How do you fit exercise around being a mum - if at all?

[eggybreadandbeans]

My ds will be two on Wednesday. I haven't exercised really since cycling to work pre-pregnancy, and I'm missing it. I want to start exercising regularly again.

I'm wondering how to fit in three worthwhile sessions of something a week with a very lively (and at the moment quite clingy) two-year-old to keep amused and out of mischief.

What sort of exercise do any of you do? When? Where? How? Where do your little ones go - or do you exercise with them around?

Grateful to hear what works for any of you. Thanks.

[moondog]

You are me-two year old and trying to exercise X3 a week.
My dh abroad so noone to take over at night.
I am a sahm,so A goes to nursery so that I can get some space and go to the gym!

[FillyjonktheFluffy]

dh takes kids for a hour and a half here and there and I go to the gym. roll out of bed 7.30, there by eight. thats how I do it. And I walk everywhere-easily 10 000 steps.

Three sessions is an awful lot, tbh.

is there a gyn with a creche maybe?

[handlemecarefully]

I do the gym with a creche option (there's a David Lloyd near me)

[FillyjonktheFluffy]

yeah we're at david lloyd (lots and lots of women with perfect perfect straightened hair ), agree, the creche is good. Or they do kids clubs.

[handlemecarefully]

God tell me about it - they all look bloody fabulous. It is sickening.

However I understand that David Lloyd have recently struck a deal with SAGA to increase their grey membership (I kid you not, was reading about it in the Times today at the bar in David Lloyd as it happens) - far more up my street. I shall feel nubile and youthful by comparison

[Clary]

well I'm lucky in that I WOTH 4 days a week.
Have just started cycling to work twice a week (pick up kids the other 2 days so need to drive).
Swim on a Sunday evening (8pm) at local pool (DH babysits); pilates Monday eve (8.30pm) at council sports centre (DH ditto).
Having said that missed pilates tonight as DH out and didn't swim yesterday as too tired after restinging trampoline (work of devil).
Hah! but planning an early pre-work swim 7.30am tomorrow.
Also go running but not been out much lately as blood count low and feel too tired after about 5 mins.
Is that any help? ie can you explore evening sessions at yr local pool/evening aerobics class? Or daytime class and 2yo in creche? (they are very good at our sports centres and only £1/hr.

[FillyjonktheFluffy]

yes but they're facelift SAGA-ites, imo. they have them in cardiff dl, they spend all day swimming up and down slowly not getting their perms wet. They actually look quite fabulous. Am confident lots of them have never squeezed a baby out either.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I bike with both kids on the bike. I walk everywhere. I run when I can fit it in, when DH is home. Also, we have a local mum's running swaps sort of arrangements - meet up twice a week, and take turns minding kids and running. This works very well. DS2 has also recently started at a co-op, so I get time off.

Oh, and I have tapes, which I did a lot when DS1 was little, but somehow haven't gotten into again.

[biglips]

i walk alot with dd - 20 mths - who sits in the pram and i try and avoid buses and trains much as i can in the lovely weather and sometimes in the horrible weather too as its good as you can switch off abit...

[fullmoonfiend]

Another vote for walking everywhere! You are supposed to do 10,000 steps a day for general fitness. I got a pedometer once and found out I was walking 20,000 before 3pm most days :)
Some leisure centres have creche facilities Might there be one near you? Other than that, get a mini trampoline (a trampette! - PMSL at that name) and take turns!
Or put on dance music and let your toddler boogie while you do steps or whatever.

[MeAndMyBoy]

Surely being a mum IS excercise lol

Why not get a cycle seat for DS and then you can start cycling again?

[NomDePlume]

I go to the gym when DD is at nursery. No creche at my gym.

[NomDePlume]

Before DD was at nursery I just used to a 30min exercise DVD every day (Rosemary Conelly) whilst DD was having a nap.

[SenoraPostrophe]

I do 50 child-lifts and one uphill struggle every day.

[Northerner]

I walk alot (can't drive yet)
Have a trampette at home, go for a run when I can.

[leogaela]

get a trailer or child seat for your bike and start cycling again.

If you get a trailer for your bike you could also get one that has a jogger set so you can run with it as well. Or get a jogger push chair.

Find a gym that has a nursery where you can leave your ds while you exercise.

[blueshoes]

Work and dd gives me all the exercise I need! The daily commute, then carrying 2.8 dd up and down stairs and everywhere, pushing buggy, liontaming ... by the time dd was 2, I was thinner than pre-pregnancy!!

Dd insists I follow her everywhere eg she pushes her baby buggy around the house, I have to follow behind her with the Thomas ride on. My dh says I should just sit down and tell her to play on her own. But then she tries to pull me off the sofa and cries. So I give in. Mind you, try following a toddler around the house! That is my exercise.

[yomellamoHelly]

Use the creche at the gym twice a week. Another day ds will be at pre-school and if poss ds will look after ds in the pool while I do a quick 15 mins swim come the w/end. Miss exercising with dh in the evenings.
Know someone who pays for a babysitter 2/3 times a week so she can go kick-boxing - but we don't have enough spare cash for me to even entertain that idea.
Have found I lack the motivation to do my exercise videos at home - also ds would be too much of a distraction and when dh is out in the evenings I'm too busy running around cleaning etc.

[tallmummy]

I walk loads pushing a double buggy - good resistance work. I also swim on a tues while ds1 and 2 have swimming lesson and do aquaaerobics on a weds eve. Have been doing this for 6 months now, I've lost weight and I feel so much better.

[meowmix]

I get up at 5am and do a 30 min workout three times a week before the Tiny Tornado is unleashed, and I head off to work. Also go for long walks at the weekend with him.

am blinking knackered tho!

[Surfermum]

Now it's better weather I have put a seat on my bike and collect dd from pre-school on it. Nearly collapsed the first time but the legs are getting used to it now and I can see the difference.

I also go tap dancing one evening a week and have just started another dance class after the tap. I try to fit in swimming on one of the sessions when dd is at pre-school too.

[treacletart]

I know it sounds crazy but walking up and down the stairs continually for 10 mins at a time is my main form of aerobic exercise at the moment. I set the kitchen timer when DS is asleep or engrossed in something. Really puffs me out, by 7 mins I'm praying for the timer to go off, but I am very unfit. I aim for 3 x 10 minute sessions a day. Apparantly thats more beneficial than 1 x 30 minute workout. I think it has the same calorie burning effect as cycling.

[TwinsetandPearls]

DD is 4 now so she can go to a kids club while go to the gym. (Bannatynes) My other option is that I take her swimming after nursery, dp then collects her and then I go to the gym or do a class and then get the bus home.

When dd was smaller I would do an exercise class with her, we had a mums and tots also did mums and tots yoga as well as exercise at home with her staring at me in a bemused manner. THe mums and tots sessions worked well as although dd was quitle clingy she would end up playing with the other kids.

Last year my gym was across the road from dd nursey so could go in once I had dropped her off, byt my new gym is further away but sometimes I manage a class on a Tuesday while she is at nursery although today I have to nip into school to catch up with marking.

Our local sports centre has a creche so you can go to the gym or a class - that may be worth checking out.

I also walk more now which helps, I wish I could cycle with dd but don't have the confidence to have her on the back especially during season when all the tourists are on the road. THere is a lady in our village who cycles with a trailer which I love the idea of but I would imagine dd is too big now.

[handlemecarefully]

Anyone else in awe of Mieowmix for getting up at 5.00 solely for the purposes of exercise?