How do you people find the time?

[Toowittoowoo]

Before DD2 I always used to excerise (either running or swimming) regularly but now I just cannot find the time. When DD2 was a baby I just assumed that it would improve and I would have more time but now she is 19 months and I cannot see myself getting more time to myself anytime soon. I hear DD1's friends' mums talking about training for triathlons etc and I am totally baffled. Where do they get the time.

I consider my life to be fairly stardard. I work part - time and DH works full time with an hour commute. Both of us need to do bits and pieces of work in the evenings after kids are in bed. I do drop off and pick up at nursery and DH gets home at 7pm to kiss kids goodnight. There is always washing, shopping, cooking, cleaning and tiding to do.

Thought I'd ask you guys for some advice as I getting really jealous of those fit and toned, energetic mums who I stand next to in the park and chat politely with! So far I manage an hour on Friday night every week and 45 mins on a Wednesday night (only when I am super organised) to go swimming (time includes 10 min walk to the pool and super quick getting changed!).

Any advice grateful recieved

[pootlebug]

I do triathlon, although I did sitting-on-my-arse until my youngest was 17 months, when I decided to start trying to get fit. This coincided with her no longer waking up multiple times per night - whilst she did it was all I could do to get through the day.

I work part-time (self-employed, from home), have limited time with childcare for the youngest (nearly all of which is spent working), and DH is out 7.30am - 8.15 or 8.30pm 5 days per week.

I get up very early so that I can train and be home before 7.30am. Occasionally I'll do an evening session after DH is home but mostly I'm shattered by then. On weekends I also try to do as much as possible v early so as not to impact too much on everyone's weekend.

My washing mountain is taking over the house, I do have a cleaner once a week, and my standards re house proud-ness are fairly low….

[chutneypig]

When mine were younger I'd get up early and do something before anyone else got up, running or some form of exercise in the house. Ive been lousy at exercising in the evening until recently. It's been a lot easier since the children can run with me but the morning thing kept me going for years. It felt like I was getting on top of the day from the off, if that makes sense.

[RockTheBells]

Based on working 3.5 days a week, this is what I do:

I go to the gym for an hour straight after the school run on my day off (Monday).

I get up a early on one of the 3 days I work all day and do a 30 minute workout at home (couldn't do this all three days...too knackering!).

I go straight to the gym for an hour on the day I work half day (Friday).

I either work out at home or do a yoga class at the weekend.

Thats four times a week working out. Definitely do-able once you get a routine going. I feel SO much better for it, too. It actually makes me feel more energetic, less knackered.

[foxinsocks]

I don't find time. Single mum, FT work plus a long commute. It's impossible. I could have got up early this morning and done something but it's my only lie-in of the week (son has sport tomorrow morning) and I figure relaxation is as important as exercise :).

Most beneficial thing I did was start speed walking from Waterloo to work rather than getting the bus. Takes 15 mins longer each way (so total commute becomes nearly 1.5 hours each way) but I lost around 6kg this year from doing this alone!

If you are super busy and tired, just try and factor in small things like that.

[Mutley77]

It's not easy. As my dc get older I have less time at the end of the day as I am often doing lifts to and from activities and by the time that's over, sometimes 8pm, I'm fit for nothing!

I also don't really have time in the mornings before work /school. So I do a class where I can take my toddler twice a week at 9am (meta fit). Then do a home workout or extra class at the weekend and hopefully a decent walk or run during the week, one evening is usually achievable.

Having 3dc with the oldest being 10, it has only been the last year that I have achieved proper fitness! I think making sure I've done exercise twice a week (and once at the weekend) in the morning is the key. When my youngest is at school I will hopefully still only be working part time so is a habit I can continue...! Evenings can so easily be written off for one reason or another especially as the Dc get older so I think it's worth addressing that issue sooner than later.

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

I do 3 classes a week - 2 at 8pm during the week and one at 7:45am on a Saturday morning. I have 1 day off a week so whilst DC are are at school I go on a longish bike ride straight from drop-off and then if DH doesn't mind, I sometimes squeeze another ride in on a Sunday morning usually 8-10/10:30am.

I think if you work & have young DC then you need an understanding & supportive DH who doesn't mind doing bedtimes or breakfast routines at the weekend!

[meglet]

lp, work 3 days a week. I go to classes on my 2 weekdays off, one evening class most weeks when my mum is around. parkrun with the kids a couple of times a month.

I gave up worrying about housework years ago. my health and ability to work / keep sane was more important.

[AdventureBe]

When DC were small, DH would walk in at 7pm, to be met by me in running kit and 2 small children waiting for their bath.

It was his only opportunity for quality any time with them during the week and he'd do bath stories and bed while I took an hour (or 45 mins to myself)

Now I get up early and go before anyone else is up.

[areyoubeingserviced]

I work full time and have three kids
I wake up at 4am 3 days a week and exercise for 1 and a half hours
On Sunday morning I speed walk for an hour

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

Bloody hell 4am now that is dedication

[MrsDesperado]

I work 3 days a week and do the nursery drop off and pick up. DH works 5 days and has an hour commute.

I get up at 5:30 2 x mornings a week on my work days to go running for 30-45 minutes. Back and showered before DH leaves for work at 7am.
Two evenings a week I go to classes after the DC are in bed, I end up eating dinner about 9pm those days which isn't great.

One day at the weekend I go for a longer run about 7/8am so it doesn't impact too much on our day.

It is hard when DC are young, I remember feeling like you do when my youngest was 2, now youngest is almost 3 it's become much easier.

My house could be tidier and I could be a bit better about the laundry piles, but i prefer to exercise first!

[silverstar1]

I work 5 days a week nearly full time and DH works full time but home by about 4:30pm. I go swimming about 4 times a week sometimes in the evening when DS is in bed or 6:30am so I am back in time for DH to go to work. I swim on Sunday mornings as well but take DS with me.

I also try biking and walking everywhere instead of taking the car.

[Magicalmrmistofeles]

I have to getup at 530 and exercise before the kids wake up and before I have to leave for work. Even then it's right but I can't being myself to get up at 5!

[yetanotherdeskmove]

A mix of lunchtimes at work, evenings and weekend mornings. It's totally do able you just need to juggle things and make it a higher priority. Thankfully housework is lower on my priority list than running is ;)

[yetanotherdeskmove]

Ps I work 3 days a week and have two preschoolers. Dh doesn't get home till 7 and also exercises.

[dinkystinky]

Mixture of lunchtimes, on way to work and weekends - HIIT/tabata training is your friend. I find 30 minute super intense work outs are easier to fit into the day and work for me.

[meglet]

we'll all live to 100 with messy houses .

[Sarahlouboo]

Have you ever tried working out at home? I work out 5 times a week, I started with 30 day shred with Jillian Michaels (20 minutes!) and moved on to some of her others, now I do T25 (25 minutes as the name suggests). Then a longer workout/run/long walk at the weekend. My DS is 7 and it definitely gets easier as they get older! But I used to work out when he was about 3 and pottering around. I work full-time and study part-time. I would love to go back to the gym and do some classes there eventually but for now this fits in with my life perfectly.

[Nolim]

I dont do marathons or similar but i go to the gym at lunch time a few times per week and then i have lunch at my desk.

[Laidbackorlazy]

I get up early to run - twice a week out and back before everyone else gets up at 7. At the weekend I do a longer one at 7-7.30 and am back by 9. I worked out a while ago that the only way to fit more in to the day was to get up earlier - I'm too tired to run in the evenings.