Working out while having a baby/ young kid

QueenKatherineElizabeth
QueenKatherineElizabeth Posts: 65 Member
in Motivation and Support
So for the ones that have kids.... What is your work out schedule like? I have an 8 month old and I do not go to the gym. I work out from home & If she is awake I have to stop every minute and a half it seems to refocus her on a toy so i can get my burn on. Any tips on when to work out. I try my best when she is down for a nap. The other day worked out great. I put her in a Snugli and walked around our yard with her for an hour.

Also feel free to send a friend request. I could use all the support I can get from other parents.
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Replies

  • cbascomb83
    cbascomb83 Posts: 36 Member
    Can't wait to see the replies myself. I found myself working out at the very end of the day. The other day it was 10 pm before I got started! After dinner, giving my girls their baths, cleaning up from dinner, getting the kids to sleep and making my lunch for work the next day. I thought about getting up earlier in the morning before the house wakes up but I'm not much of a morning person. Plus, my youngest still gets up a few times during the night.
  • jessicareiter
    jessicareiter Posts: 3 Member
    I am a working mom, so I use my lunch break for workouts. With the weather nice, I can get a nice 40 mins run in. I just look bright red for the first hour I am back at my desk.
  • jennieodwyer
    jennieodwyer Posts: 1,036 Member
    I have a 16 month old and I have been working out at home since she was 4 weeks old. The only way I can get it in is to get up early and workout before she is up. For me this means I am up at 5am. It took a while to get used to but it is the only way I can consistantly get my workouts in since her nap schedule is so unpredictable and there is no way I could work out while she is up! haha Good luck!
  • princilam99
    princilam99 Posts: 56 Member
    When they are at that age I found the best thing was to go for walks with the baby in stroller or carry them around like you did. At that age their schedule seems to always be changing. Just as long as you always try to sneak in a workout here or there, it will be OK. It won't always be perfect or at the exact same time of the day, but you will get it done!
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    I have an almost 2 year old and a 6 month old. We do lots of walks - pushing a 90+ pound double stroller is a great workout! I do videos during nap time (well, try to anyways), and when my husband gets home, I head over the gym for some me time.
  • Shelbert79
    Shelbert79 Posts: 510 Member
    I work 7:30-4pm, my kids (I have 4, ages 10, 5, 3 and 1)are in school/daycare until 6pm (if I choose to let them stay). I go straight home from work, do my 30min Jillian Michael's DVD (used to go to the gym for 45min) then get my rugrats. Otherwise I will wait until they go to bed then work out, it sucks because all you really want to do is relax but it's only 30 minutes, so I make myself do it.
  • merricker
    merricker Posts: 7 Member
    Are you ladies single moms? I ask my husband to watch the kids so I can work out.
  • TheGsMama
    TheGsMama Posts: 80 Member
    I am a working mom also. I have a 4 yo and a 18 mo old. My husband and I rotate mornings at the gym, the other gets the kids to MILs. It works great for us. I will also do the shred or BodyRock in the evenings once the kids are down for the night. They go to bed at 7pm so that gives me a little time. Good luck mama.
  • bcr1559
    bcr1559 Posts: 62 Member
    Before I joined the YMCA and started using their daycare, I did not have a set time to work out. The only times I could get a consistent work without the constant interruptions was when my husband came home from work or during nap time. If I wanted to work out before either of those things happened I was stuck with going for a walk and had hardly any variation in my routine. Good luck finding a time that works for you and if it is an option for you, I really recommend finding a gym with a nice daycare program. My son, who is 3, loves going and playing there a few times a week.
  • kcmomof2
    kcmomof2 Posts: 457 Member
    As a working mom of 2 preschool age children the only time I can get my at-home workout in (I don't got to the gym at all) is first thing in the morning. I get up at 4:30am to get it done. I workout for atleast 60 minutes sometimes more. It used to be really hard to get up that early, but now it's like second nature. Good luck!
  • techteachergirl
    techteachergirl Posts: 161 Member
    I have a 2 year old boy and it has been a challenge. I do a lot of walking with him. The snuggie was GREAT when he was smaller because it was extra weight and cuddle time. I did stroller time to walk also. Now I do park time and climbing around up and down the equipment, pushing in the swing, chasing, etc is a great workout. I get up at 5 on weekdays and workout for 30 minutes in the morning before I get ready and get him up and ready. I don't get a lunch break at work so I have to sneak it in when I can. Get a HRM and get creative! Push ups during play/tummy time... Presses on your back with baby... Dance time... crawling/chase with little one... Make it fun for both of you!

