How do you fit it in?

[Hallamoo]

So, if you work full time, have children (with finely balanced childcare arrangements), how do you fit in exercise, when and what do you do? And what motivates you?

[cakedup]

Watching with interest. My job is fairly active but I'd like to do more. I'm a working lone parent and have no time free in the weekdays. I've thought about getting up earlier and doing a keep fit dvd (there's that 20 min one for example....her name escapes me atm) but I'm tired enough as it is!

[Booagain]

Fitnessblender on YouTube. It absolutely changed my life post baby!
It’s free, non pretentious, has loads of videos of varying length and capabilities from yoga to HIIT. It’s brilliant.
Enjoy!

[shushpenfold]

Early mornings; it’s the only way as I’m buggered by the end of the day. Dh and I took it in turns to get up and go to the gym or run...up at 5am twice in the week and then twice at weekends at a time to suit. As kids get older, you can go together (if you want to!)

[Booagain]

Ps - would do a vid as soon as DH came in from work (6pm) and he would take baby.
Or, during nap time, I’d do s quick 10min yoga session.
Became easier to do them obviously as baby slept at night!

[Dup8]

I've got an exercise app on my phone with different programmes and length of time. There's a five minute cardio one on it. It's easy to fit in your day as can do when you want. But you don't meet people :/

[GreyOwls]

I’m a night owl so have been known to workout at 11pm before now. It doesnt dusrupt my sleep.

I do the 30 day shred as often as possible or go for a run.

If you’re a morning person, try a workout downstairs before the kids get up.

[PaperdollCartoon]

Following with interest. I was getting to the gym 3-4 times a week, now two and half years into my current job and I literally have no time to get there. Need to lose 2st and feeling crappy. I just need to motivation to get even a little bit back in. Doesn’t help that I swear instantly so lunchtimes aren’t an option. Really needs to be first thing before I shower but I work so much and I’m tired!

[PaperdollCartoon]

Sweat instantly! Not swear. I swear a fair amount too though.

[Hallamoo]

Thanks everyone, what is the exercise app you use?

I'm sorry, there's no way I'm getting up at 5am to exercise, I struggle to get up at 6am and have to be at work before 8am. Although I agree that first thing in the morning is best.

I need to get motivated!

[Laceup]

Up at 5.30. Arrive at gym at 6 am.home by 7.15.. wake everyone up

[IveGotBillsTheyreMultiplying]

I run when dc are at an activity-say music lesson. If you do a loop near the venue you’re still nearby and contactable but can cover a good distance in the time they’re occupied.

[ferrier]

Evenings and weekends when dh looks after the kids.

[carrie74]

It got easier as the kids got older. Started off with DVDs at home during naps, or running as soon as DH got home, but that was when they were tiny and I was still at home. I now work 4 days a week (one at home). I usually do something on my WFH day, either before I need to start or just after I’ve finished. I struggle on my working in office days due to early mornings, commutes then evening chaos. Fridays I don’t work, so will always try to fit something in then, and weekends.

Fitness Blender is great, as is having some equipment at home (we’ve got a treadmill in the garage). I also see a personal trainer fortnightly ish which keeps me going in between.

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

Early mornings and weekends.
Short videos or runs on a short loop. Longer runs and a class at the weekend.

I took up running at night at first as that was better around baby's feeds. When I was working FT, I was marking/ planning too late and too knackered for 10pm+ runs so it was better taking advantage if I had enough slack not to be working at 6am when I was fresh.

[Badgerlady]

I do early mornings. But I get everything ready in advance (usually on Sunday I lay out gym, cycle and work clothes for the week- right down to underwear and tights).

I think you need to work out (a) when you are motivated and (b) how to make exercising at that time as easy as possible. I have a colleague who gets in early, has a

slightly longer lunch break and exercises then. She wears her sports bra under her work clothes in the morning so she can change really quickly and go to a lunch time gym class.

Once you have a routine it can become a habit which makes it easier to maintain.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I also struggle to fit it in. I had been running in the evenings but started to really struggle as I was exhausted.

New plan is to do 2 morning sessions a week (one on weekend), then another session while dc is at an activity.

I would really like to do something at lunchtime, but that's never going to happen!

[Dup8]

It's called 'daily workouts' and I downloaded it free from play store onto my phone. :)

[FindoGask]

I get up disgustingly early and am at the gym by 5.45am most days. Back home for 7.30am. Not for everyone but it works for me. I couldn't countenance exercising in the evening.

[CallingPeopleACuntOnFb]

First thing !! For me it’s the only way. I do a 15-20 min Pilates work out on you tube. I try and do it every day

[notacooldad]

Not an issue for us now but I used to call in at the gym on the way home from work. The class is 17.15 until 18.0hrs so I could be at home by 18.20. That would be twice a week.
When the kids were young we went to go kickboxing 4 x a week. I was probably at my fitness then!
At weekends we would go to country parks and DP would fit a run in while I looked after the boys.

[karriecreamer]

I don't formally "exercise" at all. I just make sure my typical day is very active. I walk at least 2 miles per day, i.e. a walk in my lunch hour, walking 10 minutes to the local shops from home, etc. At work, I have a standing desk, and constantly move around rather than slobbing out letting things pile up before I go to do something with them. I'll always park the car further away and walk to the shops or work. If on a bus, I'll get on at a later stop and get off further away. At home, I'll go out and mow the grass and I'll do the weeding/pruning more often than necessary. Lots of little things can be done throughout the day to keep you active that are just as good, if not better, than formal exercise.

[PoisonousSmurf]

I was thinking about this earlier in the day as I noticed quite a lot of 'chaps' out and about running or cycling and not one single woman.
Then I wondered why? Maybe it's because we 'muggins' are trying to deal with kids, sort out the home and do shopping, whilst the men have nothing better to do...

[PoisonousSmurf]

Karriecreamer, yes that's a good way to do it. I work as a cleaner and gardener so I'm active all day anyway. I also try to walk a lot at the weekends.
Must try to use my left arm more though. It looks pathetic compared to my muscly right arm

[Ohyesiam]

We go swimming as a family twice a week in the evening. When the kids were small we took turns to do lengths, doing about 30 or 40 mins each. Now we all do lengths

[Council]

Getting up before DC to do one of those short but punishing DVDs and getting out before everyone's up at the weekend to run.

Ideally I'd have had DC with me on their bikes but i never quite managed to make that work.

A brisk 30 min walk at lunchtime has always been my sanity saver

I was very impressed by a family I saw on holiday once. They pulled up at the waters edge c. 6pm and parents set of for a wild swim (about 2 miles) while the Dc accompanied them in a canoe.