Tips on how you found the time...

I found it very hard to find the time when the children were small. Now when I don't have time during the week I make sure I go running at the weekends. In the morning so my husband can stay slouching around at home while the children watch tv!

Hey there,
I'm a single mother. You have to make the time for yourself. If that means leaving the kids at daycare a little longer in the evenings so that you can get a workout in. I work for a hospital and 3 days a week I use their gym right after work. Once I get home, I won't leave again so I have to do it before my feet hit the garge floor!
I also bought the Jillian Michaels kettle bells and Shred it with Weights DVD to do at home at least 2 days a week. (It's strength training and cardio.) That is only a 30 minute workout. Could be something you can do while the kids are in the tub? Maybe hubby can bathe them a couple days a week while you do the workout?
I also work M-F 8-4:30. My daughter has soccer practice 2 nights a week and those are the nights that I workout at home.
If evenings are too difficult you just may need to get up earlier in the morning for some workout time?
There's always a brisk walk with the kids in a stroller? I'm sure they'd love evening walks with Mommy and I bet they would sleep better too!
Hope these are some good ideas for you!
Good luck!

I'm a single mom, I work M-F 8:30 to 5:30 and some weekends. For years I kept saying, I don't have the time! I just don't have the time! Late night work outs leave you too amped to go to bed, and not to mention finding the motivation is the hardest!

Is it possible for your husband to pick up the kids and keep them till 6 or 6:30? Or for the sitter or daycare to keep them later? That's what worked for me. I asked my sitter, who picks up my daughter after school, to keep her until 6:45-7. Which gives me a little more than an hour right after work. I take my gym clothes with me to the office, I change as soon as I'm done and then I either head to the gym or head for my run. Even just doing this 2 or 3 days a week starting out would make a lot of difference.

The real issue is to realize there are solutions - whether that's getting up early to get your workout in if you're a morning person (I'm definitely not!) or setting aside time right after work to do it. But you have to set aside that time and just focus on that. That's what works for me!

I am a stay at home mom of 2 boys, so I have more time during the day to fit in my work outs, but I haven't always been a stay at home mom either. There are things you can do with the kids. Take a family walk after dinner, and pushing the stroller gives you a little extra resistance, and therefore a bigger calorie burn. I do Richard Simmons videos, and my oldest (who's 6) loves doing them with me. Also, either getting up 30 minutes earlier (or more) gives you a little extra time before the kids are up to get in a work out video or walk on your own. After the kids bed time is another time to get in a work out on your own. I used to go for walks on my lunch at work too. You just have to figure out what is going to work best for you and stick to it.

I am in a similar situation. I have a 6 month old and a 12 year old. I get up at 5am and do Zumba for 45-70 minutes, depending on how long I think the baby will sleep. I work from 8-5pm and the hubby works from 6am-6:30pm. In the evenings I try to get in an additional 15-20 minute work out of Zumba. (I'm not sure if you have any gaming systems Wii, Xbox etc. But if you get the Zumba dvds for those you can do 3 different time levels of class. Short is 15-20 minutes, Medium is about 45 minutes and Long is about 65-70 minutes). I also joined curves so I can work out 3 days a week for 30 minutes there. You may also want to check out gym memberships if you have the funds, most of them have a daycare center you can use in the evenings or on weekends. Another good idea is investing in a jogging stroller so you can take your children with you and run/walk at the park or in your neighborhood.

I hope this helps. I'm not sure where you live or how old your children are so it might be impossible, but maybe it'll give you an idea. But honestly, the best option I've found for me are dvds I can do before or after the kids are up. Good Luck. If you need a friend add me and I'll help keep you motivated.

My schedule is pretty much the same. I walk on my breaks everyday. I also try to walk the dog in the evenings. Occassionally, I'll jump on a video game like Just Dance or Wii Boxing. I try to look at exercise as more of an increase in activity then just your typical going to the gym to work out. When I go shopping I park the farthest from the doors, and I take my time to shop. There are ways to get exercise in on every schedule.

Hey i don find tim in d morning so i workout at night... M trying to wake up early and fit in a walk... But... I wolud afvice walking ... A lot whether u are gng off for work or picking up supplies... Walk... It keeps your heart rate up and if you do it several times a day you'd be burning regularly... If urs is adsk job den do leg raises and stuff...

You can get up 30 minutes early.
You can take 30 minutes of your lunch break.
You can take 30 minutes while your husband takes care of the kids and gives them baths and puts them to bed.
You can take 30 minutes at 8:30 instead of relaxing.

You will NEVER find time. You must MAKE time. Discuss with your spouse/significant other if that helps. Workout very early or late at night but time is there. We all lead very busy and challenging lives but you have to make the time as you do for other things in life.

I know sometimes it's easier said than done.
But if you truly want this and are ready for it, you'll make the time.
Your husband is going to have to help. Talk with him about it.

You have to make time. I'm a single mother of 4 kids that works full time.

I get up at 5:15 instead of at 6 so I can get 1/2 hour of some kind of workout in before I get in the shower and start the day. I do things that I can include the kids in after work/school like dancing, swimming, playing sports or I do dvd's in the living room while they are doing homework or playing video games.

I make time just for me. It's hard to do, I felt guilty at first. But I go for walks or a run. I do something by myself even if it's only for 20 minutes at least a couple of times a week.

The kids love that I am more physically active, they love joining me. My younger two can recite Workout 1 on 30DS verbatim. They even do some of the dvd's with me.

Part of the reason you are doing this is for your kids I am sure, a healthy mommy is a happy mommy! It's worth the effort and the sacrifice!

For the longest time I used not having enough time in the day as an excuse for me not working out. I am a full time college student, who works 30+ hours a week, and Interns one day a week for 9 hours, all while studying for my LSAT. I would tell myself that i dont have time to work out because school and work need to be my priority. Now I am making my health a priority as well. Since I leave for school at 730 in the morning and dont get home from work until 8 at night, with no breaks in between, I decided that the only possible solution would be to wake up even earlier (5:45). It is not the ideal situation, but working out gives me energy, and atleast you can get it over with early, instead of dreading it all day long.

So my advice for you, would be to make your health a priority. Sometimes you need to make sacrafices, whether it be an hour of sleep, or an hour of relaxation time at night. In the long run it will all be worth it.

Hi this is exactly what I need I also have two kids 7 and 3 basically I get up at 6.30 get ready walk to school then all day with my 3 year old pick up my 7 year old take them both home before I go to work at 4 and get home at 9 then it's school stuff out for the morning housework and bed I used to walk a lot but my 3 year old does not want to go in the pram any more so Very limited on how long and how fast I can walk now any suggestions would be helpfull and any new freinds would be lovely

Does your 3 year old nap during the day? That would be perfect time!

I Saturday morning to get a workout in before I spend the day with the boyfriend.

You just have to commit to making the time. It's as simple and hard as that.

Yep. I have to put my workouts before the boyfriend. In the end he appreciates it and always says how proud he is of me.