to ask if you're a working mum of a toddler...

[Twinklestar2]

Do you manage to stay slim or diet or get to the gym?

I'm working full time, leave house at 7.45, get in at 6.30. Feel like I don't have time to go to the gym - I take half hour for lunch so I can leave early.

I have half a stone to shift. Should I just accept I'm gonna be this weight for a while whilst I'm juggling things?

[tonightsthekindofnight]

I've lost a lot of weight since my twins were born 13 months ago. I am back at work now so I run daily when they have gone to bed. 4 miles, less than 40 mins of my day and its become routine. Its tough to do when I am tired but it helps me to feel energised and better about myself. Ive lost 5 stones and am pretty slim now.

[trilbydoll]

I'm on mat leave with dd2 and once I go back to work it'll be no and no. Sat at a desk all day I snack constantly and I can't walk everywhere like I do at the moment! If my children slept I would do 30 day shred in the evenings but bedtime is a long torturous affair in this house.

[lavenderhoney]

I get up uber early and do DVDs. I run as much as I can, and do Pilates at night. I don't have any help and I have an ex dh who lives abroad.

I have seriously considered getting a babysitter so I can go to the gym at night or for a run at the weekend during the day.

Drink loads of water, and get on the low carb bootcamp here maybe? Can you have lunch at your desk and use the 30 mins to go for a walk?

[SauvignonPlonker]

No & no I have a toddler & 7 year old, plus work & commute, and DP works long hours ( often away up to 4 days a week).

I used to walk DS to school & back (1 mile each way) with DD in buggy, but now she refuses to go & it's too far for her to walk, in so I end up driving. And DS isn't in bed till 8.30, at which point I'm sorting out uniform, packed lunches, clothes for next day.

Have never been so inactive in my life & really hate it. I used to do DVD's in the evening but since going back to work from maternity leave, I'm just beyond it at 9pm.

[HelsBels3000]

No I find it flipping impossible! I lost 2 stone of baby weight during my maternity leave by doing lots and lots of walking with the buggy and running when I found time but over the past year since being back at work I have steadily regained it all. So cross with myself. Have joined Slimming World - wish me luck! I am anaemic so find even the prospect of exercising tiring - hopefully once I'm feeling better I will find some energy to exercise again.

[MistressDeeCee]

When mine were younger I worked, & no way could I go out to the gym - too knackered, even if I wanted to. Then you've the DCs routine. I bought myself a mini-trampoline, dumbells, & some heavier weights, the ones you can curve your hand through. & I had leg weights from Argos, you strap them around the ankle.

Mini trampoline daily, even if not routine Id jump on for 5-10 mins here & there. Got in habit of doing kicks/leg raises in kitchen, holding onto worktop. Dumbells when sitting in front of tv etc once DCs in bed. Just little bits & pieces really, but it did work. Exercise is exercise wherever you do it. In particular I wouldnt be without mini-trampoline I still use it now, health benefits to numerous to mention but that + free weights did it for me

Nowadays there are so many fitness vids online too, and option of hooking up laptop to tv. Didnt have all that when I had my DCs.

I've a lot of respect for mums who can get out there running, cycling etc. as I know I couldn't do it!

[thegiddylimit]

I have 2 school age children and a toddler.

Don't believe in diets but do eat healthily because love food. I would find eating junk every day incredibly depressing so that's easy.

I get up at 5.30am so I can fit in a swim before going to work (DH does the morning school and nursery run), I leave before the kids get up. It does make me very hungry all morning but I find it the easiest way to fit in exercise. I also swim one evening a week when my eldest child has her swimming lesson, I reckon I might as well be in the pool rather than sitting at the poolside. I do go to a yoga class one evening a week that is completely for me but also do Yoga with Adriene on youtube about 10pm every night. I don't sleep much.

I think now you have a toddler it's time to start building exercise into your routine. What suits everyone is different but you and your OH need to both have opportunities to exercise either in the mornings or the evenings or at the weekend.

[cheekymonkeythe5th]

I'm a LP with zero support so no chance of going to the gym.. ever.. seeing as I haven't been out of the house after tea since before DD was born (she's 2).

The only solution is exercise at home and that only seems to work if I can motivate myself to get up at 5/5.30 to fit in a workout.. it's so bloody hard to do that once the initial motivation/novelty wears off though

About 1.5 stone to shift (down from 2 at Xmas time so yay, some progress)

Got to pick something that works for you, for example if you're prone to bingeing then trying to fast/majorly cut back calories would probably be a bad idea.. slow and steady wins the race

[gruber]

No and no. DH works opposite shifts to me. So I go to work later in day and he leaves at 6.30. No chance of me exercising before he leaves for work. No chance of exercising with a non sleeping mischievous 3 year old. I work till 7/7.30 then need to eat and actually see my DH. One of us will need to sit with DS till he is asleep (separation anxiety) so that's not a quick process.

Sorry no magic answers! I have started doing park run every weekend, it's free and a 5km run. If I can get out for a run in the week (if I have a day off and DH is home early) and once at weekend I'm happy. Would love gym etc but not time. Hard to do 5:2 when you have an inquisitive toddler too who knows what you're eating or not.

[Purplehonesty]

Yes and no.

I'm about half a stone away from where I would like to be but everyone would say I was slim. Im 5'3 and 8.5 stone.

I run a cafe so I don't sit down all day and running about after the kids when I get home.

I try not to eat bread or pasta and today went for a forest walk and then swimming whilst not at work. I will be doing less hours come April so will have more time at the start of the week. Plan is to do a big hill walk once a week and swim once too. Then just eat carefully which, in a cafe full of baking, is not easy!

