Mommy guilt

Try working out fewer days each week. Work out on nights your girls have plans (if they're of that age). Force yourself to get it done early; isn't seeing your family motivation enough even if you don't like working out early?

Mommy guilt is definitely something that I deal with, too. I am a working mom so I am away from my 15 month old son all day, then I get home and rush to get his dinner ready, change clothes, get him settled with his dad, and I'm off. Sometimes I'm back before he goes to bed and sometimes I'm not.

I try to limit my weeknight workouts to 2 or 3 nights and at least one of those I try to do close to or after his bedtime (8:00). On the weekends, I try to go during his nap time or only be gone for an hour or so. He loves to come to the grocery store with me and help me clean, so I include him in my other "chores" throughout the weekend so he gets as much time with me as possible. If the weather is nice, I will take him with me for a jog so he gets to be part of the exercise (it is great you include your girls! You are teaching them to be healthy, too). Ultimately, I know I will be happier once I'm back to my pre-baby weight. A happier mom means a better mom.

Don't be afraid to switch your schedule up a little bit - let them eat first, exercise while they eat, have your dinner after. Is there a reason they can't eat what you are eating? If I grill chicken and steam veggies my son eats that too. The only time my son doesn't eat the healthy meals I prepare for me and my husband is if they are something he can't eat yet (i.e. fish) - and then he just gets left overs from a previous night's meal.

Have you tried exercising after they go to bed? (I don't know how old your girls are or if that is possible). There has to be some give and take to fit exercise in when you are a mom, so you'll need to be a little flexible (I don't love exercising at 8:15 pm, but if that is when I can do it, that is when I can do it) and your girls will need to be a little understanding.

Sorry, that was long. But you aren't alone. Hopefully some of what works for me will be helpful to you, too .

I understand mommy guilt. I have two young sons - 2 years old and 4 months old and work a FT job. Even though it was hard to do, I work out in the morning before work 3 days a week. I am at the gym by 5:50am and then shower and great ready for work there. There is no guilt for me since my sons are still sleeping at that time. Yes, I do get tired at night, but my body is adjusting and I do have my morning coffee once I hit work every morning. :laugh:

I appreciate everything you all are saying. I do hike trails and walk the zoo with them on weekends when weather permits and we do spend time together while I'm making food. They do the wii with me and do my workout videos with me sometimes. I guess I need to look at that as our bonding time instead of the snuggling on the couch time we used to have mostly. I know what I am doing is good for them. They have way more fresh food in the house for snacks and we are always up and moving around.

As I said I need to mentally redefine this new type of together time as equal or even better than the couch snuggling. Thanks all of your comments have helped me see that.

Write down why you want to be around for them. That way when you think you're taking an hour away from them you can remember that you want to see them get married or meet your grandbaby, or whatever but you'll be able to do that because you're alive.

I hear you - I have resorted to working out at 5am - I find it nice to have the house to myself - once you get used to it - its really not that bad. Plus you are done for the day so no excuses of "I'm too tired" or something got in the way, etc. Try it you may like it.