Mom's with young kiddos!!!

I am SO there with you! I have a 5 (6 in June) and 3 year old. I have to get up early to exercise. I make sure I put cups of milk in the fridge so that they can get them by themselves and my 5 year old knows how to turn on Disney in case they get up while I'm exercising. That's the ONLY way I can find time. And even then, I'm rushing. My 3 year old has been REALLY needy for attention lately, so I even feel guilty for taking THAT time. And then I work 40 hours/week as well.

I'm very interested to find out if anyone has a magic formula for more time during the day!

Hello. I'm a mom of one 3 year old and a wife of an active duty U.S Marine. I work 40 hours a week and recently haulted my classes for a masters degree.

I have always been a stay at home mom until i graduated this past year (so 3 years). From 2010-2009 I lost 40 lbs but joining a gym that had daycare and went for 2 hours EVERY day. I used that time for myself....

My husband got shipped to Japan for a year, I started to work 2 jobs over 60 hours a week...and gained about 20 lbs back (medical reasons also).....
I started to go the gym at night (with my daughter in daycare all day and then again at the gym) i felt so guilty about not spending time with her because afterall her father is gone.

We moved and my husband came home. I got a full time job once again and joined a gym.... this time working out in the MORNINGS (5AM until 6:30-7AM). I find i get more done and i dont feel guilty at night because i have time with my family but also im taking care of myself. Ive lost about 5 lbs since this started.

I know its hard, but try getting up before your kids do if you have someone to watch them go the gym, or if you dont get a workout DVD and do it for 30-60 mins each morning. That way you get what you need in when your kids are asleep and you get to spend time with them after work! It took me about 2 weeks to really get used to it...give it a try!

Add me, we will support each other working mommies trying to get fit

I have a 1 yr old and a 2 yr old and work 40 hours a week. I understand the fatigue and trying to find 'me' time when being pulled in 10 different directions already. I am far from an expert, but I have been told it is more difficult to lose weight without getting at least 8 hours of sleep. I am not sure if anyone with kids ever gets 8 hours, but I think consistently getting a full night's rest will help. Also make sure you eat enough calories during the day, and like the others noted probably cut out some carbs. I have gotten to a point where I am fairly satisfied with my weight after having two kids back-to-back.

I decided I needed time for just myself to stay sane and get to a happy place. I joines a fitness challenge because I knew I needed someone else to keep me motivated and accountable. So having MFP to help with calorie counting and some other women to get me working out is what has helped the most. Good Luck!

Me! I have a 12 month old and a 28 month old. I'm a SAHM so i'm with them all day. We often go to the park so i can get some walking in. Also i turn on music after their naps and they dance around while i TRY to work out. That means me doing sit ups while the baby is sitting on my stomach or my 2 year old is pulling my hair. Doesn't always work but I at least try to get in 30 minutes a day.

I have a 2.5 year old and a 2 month old! I never have any time. Ever. Lol. I load 'em up and go walking with them.

hi hi! i have a 3yr old and work 4 days a week. i manage to get up early (5am to run most work days) and i try to walk during my lunch break. i find walking during lunch is a very productive use of time and i can focus more on my family when i get home.:bigsmile:

I am almost 34yo and have 3 kids; an 8yo, 5yo, and 2yo...I work full time getting up at 5 am everyday (work by 630)....I count calories and have done a work out (lifting, running, insanity, elliptical, etc) 4-6 days a week since MARCH 2011....I have changed nothing since January and have GAINED 6 lbs....BEFORE I gained 6 I was stuck for 5 months....i am no help It SUCKS. But, I did go to my family practice doctor and insist they do blood work, they said I'm normal. Went to my ob and told him he needed to fix me or I'd keep coming back (I like him better than my gp). He told me that I need to read 40/30/30 and watch my carbs....that at "this stage in my life" things process differently....So I have been counting calories AND watching carbs.....and still nothing - though that was only 2 weeks ago and it's "that time of the month"....I am going to UP my protein with my newly lowered carbs, throw in some strength (1-2 days) and stick with 4 days cardio (I can run outside with my 2yo now that it's nice) and hope SOMETHING gives....I am SO CLOSE to goal....and I still just feel so hopeless!!! hopefully someone can help, because I know how you feel!!!!!

eta: My ob also said to take a b12 supplement and an omega 3 supp(fish, flaxseed, and something else as options)....I DO have more energy but I think it may be mental - or the weather being nicer.....some days though you just HAVE to do it for you.....