    Feel free to add me! Good luck on your journey!
  • carrie_eggo
    carrie_eggo Posts: 1,396 Member
    Get her on a regular napping schedule. Then you can workout during that time. I have a home daycare and I typically have 5-6 kids here daily. I workout in the basement at naptime while they are all sleeping. If I can do it, anyone can.:flowerforyou:
  • mummytobeslim
    mummytobeslim Posts: 367 Member
    Ihave a 2 year old and a six year old .i tend to do 30ds when lo is having a nap .I walk lots pushing him in the buggy and when oh gets home in the evening I meet friends for a jog some eveings or he takes boys out for half hour while I work out .The days oh is home late i try my best to do it in nap time orsit the boys on sofa and hope they will play with toys for half hour lol or workout around then lol
  • taramaureen
    taramaureen Posts: 569 Member
    I have a 4 year old and a 23 month old. I either work out while they're asleep or tell their father to get off his butt and watch them.
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    Great mom groups:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/639-post-partum-pack
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/70-sexy-mamas-unite
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/295-moms-on-a-mission
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/972-mom-on-a-mission
  • taramaureen
    taramaureen Posts: 569 Member
    Are you ladies single moms? I ask my husband to watch the kids so I can work out.

    Seriously I'm surprised at how many people don't just simply get the father to watch the children.
  • Blessedmommy_2x
    Blessedmommy_2x Posts: 419 Member
    I have two toddlers... So they aren't as young anymore. My goal each day is to do about 30 minutes of working out a day. I don't really have 30 minutes of free time so I tend to do short exercises here and there and combine the results at the end of the day. Like 2 days ago I did a 12 minute circuit, plus 8 minutes on my stationary bike and then I jogged around the living room for 10 minutes. Ended up burning I believe 350 cals that day. Yesterday I did a 10 minutes circuit then took the kids outside to play and while they were playing I played basketball with the hubs for 20 minutes ... ended up burning over 400 cals that day.

    A few weeks back I would workout for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon. In the morning the family would normally be sleeping... so I would do my workout, cook breakfast and head to work. Then in the evening the hubs would watch the kids so I could knock out a 15 minutes short cardio routine. Its hard to get in the time so splitting it up and fitting it in where I can really helps.

    I don't have a gym membership either... I just workout at home.

    For me its all about the quality of the workout versus quantity I USED TO workout for hours after the kids went to sleep but I would end up missing soooo much sleep and being so bored and exhausted I wasn't burning nearly as much as I should've. Now I do 30 minutes each day with as much intensity as I can. I burn more cals that way and I dont get bored with working out.
  • kd_mazur
    kd_mazur Posts: 569 Member
    Are you ladies single moms? I ask my husband to watch the kids so I can work out.

    Currently I am using my lunch hour at work to hit the gym but that has not always been the case.
    I have a 6 yr old daughter and for many years I would put her to bed and hit the gym after bedtime when my husband was home. I found it best to get dressed for the gym directly after work and before I start dinner. If I am already dressed and ready to go I have a much better chance that I won't talk myself out of going :)

    Good Luck!
  • ezramedic
    ezramedic Posts: 119
    I have a 3yo and I fit it in where I can. Sometimes I go for a run as soon as my husband is home for the day, other times I go while he is at preschool, and sometimes I go once he is in bed for the evening. It really just depends on the day, how my 3yo is behaving, what I have planned, etc.

    I have gone running with him in the jogger stroller - but it's getting difficult as he's getting so heavy now, and he TALKS all the time - and I don't have enough breath to push him in the stroller (That's an extra 65lbs!) and run AND talk LOL!!!!!
  • noKTdidnt
    noKTdidnt Posts: 61 Member
    Have you looked into Stroller Strides? They're a nationwide brand that has you bring your child in a stroller and you work out there with your baby and other moms. I haven't tried it since I work during the times it's hosted locally but it looks great!
  • swburnette
    swburnette Posts: 4
    My husband and I do the couch to 5k program, and use the jogging stroller, and on our off days, I take him on bike rides. I bought a bike seat for my bike, and found a helmet (I think it was a 2t and I just tightened it up), and we ride for a while. Just make sure to put sunscreen on the baby :)

    I am a SAHM so I understand that sometimes nap time is precious time to shower, do laundry, pay bills etc. I've found it easier if I do have those set 3 days a week for the couch to 5k program. And Jillian Michaels 30 day shred is great too.
  • jamiemnoonan
    jamiemnoonan Posts: 27
    I have a 5 year old and 3 year old. I have found that the oly time I can get a full workout in without interruptions is to do it after they go to bed. Not the best time to work out, but I do not get the interruptions I would if they were awake.
  • giag09
    giag09 Posts: 203 Member
    i am a part time working mom to a 5 mthold boy and 3 yr old boy and wife to a fulltime fireman so every day is alittle hectic especially when my husband is on for 24 hrs. lucky for me i have off every wednesday and the weekends, unfortunatley i cant bring the baby to the gym until he is one so i work out just about every day at around 5 am for about 45 minutes rotating between lifting and cardio... then i also wear a pedometer and try to hit 10000 steps a day... also which is kinda strange i try to sneak in extra workouts everytime i use the bathroom at work i do standing crunches, lunges, push ups against the wall etc. every bit counts! its hard with little ones at home but worth it i wanna be a strong fit healthy momma to them, even though right now i am a bit ocd aboout oh well lol!
  • dwightdegroff
    dwightdegroff Posts: 97 Member
    My wife and I have two kids: 2.5 and 11 months. We started doing Insanity together about a month ago and really like working out together to keep each other motivated.

