busy mom needs help!

I'm having the same problem! A friend of mine and I started walkling at lunch. Started out at a mile and did our first 2 miles today.

The best thing that worked for me was to get up early. I get up at 5AM and either go for a run or pop in a Jillian Michaels DVD.

That way it's done and out of the way before anyone else in the house even wakes up.

Prior to that, I would walk a few miles at a track on my lunch break.

walk the long walk to the restroom
park farther away from the front door
push ups are the cure for boredom

with kids: It depends on their age, but kids keep you on your toes and give you plenty of opportunity to exercise! When my son was a baby, I'd run with him in a stroller and do push ups and sit ups as part of games with him. When he got older, I got a tandem bike and we would bike him to and from school (I did all the pedalling of course). When he could ride a bike on his own, he would ride his bike while I would run- a good five miles. Then i got him a speedometer and he would be my little "personal trainer" and tell me how fast I was going. Now we rock climb together, surf together, he does his homework at the gym while I pump iron. When he is done with his homework, he works out too.

don't forget, housework is exercise! You may be deadlifting 2 lbs toys, but you're doing deadlifts all day! Don't under-estimate that!

Hit me up if you want more ideas! I lost 50 lbs!

I do P90X. The exercises range anywhere from an hour to an 1 1/2 hours. I get up at 5am to get them done in time to shower, get dressed, get my kids up for school, and leave for work. My kids are 7, 11, and 13 so I as I am at work I am hoping that they get themselves out the door in time for school. My hours of work are 7:30 to 4:30 because I work a modified work week.

oh yeah, i agree with the walk on your lunch break idea.
and the playground is just a great place to work out. Running, jogging, chin ups, all sorts of action can happen on a playground!

I workout after my kids go to bed at night. i was afraid I'd never find the energy but now it's habit and I exercise 5-6 nights per week. I also usually exercise 1 morning, but I have to be to work at 7:30 AND my kids get up early so that's harder for me.

There are so many things you can do to just add a little bit of oomph to your day! When you park your car - go the the far end of the lot and 'power' walk to the building. When you're doing dishes or cooking - toe raises to work your calves. Do push-ups against the wall or tricep dips on a chair. Jumping jacks are amazing! They boost your heart rate and work out key muscles. When you are with the kids, take them for walks, encourage them to try some yoga with you (my younger ones really like this). Have family races around the yard or a mini 'boot-camp' with the family. (the kids will love trying to beat mom and it's a great way to include them into your healthier lifestyle! These are just some of the things that work for me. Hope it helps!

The best thing that worked for me was to get up early. I get up at 5AM and either go for a run or pop in a Jillian Michaels DVD.

That way it's done and out of the way before anyone else in the house even wakes up.

Prior to that, I would walk a few miles at a track on my lunch break.

^^ This for sure. I make it a priority by getting up at 4:30. I also walk around the parking lot at work on my lunch break when I have time and make sure to do something active with my daughter when we get home in the evening. If I miss one of the three, I still have the others and have made sure to get in some cardio.

I always figured I had no time either, but the truth is if you want it to be a priority you will just have to make the time. A quick break at work just won't give you the results. I don't feel guilty plunking my kids in front of the tv for 30 minutes if it means I can do my 30DS. I've also popped them into a stroller and taken them with me on a jog, or gone for nature walks with my 2 year old on my shoulders and the 5 year old walking beside me. I head out to the park and play football or soccer with my son. If you've got your hubby at home he can watch them while you go to the gym, or find a gym with a daycare service. There are ways to do it, you just need to make it a priority. A healthy, happy mom is important and worth the time each day she spends away from other tasks.

This was my problem/excuse for a long time. I have small children, so they aren't in activities yet, which probably makes it a little easier. That being said, when they are awake, they are needy! I work out after they go to bed a 8 pm. It's, most times, the last thing I want to do at 8 at night, but it was that or nothing. You can also get up before they do if you are a morning person. I am not. I also work out on my lunch break sometimes, but I dont' get that opportunity very often. I also just joined a personal traniner/group training gym. I just had to decide that I was going to make some time for myself. My kids and husband will benefit from a healthier, happier me too!

I also wanted to add that I agree with the poster above me. I do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred dvd after the kids go to bed. It only takes 25 mins and it's a great workout!

I get up at 4:00 a.m. three days a week to walk/jog. Two days a week, I wait for the husband to get home so I can go. The other times, I exercise with the family or just try to squeeze in time after everyone is in bed! I have found myself turning on the radio and just dancing with my children! They think its silly, and I get a little movement in. Walking helps any time! Just make an effort to move more-take the long way around at the office, park further out, take stairs, eat at your desk so you can walk during lunch. Every little bit helps

WOW....4 am. There is not much that would get me outta bed at that hour....I have tried to do the whole "work out in the am" thing....sadly, I have failed miserably. I work out at night...after dinner/homework/bedtime.....It generally does not leave me much time, but I get in at least a video.

I really need to get up earlier.

Anyone else just find it next to impossible?

Ho hum.

Be flexiable & creative. When the weather is nice I take walks on my lunch break. I wake up at 4:30am to squeeze my runs in before my one year old wakes up. I do workout DVD's (from my local library so I always have a variety) after my son goes to bed. On weekends exercise is a fmaily activity...I take my son for runs with the carriage, or walks in the wagon, we play at the playground (but, don't sit & watch - get up & play with your kids) and in the summer we take day trips to the beach so we can swim and play in the sand. Looking forward to going on family hikes when my son gets a little older.

If you are anything like me I am not only a busy mom but, a broke mom (lol) so I find free & fun ways to exercise.

Good luck finding what works best with your schedule

Finding time is impossible; I leave things undone and MAKE time. My job is stressful, and it's hard to justify time not actively working on the ever-growing to-do list. I eat at my desk and work through my lunch most of the time. We own our own business as well, and the accounting is all mine. Our house is on the market, and so must be continually show-ready. I've failed over and over to find time to exercise, but finally decided last October that I'm running out of time to put it off.

I paid for an expensive training class at my gym, so it's a priority to me AND my husband that I get my money's worth. He has learned it's not actually that hard to make dinner for himself and our daughter and get her in bed on time. She gets fewer baths and watches more TV, but it's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. They think I'm worth the 3-4 hours a week, and so do I.

I've been going since November, and it's hard sometimes. I am constantly late to class, because there's always something I need to do real quick before heading to the gym. My trainer started a 10 push up late fine, which helps me scoot out the door.

On days the world implodes with stuff I HAVE to get done, I just try to move more or with more intensity. I lie on the couch, and lift Katie straight up looking down at me as many times as I can. I let her sit on my back while I do leg extensions or plank (ouch!). I'll just take a couple minutes to get my heart rate up as often as I can. With a 26 lb wiggly weight always ready to play, it doesn't take much. A trip up and down the stairs will do in a pinch.

HIIT is your friend. Do circuits of full body exercises and plyometrics. Great calorie burn for the time. You can take walks or bodyweight exercises on your breaks.

I am lucky that my husband watches the kids while I work out right after work, at 4:30-5pm. Some days, we have plans or stuffs to do, and I work out after the kids go to bed at 10:30pm.

I have two kids and work full time. When we get home, I fix them dinner, then go workout. On the weekends I workout in the mornings. Occasionally I'll get up early (5a) to workout before going to work.