Does anyone else struggle to know where they’d fill a regular exercise programme in?

[colddarkdarkcold]

So I know people will say I’m making excuses and maybe I am but this is my life and I would welcome any suggestions!

I have two children, aged five and two. I am the main carer for them both because DH is away a lot and even when he isn’t doesn’t get back home until gone 7 in the evening.

I would struggle to afford a gym membership at the moment, although this will hopefully change in the future when both children are at school and I can work a bit more.

I work two days a week. I am a teacher so have school holidays off but then I have my older child and mostly my younger one too as one of her nursery days is Monday (the other is Friday!) so bank holidays hit us hard! For example, she won’t go to nursery at all this holiday. Feb half term she has two days she could attend but over Easter Good Friday and Easter Monday mean over the whole two weeks she’ll only attend for two days. Same with may bank holiday week: only one day.

DD (age two) really doesn’t like her pushchair; if she did I’d go on long walks with her during the week. But she just whinges and moans and tries to get out which makes it a miserable experience! We do get out for walks a bit but they are slow toddler pace: good for her development but not great for my fitness!

We are a fair drive from anywhere as well.

So I don’t know - any suggestions? I know there’s home workouts but there’s still the question of when I’d do them as there is always at least one child with me all the time or DH and I am not doing it in front of him!

Help?

It's tough when they're still so little. They key here is to how much you want to do it - then you find a way. There should deifnitely be time on the weekend - you could do at least 1 workout? Then could you exercise during naptime? Does your DH support you in wanting to exercise - does he also exercise himself? Could he come home earlier 1 night a week/go to work later 1 day a week to release you?

The gym isn't the be all and end all - there are more options for home workouts than ever before, also I find classes are good (especially if you go with a friend) as it becomes a commitment.

Would you consider doing some of Joe Wicks' lockdown workouts with the kids? You are then modeeling really good behaviour with them. Could you do them in a different room to your DH if you're self-conscious?

Or swimming lessons - while they're occupied could you swim/work out?

It isn’t safe where we live. It’s a country road; no pavements, no lighting and very very fast cars. I’d have to drive somewhere first.

And yes to being realistic. I do feel like in even a year things will be different but right now it is really hard to do!

And yes to being realistic. I do feel like in even a year things will be different but right now it is really hard to do!

I think you've answered your own question - it's about priorities and you don't want to prioritise it right now. It's always going to be hard but if you wanted to fit it in, you would..

I have a kettle bell, 6kg. I do a legs and arms day, a core day, and a cardio day.

On the weights days, I do 3x sets of 30/15/20/15/20 reps (alternate between two exercises). This takes about 6m each time, spread out through the day.

The cardio day is about 30m cardio plus warm up, cool down etc.

I think this has to be enough until I can gradually get more time. We keep active as a family at the weekend, so it's enough imo.

I have a 6yo and 3yo and rely on my home gym area: Peloton, treadmill and weights. I quite often do a workout on bike with 3yo watching something on TV for half an hour, or after dinner. If I had to go out of the house to exercise I wouldn’t do nearly as much, but I work out most days as it is as it’s easily available.

If you can afford it buy a second hand treadmill and some dumbbells. You can get into the habit of walking on it (which wouldn’t be embarrassing in front of anyone) and then doing some sets of exercises with the weights. Your confidence will improve and you are likely to be able to build on this. It’s what I’ve done this year and just built and built on it. I started just walking then did couch to 5k on it. Single parent and no childcare so had to be in the house. It is doable and it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Start small and manageable.

Can you find a gym with a creche/nursery?

Is there anything near/on the way to work? I used to swim before work 6:30-7am three mornings a week. Before kids that seemed impossible but I realised half an hour was worthwhile; previously I’d thought it wasn’t worth getting wet for less than 40 mins! As the pool was half way to work I could still be there looking presentable for 8am. It does rely on DH stepping up on the morning duty though- mine was in charge until dropping DS at breakfast club at 7:30.

I go in the mornings. DS starts before school club at 7.30, I drop him, go to the gym then off to work. I hate going in the evenings but if I cant do mornings then I do. I quite like going for 8pm and doing the last hour there, it's always quiet!

If not, there's an app called FitOn that I use for home workouts. Loads of workouts between like 10-30 mins, easy to do, different levels available...just class!

When my kids were that age i would steal half an hour 2-3 times a week for a run…. I rented up with another mum and we’d look after each other’s kids whilst the other went for a run.

We’d also do lots of bike rides and walking on the weekends too.

my dh worked off shore, so was away a lot too… gyms or classes didn’t work for this reason.

Look into Caroline Girven workouts and get some second hand weights. Can you work out in your living room whilst your husband does bedtime etc? Or get up early and do it before he goes to work? Then you need to figure out a way to get steps in during the day. Would your toddler go in the buggy if they have something to look at?

I was fit in the past doing a mix of home workouts/walking/exercise bike. You can do a lot at home especially if your children go to bed at a reasonable time.