    We tried doing our workouts at night after the kids were asleep for a couple weeks. Unfortunately, that left us finishing up as last as 9:45 or 10 and even after cooling down we were still so amped up that it was hard to get to sleep.

    What we're doing now is to try waking up before the kids(around 6a) and trying to get it done before they wake up. Lately, our oldest (2.5) has been waking up by 6:30 so that's been difficult... but he likes to watch or try to do the cardio exercises himself. I'm not a morning person at all - but it's better than the alternative (which is not doing it at all).

    Good luck!
  • techteachergirl
    techteachergirl Posts: 161 Member
    Are you ladies single moms? I ask my husband to watch the kids so I can work out.

    Seriously I'm surprised at how many people don't just simply get the father to watch the children.

    Ummm... I am not a single mother, but my husband just had his second back surgery so him watching LO is great unless something happens and LO needs to be picked up.... You never know the situations that someone else might be dealing with.
  • luvsherhubby
    luvsherhubby Posts: 135 Member
    to poster who said " Are you ladies single moms? I ask my husband to watch the kids so I can work out.
    Seriously I'm surprised at how many people don't just simply get the father to watch the children."





    wow you seem very asuming. My husband works overnight 3pm-3am so he is sleeping suring the day and im not gunna ask him at 3 am when he gets home...

    To OP: I choose to TRY lol to get up early before ds is up. Its the only way to be SURE i will get a good workout in. Iv learned not to be so rigerous if DS was up till 1 am I will sleep in a little I just know I will have to be more creative with my workout. You can do it!!!
  • tinana_RN
    tinana_RN Posts: 541 Member
    When my kids were that age, I'd put them in the jumperoo or the swing to watch me make a fool out of myself :laugh: My kids are a little older now (2 and 4) so now they need to be up my butt and trying to do everything I do.


    eta: My husband works 14 hours a day 4 days a week so I'm not waiting up for him to get home to do my workout.
  • lindalee0315
    lindalee0315 Posts: 527 Member
    Are you ladies single moms? I ask my husband to watch the kids so I can work out.

    I seriously don't mean to offend anyone with this, but I hate it when people say husbands "watch" or "babysit" their own kids! It's called parenting. What I hate about it is that it assumes that all the mundane stuff related to kids is automatically my (as "mommy") responsibility. The inference is that hubby is doing me a favor when he's simply supposed to do it anyway. This is a battle I have with my hubby.

    To answer your question, though, I work out at 5:15 a.m. every morning, before anyone else in my household gets up. Then, I can get hubby up, get my child ready for school, and out the door, then get ready for work myself. By 10:00 p.m. I am done.
  • CharityEaton
    CharityEaton Posts: 499 Member
    The best thing for me is to just get up before they do. My kids are much older now so I don't have to worry about it as much.
    My youngest is 5 and still at home with me but she knows not to bug me. Some days she gets her little pink yoga mat out and works out with me. She has a set of pink 3 lb weights that she uses too.
    She LOVES to do yoga with me. She knows that she can stop whenever she wants as long as she doesn't bug me.
    If things get crazy I call my husband at work and give him the heads up that I didn't get a workout in.....that way when he gets home he takes care of the kids and I go squeeze in 30 min.

    When they were smaller I pulled them around in a wagon or pushed them in the stroller. Also, pushing them in the swings is good especially if you do lunges while doing it.

    Do squats holding the kiddos too.
    My theory is if you really want it to work you will find a way to make it work but if you are looking for excuses there will always be excuses. Even a 15 min. workout is better then nothing!
  • Parsosa
    Parsosa Posts: 22
    I have been having the same problem too. I have a 16year old, 4 year old and 6 month old. It is taking me about an hour and a half to two hours in the mornings to get the two younger ones and myself ready for work. I started back taking classes, so on Mondays and Wednesdays I have to get up at 4:30am to get to work by 6am. My fiance works second shift so passing the little ones off when I get off from work is not an option. The weekends are my best shot at getting alone time to work out. I am struggling to figure out how to get more time in Monday-Friday between my schedule, and fatigue. :frown: :sad: :yawn:

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