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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

I get up at 4:30am to get my workout in before my two (5 yr. old and almost 4 yr. old) get up or typically I don't get my workout in. It takes a few weeks to get used to getting up that early, but I find that I am full of energy the rest of the day.

I don't have kids, but I have a husband =;P
I work out soon after I get home. Then he gets home and starts his workout and whichever one is done first, starts dinner. Now, he worked late yesterday so dinner wasn't until 8pm which upset me.. so I need to start getting up in the AM to at least do my cardio.

I'd suggest working out right before dinner, or early in the AM... or if it doesn't affect your sleep- after the kids go to bed.

Start with short workouts and low intensity workout. Can't tell you how many times i have walked infront of the T.V. with leslie sansone whils wearing the baby or how mant times i paused JM to entertain him for a bit. Have to get it in when you can, i am not a morning person but find i don't mind staying up to do it. I have a snack midday (maybe on your way home), take the edge off the hunger. Also sometimes if it has been 2-3 hours since i ate, i power through the workout and follow immediately with a protein shake then dinner.

I am a mom to near 3 yr old. This is what works for me:

1. I cook most of our meals on Sundays and reheat during the week. I do not exercise on Sundays. This is the day to focus on meal preparations.

2. After I pick up my daughter from the day care in the evenings, when we get home I feed her some fruits and or soup etc and put her in front of her computer. She stays there and watches her programs ( leapfrog, Caillou etc).
3. I then change into my workout outfit and do what I got to do for that days training session. I try to exercise as soon as I get home so I wont get trapped into the feeling of I'm too tired. DO THIS FIRST IF YOU CAN.
4. While working out my husband comes home so he takes care of my daughter so I wont have to keep stopping to attend to her.
4. After workout we all have dinner. That's in many cases less than 30 mins as the food is already prepared.

THIS WORKS SO WELL FOR ME. I WONT TRADE THIS FORMAT FOR NOTHING.

It is pretty time consuming to care for a child, get home and cook, have time to play with that child and find time to exercise.

I hope this helps.

I workout when my girls go to bed. I have 4 1/2 year old twins and they typically go to bed about 8pm. I get my workout in then. I could probably do it before they go to bed now as they can entertain themselves but i don't. I've been doing this for a couple years now. It works for me. I eat dinner when I get home from work though, so there is enough time that I don't have a full stomach. I am starving after I workout though, and have a snack.