[Twinklestar2]

Thanks for all the replies!

I can't do 5:2 as I have low blood sugar so need to eat regularly. When I tried 5:2 a few years back I nearly had a panic attack. I was sweating and all shaky - bleurgh.

Do u think a half hour walk every day at lunchtime is enough?

I could try and get out for a run at the weekends.

I'm like a PP who lost loads on mat leave as I had so much time - was back in the gym 9 weeks after giving birth! But now back in the office I sit and graze all day.

[53rdAndBird]

No. Used to run but find it so hard to fit in now. I've started cycling to work which I hope will get me fitter while fitting exercise into my commute time, but still early days on that.

[LauraMipsum]

No and no.

I work in law and I often have to work evenings and during the weekends. DD is 15mo and wakes 2-3 times a night and ONLY wants me, DP is definitely daytime parent (possibly because i'm not there in the day).

I'm the same weight as I was before I got pregnant but I was a stone overweight then.

I've replaced sleep with sugar for the last fifteen months. I can't imagine having no sleep AND no sugar. And I can't seem to find the time to exercise. I'd like to start cycling to work again but it's 12 miles each way, and to be honest the idea of spending a precious extra two hours commuting that I could spend with DD when i don't see enough of her in the week is a deterrent in itself.

[Oldladyfish]

I don't think half an hour at lunchtime is going to shift weight, but any exercise is helpful to make you feel better and more on top of things -- as long as it doesn't become an extra stick to beat yourself with! I'm an LP of a 3yr old and do no exercise at all and am trying to shift a stone in weight.

Everybody keeps telling me to just stop trying and instead look after myself and not be so hard on myself all the time. I'm trying to do that, and am passing that advice (helpful or not!) over to you.

This is a relatively short time in your life when you've got way too much to do, way too many emotional and practical commitments... if there's any way you can take the pressure off yourself to lose the weight until things are a wee bit easier, it might be worth a go.

On the other hand, I do understand that you feel better when you're the weight you want to be, so...!

[beardsrock]

I am a working mum of a two year old.

I'm slimish but I don't diet or really exercise.

Well, I say I don't exercise but obv I have DS, so I do run around after him lots, park, walks etc.

At night I cannot be arsed gyming, will go cycling when it's warmer and lighter in the evenings.

I find it easier to control my weight through what I eat - lower carb, high protein, more veg.

Helps that I'm not a big drinker.

[SiriusGoLieDown]

I'm fat. I comfort eat because I feel sad about leaving him.

I ram stuff in the oven for me. He gets healthy meals..

[merseyside]

ish and yes.

I run at lunchtime. It's great to get out and try to go no matter how busy I am

I eat crap though. No energy to cook....

[10storeylovesong]

I have a 3 year old and work full time shifts, as does dh. I've managed to lose just under 4 stone on Slimming World, so now weigh 2 stone less than when fell pregnant. I exercise regularly and am fitter now than I've ever been.

I found that at first I was shattered, but feel happier and healthier as a result.

[merseyside]

Should add I'm an LP so no chance of running in the evening as no one to watch DC.

It's lunchtime or bust

[beardsrock]

You need to find what works for you OP.

I couldn't do 5:2, no way.
I can't go swimming at 5am.
I can't be arsed juicing/eating 1,000 cals per day.

For me I reduce bread, pasta and rice and replace with veg, lentils and protein. Bit of exercise when I can. Half an hour at midday will help.

Obviously avoid crisps, cakes, soft drinks, lattes etc etc.

[Mooey89]

Work full time and single mum to a toddler.
I'm fat! I am trying to do more excercise - I finish work at 5, (leave at 4.55) - get to the gym for 5.05... 35 mins on high intensity programme designed by my personal trainer. Do that three times a week. Once a week at home I do Pilates video from YouTube, and one day I try to do a 30 min excercise DVD. I work on the 6th floor and I banned the lift and wear my Fitbit all the time. I also do mfp and try to stick to 1500 kcal per day.

It is not coming off fast enough.

[Lightbulbon]

I put on weight under these circumstances.

What about your weekends?

Do you get respite?

Can you go on long walks?

[ohthegoats]

Teacher working 4 days a week, child is a crap sleeper - I haven't done any exercise at all since I went back after mat leave in September. I used to go to the gym every day before baby (usually before work), and even when she was younger I managed to get her into a crèche and go to classes on 3 mornings a week.

Now I don't get home in time to get a class in before her bedtime, and after her bedtime I'm mostly working (marking and planning).

It requires proper dedication to do it when you are exhausted and fitting it in rather than spending precious time with your partner. I can't even work out when to eat to fit exercise in with an early bedtime either. Urgh.

[pettyprudence]

I am 5 stone slimmer now than before I had ds (5y) and 3.5 stone lighter than after dd (2y) - When they were babies I dropped a lot of weight bfing and then I have just calorie counted using MFP. I've just started running and ballet class again.

[Eggsandketchup]

I'm finding this hard too. I've lost 3 stone through just sorting food out alone but finding time to exercise is the problem. My 20 month old still bfs and wakes up multiple times in the night so going out in the morning at 6am to exercise is not really an option when I've been awake from 3 to 5am! I have literally just got him to sleep now and I'm half dead after a full day working, then doing dinner, bath, bed time, tidying up and all the other crap I have to do. No way could I work out now, I'll be asleep in ten minutes!
I'm going to try to get out one morning a week and on Sat and Sunday and hope that is enough to make a difference.