To the mums out there - how do you manage

i would LOVE to go to the gym 5 times a week !! there are no excuses ! i have 3 children, they come first... above the gym every time.... i run 2 businesses... these businesses make the money that pays for my kids to be fed, watered clothed and sheltered. then theres those other things like you said.... food shopping.... washing... cleaning... the school run.... etc etc etc etc.... i work out at home.... and until my daily routine changes (youngest starts full time schooling etc) then there will be no time for gym

I don't think you're making excuses. It really sounds like you don't have the time to go to the gym 5x a week. I think exercising at home would be the best solution for you, unless there's a gym at work you can use in your lunch hour. Also you could still go for a walk or jog at lunchtime even if there's no gym. IMO your personal trainer should be helping you to find ways to fit exercising into your schedule (and it doesn't have to be at the gym) rather than accusing you of making excuses.

I have a treadmill in front of the TV and I go on that while watching TV quite a lot (generally after the kids are in bed), and do weights in my room, although that can be tricky sometimes because I can't do that unless someone else is watching the kids because I obviously don't want them anywhere near my dumbbells when there's a chance I may drop one.

Anyway it's not easy for us mothers, and there are ways to fit exercise in but you have to take into account your schedule, when you can fit it in,and another trick is to do little and often, e.g. try to fit in 3 ten minute workouts rather than one 30 minute workout, just because it's easier to find 10 minutes than 30 minutes.

I'm a working mother, and I couldn't manage that. If you have childcare after work it's a possibility, maybe, but it means time away from the children and I know just what you mean about wanting the time with them. At that age, I'd maybe be looking at taking up hobbies you can do together, such as cycling, badminton, orienteering, walking to the park,games, etc. When my son was little we used to go out on scooters or bikes, and I did some home weights and exercise videos. You only get so much time with them when they're little. I wish I'd had more than I did have.

My work week is 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday (I work in a Financial office for a large physician/provider group of about 300+ physicians). I commute 20 minutes each way.

Im also a musician with two practices per week from 6pm-8pm: 2 concerts for one group, 12 concerts for the other group

I get up at 4am - out the door by 4:45am and at the gym by 4:55am. I work out for a minimum hour each day Monday through Friday.

During the week, I tidy up one room at a time. I do the cooking while my husband does the dishes. He helps me with the laundry if he is home first. I prepare my gym/work clothes for the next day.

Saturdays is cleaning day, grocery shopping day - come home to a clean home and get food prepping for the week and do bulk cooking. All the foods I cook in bulk, are broken down into meal-portions, dated, labeled and frozen.

Sundays is finish the remainder of laundry, prepare more food/bulk cooking, run errands, do the cooking, he does the dishes, etc.

To be honest, your boys are old enough to handle chores.. they can easily help make sure their rooms are cleaned, they can learn how to fold towels/hand towels, pair up socks, etc...

Your husband needs to step up here and assume the role of parent when he comes home from work so you can leave to let you take care of yourself. I dont know what 'dynamic' is involved if any, but youre not supposed to be doing it all. Let your husband cook dinner so you can go to the gym, let the husband experience what its like to sit at the table and help with homework when needed.

Why do you feel as though you have to do it all? Your post is screaming for Mom's time off really bad.

There is (IMHO) always time to get exercise - you just have to see the bigger picture in your home environment and realize, there are two of you with kids - hubby can pitch in....

Screw the gym. Work out at home. MUCH easier when you have a busy life. Do it in the morning, after the kids get on the bus and before you go to work. OR wake up earlier and get it done before the kids wake up for school. It'll be hard at first but your body will adjust to the earlier time. Just get to bed a little earlier. Exercise in the morning and 1) things won't get in the way later and 2) it'll make you feel accomplished the rest of the day.

Well, I have decided that I am done making excuses. If it were anyting else I wanted I would figure out a way to ft it in like some people save the hour to watch their favorite tv show. For me, I get up earlier. Yesterday was a 5:45a.m. workout so I could fit in work, church and the 3 state drive to see family that I do almost every Sunday. I didn't get home until 11 last night but I felt great that I had taken the time to take care of me even I that meant I had an extra cup of coffee. You shouldn't feel guilty if you can't do 5 days, but you won't know until you try. Sit down, make a schedule, and follow it for 2 weeks. If you're burned out or overwhelmed then modify it. Plus, no one said you have to do 5 consecutive days and they have to be work days. You have 2 days off that should be excuse free so all your really trying to do is fit in 3 days. It's all in how you look at it!

My life is totally different now since I am not working, but when I was I also had an hour commute each way to work so I was always gone a minimum of 10 hours every day. No matter how hard I tried I could not manage to get out of bed any earlier than I already was which was between 5:45 and 6. I decided there was nothing wrong with taking an hour to exercise in the evening when all that did was give my husband and son some one on one time together which is just as important as family time together.

As far as the tidy house goes, well, when I was working it was just less than perfect so I could fit in exercise. You find ways to figure it out. I used to do things like clean just the bathroom sink while I was getting ready for work. Then do the toilet when I got home. The shower later that night.

Anyhow, I think your trainer is being a bit hard on you. I lost most of my weight while I was working full time and only exercising 2 to 3 days per week.

Getting up at 4 AM to exercise sounds like my personal version of Hell! I don't work, but I do have a 4 yo and can sympathise with finding time to exercise. What works for me is setting a time every day to exercise, and giving my daughter notice "Mommy is going to exercise now. If you need something, tell me now- otherwise you have to wait until I'm done." I pop in a DVD. I exercise. Done.
Going to the gym is not an option for me. An hour at the gym is more like an hour and a half with travel time, plus arranging child care, plus I would feel really self conscious sweating and grunting in front of a bunch of people! LOL

I get it about wanting to keep the house neat. Why can't your kids do the dinner dishes and pick up around the house while you exercise?

Going to the gym may not be the ideal situation for you. I would love to have a gym membership, but as our lives are so complicated right now, it's not in the cards. I work full time and have an hour commute to work and another hour home, my DH works out of state and is gone all week. My two kids have activities and homework, that I am in charge of every evening. I am OCD about the cleanliness of my home. Throw in a couple of pets, sick family members, and preparing to move, that is the equation for not taking care of myself and not working out. I make the time to do it, everyday, sometimes twice, at home. I get up early, workout, shower, and start wrangling my children for the morning shuffle. After they are in bed, time for round 2. I have so much energy that everything else gets done. Perhaps you could explain to your situation to your PT, and go to the gym once a week and workout at home the rest of the time.

Never feel guilty about taking time to care for yourself. You can't take care of your family if you are not well. It takes time to adjust to a new schedule, but eventually it all falls into place. Good luck and don't give up.

I get it about wanting to keep the house neat. Why can't your kids do the dinner dishes and pick up around the house while you exercise?

Or her husband pitching in.....with the boys....