home (21 months). I start my work out when I lay her down for a nap. I typically do the Wii fit, 30DS or just run on the treadmill. After that it's shower time and a few minutes of quiet until she wakes up. I don't work though so my schedule is more flexible.
  • gazz777
    gazz777 Posts: 722
    Firstly, make sure you pick up your medal. ALL mom's deserve them.

    Secondly, you probably get a lot of incidental cardio just trying to keep up with the demands.

    Definitely get the children involved - 2 ways:
    (1) Make sure they are helping you with chores - so you can get more 'ME' time
    (2) Get some DVD's, or console exercise games and get the kids to join in

    Because you get cardio already, use small weights to 'tone' - they don't have to be purchased - milk / juice bottles with water do fine !

    It is NEVER a bad thing to take 'ME' time to look after your health. You need to be at your peak for years to come for them, so do it for them - take care of you to be the best you.

    FR welcome

    Cheering you on.

    Gary
  • jeannec3631
    jeannec3631 Posts: 108 Member
    OK I am a mom of 3 children, 9, 7, and 5. I am finding a hard time finding time to exercise and finding exercises that would benefit me in the little time I can find. Any ideas?

    When my kids were 7, 5 & 3, i used to wake up @ 5:30 am, roll out of bed, get my water & go exercise for 45 minutes. then get everyone up, take my shower while they were getting dressed, make breakfast for everyone & head out to drop kids & off to work. It was actually nice to get up earlier than the kids...gave me "me time" PLUS i started my day out with all those good endorphins!
  • Cooriander
    Cooriander Posts: 2,848 Member
    In the morning, before work or in the evening. I do have a helpful MIL who watch the kids (ages 5, 7 and 9) when we do road races on Saturdays.
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