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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Please, please tell me how you fit exercise into your day?

67 replies

spad · 02/04/2015 22:57

I have two children and am pregnant. And I am very overweight I have to get some kind of proper exercise into my day. I just don't know how to fit it in.

How do you fit exercise into your day? I am especially interested if you have a baby and a toddler.

OP posts:

Happy36 · 02/04/2015 22:59

How old are your children? Can you go for a long and demanding walk/run with the buggy?

JohnCusacksWife · 02/04/2015 23:00

My toddler & baby are all grown up now but when they were small I put them in the pram and went for long walks. Fresh air for us all and exercise for me. Now I still do a lot of walking and also try to do something like 30 day shred which only takes 20 mins from start to finish.

DamsonInDistress · 02/04/2015 23:01

I don't think I could have fitted it in with a toddler tbh. I'm lucky now they're both at school that I can do whatever I wasn't between 9 and 3. But the key is a routine - find a time you can do and stick to it.

Basilbrushestail · 02/04/2015 23:03

I didn't drive in those days. I walked miles. I gained a stone after learning to drive.

sleepwhenidie · 02/04/2015 23:03

When mine were small I put them in the crèche at the gym.

Mrsstarlord · 02/04/2015 23:04

I get up at 5am so that I can go for a run / power walk

Happy36 · 02/04/2015 23:05

I go for a run as soon as I get home from work 4 days a week. It only takes 25 to 30 mins. and no time spent travelling to the gym. In summer I swim instead of or in addition to swimming so the kids come too.

Also I play sport for fun for 2 to 3 hours most Saturday mornings while my husband looks after our children (3 and 6), I am very lucky to get that time as I really love sports. I play in a big park so usually he brings them along and they go for a walk, play, explore etc. then meet me afterwards for lunch.

BertieBotts · 02/04/2015 23:05

Yes 30 day shred. Or even faster the 7 minute workout thing. (It's on Youtube or there are apps) Do it just before you'd normally have a shower, then it doesn't take up any "extra" time and you get to shower afterwards.

DS is older but he quite often does it with me!

SaucyJack · 02/04/2015 23:07

I use weights at home. I keep them and an exercise mat to hand in the lounge so I can do a few sets or some body weight toning exercises when the baby is napping or playing happily.

Also do loads of walking.

987flowers · 02/04/2015 23:07

The fittest I have ever been was when I had a toddler and a baby. I used to walk the dog for miles whilst pushing a double buggy. I wouldn't have been able to have fitted in any other form of exercise but this worked well.

edwinbear · 02/04/2015 23:07

I have a 5 yr old and 3 yr old. I go to the gym at work during lunch when I can and then every evening when they are bed. Plus I swim when they have their swimming lessons on a Saturday.

funchum8am · 02/04/2015 23:09

I either get up at 5:30 for a half hour doing c25k, or walk for miles with 3mo in buggy and 2.5yo on buggy board. Also go to Pilates one night a week when DH is home from work. Can't run at the moment due to injury so getting fat as my long walks all lead to nice coffee/cake shops!

LakeFlyPie · 02/04/2015 23:09

DVD (Shred or other 20-30 min routine) at home, 30 walk / run whilst DP bathes children or if he's home from work early enough a swim or 1 hour exercise class at gym (5 min drive away).

Now that DS2 is in morning pre school nursery I have 2 free mornings each week (I work 3 days) and I always try and fit in a gym class or swim during that time.

When they were v small (baby / toddler) I used to walk miles with them in double pram.

SaltyandSweet · 02/04/2015 23:13

It is so hard! After the kids are in bed, I do a DVD, short ones like Jillian Michaels' Kickbox Fastfix and her Ripped in 30. Short and they work, definitely feeling stronger and fitter. It's not fun working out at the end of the day (by the time the kids are asleep, I've exercised and showered, it's past 9pm) but I need to lose some weight. We are in Canada and the weather is (finally) improving so I am hoping to start going for long family walks aka forcing the great outdoors on children

bonkersLFDT20 · 02/04/2015 23:18

Difficult. I worked from when mine were tiny so could use my lunch break to run. But it was all rather half-hearted as I was knackered most of the time.

