Moms; how do you find time to work out?

When I started, I woke up early and did 30DS (it's about 20-25 minutes). You are gaining so much more from working out for a bit in the am than you will from that 20 minutes of sleep.
When I was a bit more in shape, I started running some mornings..... I now run 3-4 miles a day 4 or 5 days a week. Sometimes I run with kids in a jogging stroller, sometimes I am lucky and run by myself, otherdays its a workout video all the way.

I know this is hard. I have to get up at 4:00am 3x a week to get long runs in, then shorter runs whatever time of day I can, mostly evenings. I have to use exercise DVD's, but they are great, can do them anytime.

I don't have to do the jogging stroller anymore, I was lucky my little guy would take his naps during my runs.

Good luck.

I have 5 kids ages 21 months to 12 1/2 years old. I am a stay at home mom, but I have a ton of things to do everyday. Sometimes it gets to be dinner time and I haven't gotten in my workout. That is where having an awesome husband comes in. (or neighbor, relative, etc. if you aren't married) I will get dinner started cooking and he'll watch it so it doesn't burn, and he'll entertain the kids while I go into another room to get my workout in, or go for a run.
Other times when I have all the kids home, like durring the summer, I put little one in her playpen and she watches me do a video. The older kids can entertain themselves. Some days we go for a family bike ride. I have one of those pull behind trailers for baby and the other kids ride along.

I see TONS of young women using the babysitting service at the Y. I think it is included in a family membership.

I have a 1 1/2 year old, a 5 month old and I babysit an 8 month old.

Usually around 11am my husband sits with the kids and I go to the gym for about an hour. If for some reason we can't work that out I just either wait till naptime or I just do it while they're awake. I'll put my 5 month old in her jumparoo and put on Toy Story for my son in his room.

Each week I calendar my exercise and treat each session as a meeting that I must not miss. I also color code my calendar; each category gets its own distinct color (professional commitments, organizations, medical, social, holiday/vacations, my daughter, my husband, exercise, etc.). Seeing the bright yellow exercise entries reminds me what I am doing each week.

I also consult with my husband. We each get three exercise slots each week, and we have to coordinate schedules to ensure someone is home with our toddler daughter. For example, right now I work out Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings; my husband gets Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. We are both doing CrossFit because the facility is close to our house, the class times work with our schedules, and we can get our cardio/strength workouts in and get back to the house in just over an hour.

This, of course, requires pre-planning every evening; anything that can be done the night before is. Work and school lunches are packed when we're cleaning up the dinner dishes. Clothes are laid out, for school, work, and exercise, so there's no bumbling around in the morning looking for a shoe or a coat. Coffee is prepped. Litter boxes are cleaned. Trash is emptied. Then one parent handles morning duties while the other parent is at the gym, so the parent that is working out only has to concentrate (mostly) on getting themselves ready in the morning.

In sum, the only way I find the time to exercise is because I have a husband who as committed to this as I am.

I used to wake before the kids workout then shower, sometimes it's nap time, and other times we pack up and go walking all to gether... My hubby will watch them while I workout too..

I have a set of twins who are 2.. i am a stay at home mom, and i workout during nap time or i workout when they are awake, they enjoy working out with me, although they have gotten behind me on occasion and i hit them with my *kitten* while doing squats lmao

I am a mom of 2...and also run a daycare out of my home....I fortunately have a supportive hubby who tends to the kids if needed when i do my workout....But the workout I have been doing is too, the 30 day shred...It's only 27 min Long...so even if the hubby is not around...it's doable b/c it's quick.

I get up at 5:30 and have until 7:30 to work out.

I walk to a bus stop that is 2 km away.

I usually get a short workout in at 9:00 p.m.

I work full time, I homeschool my 13 yo LD son, I cook all from scratch due to allergies, and I have church responsibilities.

Pam

I'm a mom of 5 kids - I work outside the home about 10-12 hours a week, so I'm pretty much a SAHM. I do my workouts with my kids around, I put the DVD in and just make do with whatever interruptions they bring. (And it's the toddler interrupting, of course. The older ones get what's going on and are able to entertain and fend for themselves more for the 30-60 minutes. There are many things that get MUCH easier as they get older! I don't think I could even dream of doing an hour long workout if I didn't have the bigger ones to play with the little one.)

Things that are helpful: Moms Into Fitness makes a DVD that breaks the workouts into 10 minute blocks, because time to work out is a huge issue for most moms. They also have modifications for postpartum and for things like SUI (which many moms experience when doing jumping jacks!)

Doing workouts with your baby - if you can get some kind of carrier (like a wrap or an Ergo) to put your baby on your back while you do some brisk walking, or a low-impact cardio DVD (Leslie Sansone's walking workouts are perfect for a mom with a toddler on her back, and that extra 20 lbs or so adds intensity.

Trading off workouts with your SO, if you have one, is a big help, or just have them play with your toddler for an hour or so four evenings a week so you can get in a workout - good for you, good for baby, good for them.

Getting together with a friend or friends to work out - meeting my friends a the local hs track to run during the summer, while our kids played in the middle of the circle, was a big motivator and very helpful. The bigger kids kept an eye on the little kids, and mama was always within sight/earshot. Other arrangements are also possible - if you're all at a playground together, maybe two moms go for a run around the field while another couple moms stay by the swings and watch the children. Or playdates at houses, that involve some kind of exercise while the kids play, and the moms work together to make sure the kids are safe and happy. If you don't have any friends who are interested in working out, look for a group near you. There are tons of groups for moms looking to get fit, who have to work around their children; those jogging stroller clubs come to mind.

Good luck!

I have 4 1/2 year old twins and a 3 year old. Most days I hit the gym either before they wake up or after they go to bed (Daddy stays home with them) or if my hubby is working I'll get on Netflix and find a workout to do or get on the Wii. I've decided too tired isn't an option for me anymore. I HAVE to workout for me. I have decided its time to make myself a priority and if I am happy and healthy then the rest of the family will be too. Oh and I'm not a stay at home mom, I am a full time college student (16 credit hours this semester) and I spend about 8-10 hours a week working on our family charity (making hygiene kits for the homeless here in Phoenix). It can be done, you just have to put yourself first and let the rest follow