Need ideas...2 Toddlers, work 40 hours a week, and try to run the house...

[It's A Happy Day]

what do other moms out there do to fit in excercise, fitness programs? I have a 3 & 4 year old - 4 year old goes to preschool 3 days a week 9-11:30, I work Tues/Thurs 8A-2Pm (at 1 job) and Mon, Tues, Thurs 5PM-10PM & Sat/Sun 9:30-6:30PM (at another job). Neither job is real physical but that on top of the kids, on top of fixing meals, doing laundry, shopping, etc. I feel there is no time for me to get into a regular excercise routine. I have lost some weight (mostly through diet) and want/need to lose more and keep saying when the kids are in school I will have more time to do _______. What do you moms out there do with young ones at home? Ideas/Help please???

 

[Lyn5]

what do other moms out there do to fit in excercise, fitness programs? I have a 3 & 4 year old - 4 year old goes to preschool 3 days a week 9-11:30, I work Tues/Thurs 8A-2Pm (at 1 job) and Mon, Tues, Thurs 5PM-10PM & Sat/Sun 9:30-6:30PM (at another job). Neither job is real physical but that on top of the kids, on top of fixing meals, doing laundry, shopping, etc. I feel there is no time for me to get into a regular excercise routine. I have lost some weight (mostly through diet) and want/need to lose more and keep saying when the kids are in school I will have more time to do _______. What do you moms out there do with young ones at home? Ideas/Help please???

Are you describing me or you? I have a DS and DD that are 18 months apart, plus work 40 hours a week, plus the cooking, cleaning, DH, laundry shopping, etc. etc. etc. You must find time for yourself...it isn't easy but you will feel better. I used to run a little after work when DH was home with the kids, but that wasn't always easy. I bought a treadmill two years ago and I walk on that whenever I can squeeze it in...usually in the early morning when everyone else is still sleeping....even if it is just for 5 or 10 or 15 minutes I feel better....on the weekends I usually try to do a longer walk. I lost the baby weight, feel better health wise and I have more energy. It is so hard to stay with it...but I think it is worth it. Goodluck, I hope you find a routine that works for you, I know it is hard to find the time.

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

I totally lost all my baby weight after having two kids-and was way down below my pre baby weight and then WHAM it all came back and then some!!

Ok, I wasn't watching my eating too much and packing away way too much wine. So i joined a gym. One of those circuit training places, but I was frustrated with it so I joined a regular gym and have been working out with weights and cardio for 5 months. My weight is coming off and here's how I have the time: The gym has child care for my kids while I work out. If you don't have that, it makes it real tough.

If I can't get to the gym, I ride my bike pulling my preschooler in a trailer behind me the whole way-talk about sore legs!!

I also bought a weighted hula hoop that I use after I put the kids to bed. I don't know how much it helps, but my abs always feel sore after I use it, so I think that 's good. Good luck!! keep us posted!!

 

[swilphil]

Can you join the gym or a Y where they have childcare? You could go MWF while the 4YO is in school. Childcare at the Y is free. I've also taken my kids to Jazzercise where childcare costs $1 or you can buy a monthly pass. It's a great workout. Running/jogging is also a great way to get in a workout in a short amt. of time, and you don't have to drive anywhere to do it.

 

[tiff211]

I feel your pain!! I work full-time, have 4 kids (14, 5, 3, 12 weeks), have a home party business and after all that I am exhausted. I used to go to the gym after work, when I picked the kids up from daycare/school but then I felt guilty about taking them from one childcare and putting them in another. DH leaves to early for me to go to the gym in the morning, and after getting the kids settled in bed at night, I am just too pooped. What I do now is pop in a cd, Madonna's greatest hits is my favorite (skip Like a virgin, love Holiday) and me and the girls just dance like crazy, the wilder the better. They burn off steam and I burn off calories and we are spending time together. The baby sits and watches us but soon I will add more to my workout and hold her when she gets more sturdy. I am literally out of breath and sweating afterwards just like aerobics!!

 

[Christine]

Well, I don't know how much good my suggestions will be as I have not been successful in "finding the time" either. I have two kids who are now older and they don't require a lot of me anymore, but I work 40 hours a week and then i commute an hour a day. I'm also responsible for getting the meals cooked. When I get an extra hour, I generally sit on my butt on the couch just for some peace and quiet or to shut my eyes for a minute.

With your childrens' ages, they are much more demanding. If you want to exercise, you probably need to find something that you can do in the house that doesn't require you to get in your car and go somewhere. That just takes more time.

The best thing is to buy a piece of equipment, like treadmill or elliptical. Also get some weights. You really only need 20 minutes with them a few times a week to get a workout. Do your 30 minutes of cardio on other days.

Also, The Firm makes really good tapes that you can do in the house. They are the only tapes I've found that do a good mixture of cardio and weight work--all in about 45 mintues to an hour.

That's about all I can suggest. It is really hard with little ones so the best thing is to do as much as you can, in the shortest time, without needing a sitter.

I've never been good at getting up and doing it before work. I already get up early to go to work (4:30 a.m.), I just can't imagine getting up in the middle of the night to exercise!