working full time and have a toddler. When to exercise?

MrsLg
MrsLg Posts: 103 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Are there any other mums of toddlers who work full time? I am struggling to find the time to exercise now maternity leave is over.
I am up at 6am looking after LO. When I get home I put him to bed and am hungry for my dinner by then so don't feel that is a good time to exercise. I cook and eat dinner and by then it is around 7.45pm. I obviously need to let my food go down before exercising, how long should I wait? I am pretty much ready for sleep by then though, but it is the only time I can think to do my exercise.

How do you all manage?
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Replies

  • ATLMel
    ATLMel Posts: 392 Member
    Have a snack late in the afternoon and work out before dinner....
  • tigerlily8045
    tigerlily8045 Posts: 402 Member
    I do it as soon as I get home. If I put it off until later in the evening then I won't do it. I usually start dinner if I need to, get it in the oven then go work out.
  • seekingstrengthX2
    seekingstrengthX2 Posts: 771
    You have pretty much the same options as everyone else with kids.
    1. Before your lo ges up.....5am in your case.
    2. After your logoes to bed. This one would be easy since he goes to bed so early.
    3. Join a gym that has childcare.

    I do all three of these.
  • stephanne82
    stephanne82 Posts: 49 Member
    I have been getting up at 4 am to work out; I am currently doing the Insanity Workout. I have 2 kids (4 year old and 4 month old) and work full-time. It is working for me, it is hard to drag myself out of bed that early; but I feel so great afterwards!
  • nakabi
    nakabi Posts: 589 Member
    I work fulltime, have a 2.5 year old, a 1 year old, and one on the way. The only time I can workout is at 10pm. Do I want to do it? No. Do I need to do it? Yes. I feel better when I do. Yes, 10pm isn't ideal, but I've learned that you have to just do it whenever you can.
  • AprilLBradley
    AprilLBradley Posts: 40 Member
    yep... it's gotta be super early or super late. that is what works for me and i have 4 kids at home, ages 10 to 1 year.
  • Pupster92
    Pupster92 Posts: 8 Member
    I try and sneak in a lunch time power walk...
  • sculley
    sculley Posts: 2,012 Member
    I will have a small snack at work before I go pick up my kiddos to head home that way my sugar is level....Usually when I get home while dinner is cooking I will fit in a 7-10 app workout in there and there are a few exercises you can do around the house while your waiting for things... I usually will do situps and when my son comes up to me knees to play I will do sit ups while saying peek a boo and certain other exercises.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    I get up before kids wake up at 5 or 530. Just gotta do it. I work, go to school, and volunteer at the humane society - right now I have two different litters of kittens that bottle feed every 3 hours, round the clock. I have a 6 and 9 year old to get ready for school, I used to make excuses about not having time, and I got fat. Now I suck it up and just do it and I feel/look better.
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    After the little one goes to bed is when I do it.

    Most people once used to it will work out better when hungry. The hunger goes away anyway once your heart rate goes up. People evolved their athleticism to get food, we are meant to work out best when hungry.
  • momofJandA
    momofJandA Posts: 1,035 Member
    I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old, and I work full time. My husband and I do split shifts so he has the kids during the day and I have them at night. The only time I can workout is in the mornings before everyone is awake. I get up at 4:45am so my whole work out is done before the kids get up at 6:30am. Then its off to the races!
    Tired? Yes but there simply is no other option for me. I don't have a gym membership and even if I did I would feel guilty leaving them at the gym day care while I work out when I've been away from them all day (that's just me).
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    Pretty much what the others have said. I have a full time job, part time job, 2 kids, my youngest is almost 3 plus a hundred other things going on. I try to prep as much fruit, veggies, lean meats and meals on Sunday to get us through most of the week. It's a huge time saver when I get home in the evening. I am able to warm dinner up then workout afterwards. Some days I'm able to get a snack in at work right before I head home then workout before dinner. If kids are hungry I go ahead and heat them up something. If I'm able to get to bed early enough the night before then I get up at 4 and workout first thing. You just do it when you can and make it work :) You are worth the time! Don't let other things get in your way!
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    I have been getting up at 4 am to work out; I am currently doing the Insanity Workout. I have 2 kids (4 year old and 4 month old) and work full-time. It is working for me, it is hard to drag myself out of bed that early; but I feel so great afterwards!

    I also get up at 4 am. I have a 2-year old, work full-time, go to grad schoot part-time, am on my company's softball team, and am on the board of a local museum with lots of meetings and events.
  • Meatsies
    Meatsies Posts: 351 Member
    1. What does LO mean? I mean, I assume it's the toddler, but...just curious what it actually stands for.

    2. I have twin toddlers and work full time. I get my buns outta bed at 5am to exercise. Just started doing this again because it's the best way for me to ensure I get it in without feeling guilty about not spending time with my kids. It's rough, but it all depends on how bad you want it. Anything else is just an excuse.

    3. Good luck!!
  • alyssa92982
    alyssa92982 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I work full time (3rd shift:frown: ) and have a 10 yr old 3 yr old and 17 month old. I work out in the evenings if possible. I have a play area set up in my basement for the little ones and work out for an hour there. Most of the time I can get through it but sometimes have to pause what I'm doin to give little one a bottle or snack etc
  • nicnactoo
    nicnactoo Posts: 29 Member
    Yep, I'm a mum to a toddler and work. When I'm at work, I go to the gym every lunchtime. It's my favourite part of the day. :)
  • Breezy415
    Breezy415 Posts: 54 Member
    I have 3 kiddos (ages 7,4,2months) I either do it at night after they go to bed and my hubby goes to work (8:30ish) or when the baby gets up to nurse at 4am I stay awake and do it then. You have to figure out if you're a night person or a morning person :-)
  • shrednyc85
    shrednyc85 Posts: 30 Member
    I struggled with this for a while and this is my solution:

    After Im done feeding my 3 yr old dinner, I give her our ipad which has a few cartoons on it. I do the 30 day shred workout video (takes about 25 mins) while my daughter sits on the couch and watches a cartoon. Not ideal, but its the only time I can find to work out.

