Tips on how you found the time...

I think it's a lot easier to find the time as a working mother, as you have childcare arrangements already in place. It is A LOT harder when you are a stay at home mother to pre-school aged children, with absolutely no access to childcare and children who can't be left to themselves for 5 minutes without killing each other. You don't get lunch breaks as a SAHM, for a start. Hell, you don't even get loo breaks.

*disclaimer, I am a student and have childcare, but didn't for 3 years and it was incredibly hard to do anything at at all.

I know it's early, but you could get up a bit earlier and pop in a video. Check the library, you may be able to borrow some for free (or if you have Netflix, they have a bunch of options, too). Even 20-30 minutes a morning can make a big difference - and you'll have more energy for the rest of the day!

Another option is to work out over your lunch break; this is what my husband does. He is lucky enough to have a small gym in his work building, and his schedule is such that there's no one else there. He will spend 20-30 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical and then he will eat lunch at his desk. (He is also lucky enough to not get too sweaty/stinky, somehow). If you don't have a gym, you can always go for a fast walk over lunch.

Take your kids to the park and play with them - you'll get a good workout by climbing, swinging, sliding, or playing tag. Or put them in the stroller and go for a nice walk in the evening (I don't know how old your kids are, but adjust to their age). And, like another poster said, many gyms have child care facilities.

It's a matter of being creative and sticking to your choices. :happy:

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

It's just about making a commitment. Once you decide that working out and taking care of yourself is as non-negotiable as feeding the kids, making dinner, soccer practice, etc, you'll be amazed at how the time just "suddenly" appears.

I get up at 4-4:30 am most days to get my workouts in. I go to Pilates class or go on runs during my lunch break. I make a point of getting up early 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.

You can probably find a spare half an hour a day to work out. The 30 Day Shred is 25 minutes long. Easy to slip in somewhere during your day.

I have 3 kids , up at 7.30am, drop one to sitter, 2 to school for 9.15am, in work for 9.30am. Finish at 5pm-try to get a walk in at lunchtime - 20 min walk or so and 2 evenings a week I jog 30 mins when I finish at 5pm before I get into my car to go home, cause once I am home there is no time for exercise between my commitments and my kids social life ! On a Sunday I try to get in an hour of jogging while DH watches them, he isnt home during the week til 7pm or so and its too dark to go jogging then. Saturdays are a no go for exercise cause its house cleaning, laundry, kids to gym etc all day.

I started the jogging on a threadmill which I still have but find hard to use since I started jogging outside but its still useful for the odd walk if I need to get in a few minutes to counteract a bad day.

This is the only way I work in a bit of exercise in my day, classed dont work for me, it takes too long to get there and back, I'd prefer to just go out and jog and its done and dusted.

Hope that helps.

Hello group,
I'm new to adding working out to my schedule and would any advice. I work full time M-F from 7am to 5pm. I pick up my 2 kiddos and then head home to do the same routine as you all.. dinner, baths bed time ect. By 8:30 my hubby and I are usually on the couch resting up the for next day. I have eliminated our night snack to healther choices this week. Sat-Sun the hubby works and I'm alone with the kids. Hope I gave enough info for suggestions.
Thanks in advance,
Stef

I can relate! I work full time as well, pretty much the same hours as you, and I have 4 children. I have to pick up my youngest from daycare every day, by the time I get home my hubby is normally there and has *usually* has dinner started. On my work out days, I change into my gear the second I walk in the door and start on my pilates, yoga & then treadmill for 30 minutes. Once I'm done then I will attend to the family. The weekend I work out harder about 30 minutes after breakfast

I am a single, working mom and I MAKE time. I have a 2 year old and a 3 year old that require attention. I already have to be up at 5am to get us out the door by 6am. so I DONT want to wake earlier. And I pick the kids up at 4:30 and I enjoy that time with them. I don't want to give up time I get to spend with my kids. ♥ SOOOO... I work out after they go to bed. Yes, I usually work out at 8:30/9pm at night. If I am really tired I only workout for 20 minutes. (elliptical or Jillians 30 day shred) If I am more awake or I get the kids to bed early enough then I will do BOTH Jillians and the elliptical. Like the others have said, you just have to make time.

My hubby and I started taking turns on putting our 2 boys to bed. One of us will start working out at 7 pm and then the other will go and workout (in our basement or bedroom) at 8 pm. Our boys are usually in bed by 8, but if they aren't, the one who worked out starting at 7 will finish with getting them in bed. This has worked for us to give us some of our own down time. We are usually in bed by 9:30-10 pm. Good luck! You just have to create some time for yourself. We used to get right into bed after our boys were in bed, but decided working out is more important then watching a tv show!