When do you fit exercise in with young children?

[Honey1975]

I need to get back to some exercise but I always find myself thinking I'll just do this, this & this first & then it doesn't happen. By the time the dc's are in bed I'm knackered. Work until 1.30pm mon-fri & then not long before school run.
When do you do your exercise?

[SecondsLeft]

I used to run - I would go at times when DH was home, or on the way home from somewhere together would get dropped off and run or walk home. Sunday mornings worked sometimes. And we used to alternate one thursday a week going to a sports club we both enjoyed.

Now I mostly do nothing 😁But occasionally get off the sofa to do a you tube workout video in my room. Or a yoga one.

[busyrascal]

Saturday mornings, 9am parkrun

[Helspopje]

24/7 budget gym so exercise when they are asleep in the main

[OnMyWhistle]

Have a look for an early morning bootcamp. Out of bed, gym clothes on, brush teeth and go - no time to talk yourself out of it then! I find things crop up during the day or you end up too tired to motivate yourself to go. I do 6.30 - 7.15am bootcamp class twice a week - only works if you have a partner at home though.

[TickleMcTickleFace]

My youngest is now 2 and I go 4/5 times a week - up until September he was too clingy for me to have anytime away from him at all. I go Monday and Wednesday night (6:30 ish) and DH does bedtimes, Tuesday and Friday mornings at 6 so I'm back before anyone else has woken up, Thursday all children are at school/play school so I can go then.

[eurochick]

I don't. I work full time and commute though. I miss it hugely.

Could you run to the school for pick up time? Pick a route that has you end up at the school and then use the walk home to cool down. This time of year tie a jacket round your waist so you don't get cold if you have to wait.

[TheVeryHungryDieter]

I don't either. I miss it too. Work hours and commute time are almost too tight for my childcare as it is and DH works even longer days than I do, so early mornings don't work as he's gone at 6:20 and I'm in sole charge until drop-off.

I think once the younger one goes to school in a couple of years I might have time again..

[Somehowsomewhere]

SAHM to a 1 and 3 year old (no childcare and DH works away Mon-Fri). I have an exercise bike and kettles bells at home which I use every evening after they're in bed, and I go swimming at the weekends.

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

When I was working f/t, I'd fit in runs/ class at the weekend and depending on workload a short session in the early morning like Shred or an interval run.

Now I've got more time and nursery hours, I can do more runs in the week. I take DS to a buggy fit class (and did through mat leave and working p/t)

[lljkk]

When DC were small I walked everywhere (pushing buggy) or cycled (with kids in trailer).

[maybeshesawomble]

I work full time which bizarrely helps! It means twice a week I'm out of the house before 6am and get a spinning class done before work, whilst DH takes the children to nursery/school. Twice a week a weight train at home before the children wake up. We have also joined a gym which has weekend activities for the children so DH and I get a workout in whilst they have tennis lessons. Admittedly all ££s.

[MistressMolecules]

Only just started exercising really (apart from a 5 mile round walk twice a week to take the toddler to gymnastics and swimming lessons). I have joined a gym and am only managing about twice a week - it is hard to fit it in. I have a two year old so go to the gym when husband is either working a late shift or off. I only got during day light hours at the minute as I don't drive the gym is only accessible by sporadic public transport or a 40 minute walk down secluded cycle pathways. I would work out at home but I would not get left alone long enough and I would be less likely to be motivated!

[chutneypig]

When my children were smaller I would exercise before they got up. Short DVDs in the house or C25K outside. I started doing 5/10 minutes and worked up from there to around 30 minutes max. I do more in the evenings now they're older but I'd never have managed when they were smaller.

[LiveLifeWithPassion]

A half hr exercise DVD at home a couple of times a week and lots of walking with the buggy when they were younger.

[Phillipa12]

Im a single mum to an 8/3/1 year old, i run in the morning after school run with the double buggy or i do a weights programme from you tube in the evening while the dc are watching power rangers.

[Timefor2]

I'd use that window between work finishing and school pick up - even if only twice a week. Also are there things you can do with the kids e.g. Family bike ride at the weekend? Running about in the park. All helps I think.

[toptomatoes]

I do something a few times a week straight after putting the kids to bed. We have a treadmill in the garage and exercise DVDs.

[glenthebattleostrich]

I do a 7 minute HIIT workout every morning and run of the days I'm not working. I also aim for 12000 steps per day.

I work from home as a childminder so walk the kids as much as possible, it's good for all of us :)

[Helpmeltb]

I go climbing 2 evenings a week while stbxh has kids, plus I take the kids on Sunday. I do extra if I take the odd lieu day/holiday (outdoor stuff - walking/climbing/caving)

[missmapp]

I go for a run first thing. I go out at 5 during the week as I leave for work at half six and then go for a long run on Sunday at 7,am. Also do park run with ds on at sat. Hard when the alarm goes off but I feel so much better when I have been for a run and don't miss out on previous weekend time

[missmapp]

Precious not previous !

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

I have only started since September really when I made a similar thread and got some advice on here. I have a few hours to myself once a week in termtime which I am very grateful for - I go for a run or do an exercise DVD then. Are there any times your DC are at activities or similar? I managed a 20 min run today while my preschool child was at an activity. I found lowering my expectations of how 'good' the exercise would be helped. So I might not have an hour but if I have 20 mins I can do something. HIIT is good as PP says. I do struggle with motivation though and am by no means perfect. Finding pockets of time has been the key. Also if I think, 'I'll just do this' it will never happen (unless of course the things to do are absolutely essential).

Then once a week at the weekend I try to run while DH has the DC. Sometimes I do an exercise DVD while my younger DC plays at doing it with me or while both watch TV. Depending on how sporty your DC are could you do something with them as PP have said?

I am not motivated enough after the DC's bedtime or to get up early so I don't even try - I just feel as if I have failed when I am too tired to do it.

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

I'm very lucky.
There is some gym equiptment in a community centre, literally a street away from my house.
I nip in for half an hour most nights between tea time and the bedtime routine. Weights or cardio- alternate nights.
Kids watch Cbeebies with DH while this is going on.

[mamalovebird]

I have 2 dcs (7 & 3) and do group training 4 times a week. I work 3 days a week. Typically do three evening sessions (7.30-8.30pm) and Sat 8am session. DH gets home around 6.45pm during the week so he puts the kids to bed and makes dinner those nights.

[KeyserSophie]

I think it's important to get in an "anything's better than nothing" mentality- so if you finish work by 1:30 and pick up 3:15, you could probably get at least a 5k run in every day if you prioritised it (not sure what your commute is like). That's 25k a week which is worth doing.