    Alternatively, I will do this right when she wakes up.
  • jcamby
    jcamby Posts: 200 Member
    I have 2 kids and work full time. I workout when they go to bed, around 8:30PM. It sucks but that's the only time I have.
  • Jxnsmma
    Jxnsmma Posts: 919 Member
    I work full time and live in the country so I also have around 2 hours a day of driving time that eats up my day. I cant wait until he stops napping and goes to bed earlier... Ugh! ... I only get about a half an hour to an hour total a night just before bed to myself.

    You could get up an hour earlier in the morning. i am up at 5 every morning and my 2 year old doesnt go to bed until 9pm. He is usually up, even on the weekends by 6 and he goes hard all day. Or, if you dont want to get up earlier, If you are done everything by 745 you still have plenty of time. I agree with having a snack when you get home, put him/her to bed and then exercise and have another snack, or dinner, but dont make it a heavy one. Or, depending on where you work etc, do it on your lunch hour. We are lucky enough to have a small gym here and we have someone come in to do a bootcamp workout for us 3 lunch hours a week here which we pay out of pocket for, but we are lucky to have! Even just spending your lunch hour going for a brisk walk counts as exercise... :)
  • bicoastalgirl
    bicoastalgirl Posts: 85 Member
    i have a toddler and a 4-year-old. the older child is usually up by 6:30, so I get up early to work out. This morning, I was up around 5:30, worked out and was done before she was up. We were out the door around 8:30.

    On days I have to go into the office, I wake up at 4:20, and we are out the door ideally at 7:20, but sometimes it's a little later.

    Both of my girls sleep through the night, so that helps immensely.

    eta: I work full-time, I just work from home three days a week. On the days I go into the office, my commute is 90 minutes minimum.
  • krissers9
    krissers9 Posts: 20 Member
    I have an 11 month old, a 3 year old and a 5 year old. I get up at 4:30 to go to the gym, get in an hour and get ready at the gym. I then go to work by 7:30. At first I thought I would never stick to it, but I've been doing it since January and don't mind. I actually feel more awake during the day :)
  • mmsilvia
    mmsilvia Posts: 459 Member
    Please feel free to add me for support. I am a working mom of an active one year old. I have learned that the key to a sucessful workout routine is to be flexible and think outside of the box. Also, don't beat yourself up if you miss a day or two.

    Every day is different for me because, when you are a mom of a todler you never know what your day will hold. So some mornings I wake up at 5am so I can go for a run before my son wakes up. If I am working out at night, I will just eat a salad, fruit or a light snack while my husband & son eat dinner. Once my son is tucked into bed I will workout with some weights or do a exercise video.

    On weekends, I take my son for runs with the jogging stroller or walks in his wagon. I also, take him to the playground (or the back yard) and run around as if I was a kid...you will be amazed at how good you will feel after :happy: and it doesn't even feel like you were working out.

    This past weekend was a rainy weekend and we were stuck in the house. I put on a workout video and layed out two towels. One for me & one for my son. He rolled around on his mat & played cars while I worked out. I want my son to know that exercise can be fun.
  • angieleighbyrd
    angieleighbyrd Posts: 989 Member
    I have 3 kids.

    I have to work around my husbands schedule because I don't have a sitter. His schedule is hectic. I don't work out a lot at home.

    I use my gym time as my break.
  • ashleyp35
    ashleyp35 Posts: 53
    I am a single parent of a three year old, and I work fulltime. I usually get up at 5 am and workout on my treadmill combined with exercises from the Nike Training Club, which is a free App for the Iphone. I have 5lb and 8lb weights, as well as a medicene ball, really that is all you need to complete the exercises. I am living proof that it can be done.
  • litnerd4life
    litnerd4life Posts: 19 Member
    Yep! I get up and get to the gym before everyone wakes up. I don't work, but I do have 2 little ones and go to school full time. There is also this great website, bodyrock.tv, that posts 12 minute (usually, some are a little longer) workouts for free! Most you can do with just bodyweight, while others you may have to get a little creative using dumbbells or coffee tables etc. to do the moves. It is intense, but only 12 minutes! So, if you don't want to have to get up super early or go to bed super late, this is a great option. You'd be surprised just how effective only 12 minutes can be. I'm pretty hooked on it if you can't tell :) Good luck!
  • kfoxa2010
    kfoxa2010 Posts: 3
    I have to work out early in the morning before work. Also, when I can, I try to do cardio work that includes my daughter, mostly pushing her in the stroller and that helps me exercise as well as spend time with her. Good luck :)
  • MrsLg
    MrsLg Posts: 103 Member
    LO stands for Little One.

    Thanks for all the ideas. If I was to exercise after evening meal, how long should I wait?
  • stephanne82
    stephanne82 Posts: 49 Member
    1. What does LO mean? I mean, I assume it's the toddler, but...just curious what it actually stands for.

    2. I have twin toddlers and work full time. I get my buns outta bed at 5am to exercise. Just started doing this again because it's the best way for me to ensure I get it in without feeling guilty about not spending time with my kids. It's rough, but it all depends on how bad you want it. Anything else is just an excuse.

    3. Good luck!!

    LO means Little One
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I have to get it in before everyone wakes up. I am up at 4:50 working out at least 3 days a week. If I wait until evening, I am just way too tired. If your LO is going to bed that early, you should be able to get to bed at a reasonable time to make the morning workout possible.

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