Just curious, do you ever measure?

I think there are a lot of us! I'm 32, married for 12 years, stay at home mom of 3 (a 9 year old girl, a 6 year old boy, and a 10 month old boy.) I do a lot of cycling on my stationary bike. (mostly while my youngest naps) We also walk at the park or around our neighborhood a lot. I've also been known to get a Just Dance 3 workout in! My youngest likes the colors and music on the television! Keep trying...you can make it work for you.

My three year old wouldn't stay in bed, so we put a digital clock in his room, covered the minute area and told him he could only leave his room when the hour number was a "morning 7", unless he had to pee in the night. We were very stern and made it clear that we needed to sleep at night, just like everyone else in the world, and Mama is a happier Mama when she's gotten some sleep.

The control of having the clock to watch seemed to do the trick. So now every morning, I get woken up by "Mama, it is morning 7! It's time to wake up!" Yay. Victory!

You could do the same with quiet time, which you can use to workout. Or just workout after they are in bed at night. It's tough. Took us a while to hammer oyt a routine that works.

I have a 3 and 7 year old and like you work during the day out of the home. For me I try to do something when the rest of the family is involved or there. Family goes for a bike ride and I jog next to them. Yes it's a slow bike ride but the kids just love to go out on them at any speed. Or my 7 year old has soccer 3 days a week so while he's practicing I run around the complex for 40 minutes pushing my daughter in jogger.
I don't do well getting up early and once I sit down at home I'm a goner. This seems to be working for now but would like to find a way to get it done during my work day. Then I won't be trying to fit it in at home between dinner/laundry/baths/relax time.......

I also agree with the sleep comment someone else had earlier!! I'm worthless without 8 hours at least a couple nights a week.

I have two 3.5 yr olds and one 2 yr old... Pure craziness! Between working 40 hrs/week and trying to keep the household going, exercise is a daily struggle for me. So is sleep... I'm trying to make sleep a priority, I think that will help a lot. I also find I have better luck when I include the kids -- walking trail, dancing around the room, etc. It may not be solid gym time, but every little bit counts, right?!?! LOL :-)

I'm a single mom, I work full time (40hrs) and I have the extreme luxury of working out at lunch. I'll stink to high heaven coming back, but I get anywhere from 3 to 4 miles in on the treadmill and I've lost almost 30 pounds since January. I also do Jillian Michael's 30 Day shred at night after she goes to bed. Some days I dont' know how we do it, but its better for me to be in a better mood and she reaps the benefits. I take all my daily vitamins and drink a protein shake after my run at lunch because it's so much easier than briniging food or being tempted with all the goodies here at work. I grill on the weekends to have good food on hand, AT ALL TIMES! She eats what I eat or she doesn't eat! Brutal, I know, but it's so important for me to teach her how to eat and we are learning together. Man, I give all of you mom props for having more than one child, I honestly don't know you you do it. I have my hands full with just ONE and it's just she and I!!!

I'm 32, with 4 girls ages 10, 5, 3 and 18months. I work from 7:30-4pm and I run home to work out before getting the kids from daycare/latchkey by 6pm. If I don't fit it in for whatever reason (doctor's, store) I will do it after I put them to bed. Good luck! The hardest thing for me is pushing play on the DVD player

Same story here. I have a 5yo and 2yo, work full time, wife to a farmer and live in the country so there are no gyms nearby. I am not a morning person so my kiddos go to bed at 8pm and I'm downstairs working out by 8:15. I don't get much done around the house but I feel good after my workout and I've lost 17 pounds so far this year.

It is hard!!! I have a 3yr old boy & 6yr old boy. I work 40hrs a week as well. When I get off at 4 I head to the basement of the building I work in and use the gym there for free leave there at 450 so I can pick my kids up by 530 (dont to pay that late fee- $1 a minute yikes!!) then do the dinner thing, clean the kitchen, homework w/my kindergardener, make my kids & my lunch, bathe my boys put then to bed. Then I either do Wii Zumba, JM dvd, or the treadmill. For a while I did ChaLean Extreme, its a 90 day program and I made it to day 60. It's a crazy schedule and I dont get to sit once I get off work but that's ok I sit all day long. lol. No tv for me!!! I'm usually in bed at 10/1030 then up at 515. Only one Pepsi throughout the whole day and that's first thing in the morning.