Finding Time to work out ???

yopp98

Member
Hi, I am a mother of three kids all under the age of five. I will also be going to school in September part time. I know there are plenty of moms out there who find the time to work out and I was just curious as to how they do it. I get so stressed out when I try to figure out how I am going to fit it all in. I can barely keep up with all the house work now and school hasnt even started yet. My husband works 2 jobs so his help isnt an option. I was just curios as to different ideas on how people fit exercising into their busy schedules. I LOVE this forum. I have learned so much from just reading bits a pieces. I am soo glad I discovered CATHE!!!!
 
WoW!!! I only have one..I admire you're determanation. (Number 2 is in the works though) I am also going to school, but they are corespondence courses, so I am able to do them in the evening when my little one goes to bed. My husband is a Med student, so I know how it goes with doing it on your own. I get easily stressed out, so I feel like exercise is my one way of keeping myself sane. I try to do it during the day while my 18 month old is playing...sometimes it dosen't work so well...he seems to think everytime I get down on the floor for ab work it's time to "hop" on my stomach...(hoping that will help develop the muscles..tee hee) Any way, other than maybe rising earlier in the morning or late evening when the kids are asleep..you could try getting some exercise in with them. Dancing around the front room, relay house cleaning...(you could give them small jobs like putting the socks in the hamper or something like that) Good luck with school, and your fitness goals!!

Lindzebird
 
Howdy:
I have 3 boys ages 1, 3 and just turned 6. The 6 yo starts KG in the fall, the rest are not in school. I have not got any pat answers but I have been getting workouts in and here is what I have to say.

- I have worked out as late as 10 pm at night with a Cathe tape.
- Lately I have been working out to a tape while the 3 yo and 1 yo nap (I STRIVE to get them to take their afternoon naps at the same time) in the afternoon. The 6 yo watches me and imitates me or finds something else to do. I think a 4+ yo could do this too.
- My goal is to one day convince myself to start daily 6 am workouts with a Cathe tape before the kids get up. I think that is likely to be the most consistent answer. The naptime and evening workouts too often get dropped because of being tired/schedule/other stuff to do. Plus I want exercise to be part of my life, not BE my life.

Other stuff I have to say
- Cleanliness is overrated. Let the housework go. If you wait til all the housework is done, you will NEVER WORKOUT. Which would you and or family rather have...a happy mom/wife, or a clean house that is soon going to be messed up? Choose. It is ok for your kids to see you making you and your exercise time a priority. I repeat...it is healthy for them to see that. With more energy from working out, you will be more efficient to do housework. At least, in theory. :)

- Make it a priority. Like brushing your teeth. Could you imagine NOT brushing your teeth every day? It is habit forming. If I don't brush my teeth...I feel weird. If I don't workout...I feel weird.
- The funny thing about exercise....the more you do it, the more energy you have to do it...not less.
- Try this new attitude for a week. If the world does not fall apart...continue!!

HTH

Jen
PS My house is a tornado.
 
My kids are middle school, elementary and preschool. I find that I HAVE to get up an hour earlier in order to exercise. But...its important for the health in more ways than one, so I do it. 5:45 during the school year, 6:30 during the summer. I hope you find something that works well for you!
 
I have 3 boys and I'm a part-time student too. Although my children are all elementary school age now, I have been exercising at 5:30 in the morning since they were babies. My husband has to leave for work by 7:00 A.M., so I have to fit it in before he leaves. I love that quiet time in the morning, all to myself. Even on the weekends, I still get up that early and work out.
For me, being fit and healthy makes me a better wife and mom.
You can do it :)
 
Hi Yopp! Welcome to the forum. You are a busy mom for sure. I have to agree that the easiest way to make this work is to get up earlier to fit it in. Even if you only do 30 minutes to start. And if you have spurts of time throughout the day you can do three 20 minute workouts (one cardio, one upper body, one lower body). Or another option is 30 minutes cardio in the morning and 30 minutes weights in the evening. It may be rough right when you start school due to all the changes but eventually you will find those precious opportunities to squeeze in quick workouts. Good luck and big hugs to your little ones:)
 
Hi there!

I feel for you! I have 3 kids - 5y, 2-1/2y, 6-1/2m. My house is a constant mess although it's been better these days since DS has just started to crawl and my DD's toys, especially those Polly Pockets, Sweet Streets stuff, have to be kept off the floor or away from DS. I can't rely on my DH to watch the kids so I can exercise because he's just too busy. He's a medical fellow and has long, unpredictable hours. Anyway, I was an avid exerciser before kids, kind of an intermittent exerciser after both DDs were born, and decided to really commit myself to exercise after DS was born. He was born December 5th and I've really made a lot of progress since then. I may be at a better fitness level than before having kids...and I'm breastfeeding. I attribute it to Bootcamp. There is no way in the world I can exercise early morning. DS still wakes up around 2a and I have no interest in waking up 2 hours later to exercise. I need my sleep! I've been exercising while he takes his afternoon nap. Sometimes, I'll exercise at night. Thank goodness my girls can play independently and son can usually play with toys, or sit in the swing, and watch me if he's awake.

Whatever time I find to exercise, what I've finally accepted is that I should not stress over it. Sure, exercise is important and I tell my kids that all the time. But I don't want it to take over my life when sometimes it's more important to watch my daughters play or play on the floor with my son. Also, I've kept all of my workouts to less than an hour and I try not to exercise on the weekends (unless it's a beautiful day, and DH is home, and I have the energy to go for a run).

BTW, doing Bootcamp, or some other form of HIIT, is awesome! You can get a great workout in so little time and it's so effective!


-Melanie
 
I am a FT working mom with two kids 4 and 2 and I can empathize. I have been an early morning exerciser since my 20s and find that is the way to go. Since having kids, I have way lowered my expectations on how much exercise I can fit in.

I agree with all who say forego the housework for some fitness time. Trick here: clean mirrors, sink fixtures and toilets makes the whole house look clean. Shov the toys in baskets and stick in closet. Voila - 10 minutes clean house. May I also add: ask for help! Try to arrange a once a week sitter for an hour or more for yourself to go for that run, take a class, hit the gym if you have a membership (I gave mine up years ago - hence my addiction to Cathe!) Whenever we have relatives stay over, I ask that they can cover us for 30 minutes so hubby and I can run, or occupy the kids in their room or the yard so I can pop in a tape. It's become routine now with the grandparents - "Why don't you go work out while I take the kids to the park?" If you can't afford to pay anyone - and we have all been there - then do what I do with a group of other moms. We get together with all our kids and one mom gets to go out for a few hours for solo time. One mom of a newborn went home and napped!! Antoher had a facial manicure. You have options. You need to act because nobody volunteers for this stuff. Yes, you do deserve to take of yourself. Else you will go crazy. And good for you that you are seeking out exercise time instead of bad habits to manage stress. What a great role model you are. Hang in there and best of luck. You are amazing!
 

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