For me exercise is my time away from work/domestic/motherly duties so I didn't exercise unless someone else was looking after the children.

Do you get any time at all when someone else is minding them? Do you have a partner who can take over in the evening just while you get out for a jog or brisk walk for 30 mins? Now the evenings are getting longer it will be lovely. Just 1/2hr will make you feel brighter.

Is there a gym with a crèche? You could swim for 30 mins a couple of times a week.

Even now with a 6 and 16 yo it's hard. I get up very early some days to go for a long run or I compromise on other things e.g. go out in the evening when the little one is in bed (or with DH), knowing I'll have a shed load of jobs to do later in the evening when I like to relax.

Original poster

spad · 02/04/2015 23:21

My two are 7 months and 2!

We were doing the walking with them in the buggy thing, but the toddler likes to walk and then we don't exactly build up any kind of speed.

Any other tips?

OP posts:

Altinkum · 02/04/2015 23:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMook · 02/04/2015 23:30

I go to a buggy fitness class with my 2 year old and 4 year old. The 4 year old is beginning to keep up of his own accord, but I have one in the pram and a carrier to hand.

I go to a local class on a Saturday morning when the family is dozy and in TV mode.

I also run, either when the children are in bed, or early on a Sunday.

10-15 minute dvds are handy to make the most of random moments.

dwinnol · 02/04/2015 23:31

If you are that pushed for time is there another time consuming task you can throw a bit of money at to give you exercise time? Pay someone to iron for you? An online shop? You can't pay someone to go for a run for you but you can pay for a couple of hours of cleaning a week.

CointreauVersial · 02/04/2015 23:40

I get up 30 minutes early and go for a run, so I am back before DH leaves for work. Shower, get dressed, all the exercise done for the day.

glorymorning · 03/04/2015 00:07

Obviously it's hard if you're pregnant and not used to exercise.

But HIIT are amazing, and they take like 30 minutes.

Also skipping as cardio is good too and you could just do just 20 minutes a day.

Think about it, if you have time to be on MN then you have time to fit in exercise.

But I'd really recommend looking at your diet first, if you're not eating well, exercise won't produce a significant weight loss.

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 03/04/2015 00:53

Diet.
Pregnant and with two little ones, realistically how much exercise can you fit in? An aqua aerobics class would be good for general fitness and comfort during pregnancy but won't shift loads of weight and any really physical exercise is going to diminish as you get bigger... so really looking at your diet with a really critical eye will be the key.

I had two under two when I had my third so know how difficult it is! You can not gain weight if you are overweight to start with ( I was as hadn't lost [previous baby weight!) I lived off carrots during my 3rd pregnancy.. every time I wanted to nibble I ate a carrot. I did turn orange ( really... they thought I had jaundice!) but it meant that after no 3 was born I was a LOT slimmer !

And walk everywhere.. ditch the car.. double buggy.. it all helps!

RonaldMcDonald · 03/04/2015 00:59

First thing in the morning or a pre paid lunchtime class...otherwise it never happens

toffeeboffin · 03/04/2015 01:37

My son is 15 months. I work full time in a fairly sedentary job but try and get outside and walk at lunch time, even just around the shops. Once I'm home with DS, I honestly do not stop until he goes to bed, he's always on the move, so I'm chasing after him, picking him up etc.

At weekends we do lots of walks in the pram, and also let him run around lots, which requires more movement from me. Even inside I don't seem to sit at all! Laundry, cooking etc really adds up.

Once the weather picks up I will start cycling again, but I think the best thing is just to generally move more, on a daily basis rather than scheduled 'I'm going to go and exercise now' which can feel like a chore.

It does help if you are naturally active, and have active kids.

LilQueenie · 03/04/2015 01:55

I take my 3yr old out to play on the trampoline and jump for a solid half hour. I might add that I bought a large trampoline deliberately so I (at 34) could play on it Im counting it as exercise.

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