Fitness challenges for beginner busy mums?

[AmbitiouslyFit]

I’m 29, healthy BMI but not particularly feeling fit as haven’t hit the gym in a long time. Muscles untoned etc

I have two under two so quite a juggle. Breastfeeding and sleep deprived. I’ve recently lost my pregnancy weight (happened naturally) and went to a healthy BMI and I want to find some type of challenge that I can participate in (possibly with DH) that will keep me focused on my fitness goal as I’m very goal oriented.

I thought of the London marathon (Perhaps aim to be ready in a years time?) but I’m not a good runner and don’t feel I can be ready if I’m breastfeeding as my joints are weaker when breastfeeding and don’t actually have any time for the gym so not sure how I can go about it other than during the kids nap times at home. DH works long hours so can’t rely on him to stay with the kids either. I’m currently on a career break as DC2 is 1 month old still. (I will start exercise at 8 weeks as per the guidelines).

Wondering what fitness challenges I can participate in that I might like more than a marathon to keep me motivated for the year?

So far the only exercise I had been doing since 2 years till now is aerobics at home following YouTube instructors. Any other recommendations ?

I haven’t been consistent so I want to get better at staying focused. But I need direction.

TIA

Bump

It's quite a big jump from 'not a runner' to 'London marathon in a years time' and I agree that immediately post pregnancy is probably not a good time to be straining your body so severely.

Why not try a local 10k race? You could easily train for that in a few months.
Stroke society do a charity 5/10/15km run in February (google resolution run) in lots of different towns across the uk
You could do a wolf run or Tough Mudder challenge if you like the mud
You can do sections of Ultra marathons (eg Cotswolds way) where you hike 25km, I know people who have done these with fairly limited training (although if you plan to run it you'd maybe need to train a bit more)
You could sign up to a 6 week 'transformation ' type deal with a PT.

Also you could join our 1000miles in a year thread on here!!

I've been running nearly 2 years and next year I want to run 2 half marathons (1 I've done before, 1 is a new one), plus I'd like to get a sub 50 minute time on a 10km.

Good luck!

The Run/Walk/Swim 1000km / 1000m in 2019 challenge www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/3460344-The-Run-Walk-Swim-1000km-1000m-in-2019-challenge

One lady on here @amysaurus has walked 1000+ miles with her baby in a pram this year!

I wouldn’t jump into running. No way, that’s nuts.

Your body still isn’t quite recovered from childbirth even if you look ok so take it easy and build up gently. Your baby is 1 month?!?

I would begin with walking. Walking loads and using a sling/pushchair instead of the car. I kept myself very trim by doing this.

Then once my youngest was older and I had better sleep I focussed on building core strength.

Then I started easy kettle bell routines and short runs.

Then built up from there.

You could try the 30 day shred it has different levels that you work through, although it might be a bit tough on your joints so soon after your baby.

You could do it at home and its less than half an hour so could fit it in around nap times etc.

Oh thanks everyone for the suggestions !

I hadn’t realised there is an exercise section on mumsnet, I shall have a look through it tonight!!

I will look at all your suggestions too, one dc are asleep!

So far I use their nap times to actually finish things or sleep myself as my night times are hard.

I wonder where everyone fits time to exercise. I’m so tired by the evening.

I do lots of walking but I don’t count that as exercise because I have my baby on a sling and I don’t brisk walk I don’t feel pumped after or anything. Just generally do lots of moving though.

Seems impossible to fit as many things in a day as I would like!

To he honest OP when my dc were as little as yours I didn't fit it in either. Then 2 years ago, youngest was 2, I persuaded Dh to get a treadmill and I eventually started using it. Started off doing just 10 minutes a day while Ds was asleep or in the morning behind Dh left for work.