To think you can't fit in exercise around work/children?

[PostmanPatisacrappostman]

If you manage to, how do you do it?

I'm looking for inspiration, I'm working albeit part time and have two young children. Desperately need to do some exercises to tone up.

I've got exercise DVDs but have no motivation to do them. I really want to get out in the fresh air.

I get up at 6, do a DVD until 6.30, shower and then we leave the house at 7.20am for childcare drop off (3x per week) and the other 2 days I do it 6.30 and we leave the house at 8.15. I run sat and sun mornings and usually swim 2x per week after school pick up.

When they were small I joined a gym with a crèche which was brilliant on my days off/weekends

I do gym classes in the evenings and personal trainer one evening ( to motivate me because otherwise I'm lazy!) during the week and early Saturday morning.

I'm currently reading Fast Exercise by Michael Mosley. It's so quick that you don't even get sweaty, so he sometimes does it in a suit.

In theory I could be ready to go for a run/bike ride at 6.30 and still be back for 7.30pm.

We do go on the occasional family bike ride but again, we never make it a priority.

I suppose I've got no excuses, I could definitely cycle/swim/jog a couple of evenings a week. I could walk with my toddler on my days off.

I feel tired a lot of the time but I know exercise would probably boost my energy long term.

Friend gets up at 5am (i'd rather be unfit)

Cycling is the key for me. Anything below five miles and minus the dog, I aim to cycle. Anything above I play by ear, depending on distance, weather (ds is 18 months old, I can't drag him around in the pissing rain too much), time etc.

Does your work do the bike to work scheme? You could get a new bike paid for by them upfront, then you repay through salary sacrifice, which is a wonderful motivation to use the bike, ime. Add a bike seat for the littlest and a trailer or tag along for the biggest, and thighs of steel shall be yours... all fitted in as part of your day.

Rosy I could definitely do those things.

Tbf I take ds1 to football training twice a week and my mum has the toddler. I could jog round the field if I wanted to but I'd be self conscious.

Some of you are fab and I am definitely lazy and unmotivated.

There are some great ideas here and I like the ideas of making exercise a necessity and booking it into my calendar.

I used to think I could never fit exercise in. But earlier this year I just felt I needed to do something. I found a class nearby that I now go to each week, and I feel so much better about myself. It's hard work to actually go, but I know it's worth it. I work three days a week, have three children under four, and a commute of just over an hour each day.

If the class wasn't so close, I don't think I'd be as good at going. If I didn't gave yo pay for a few weeks at a time, I'd be tempted to skip it occasionally. Motivating yourself is hard.

Any friends from school gates / toddler groups? You could either start power walking together or take it in turns to watch kids whilst you go out for a run??

On your non working days I mean.

I think we do have bike to work. I have got a bike, I just don't use it that much

I do think I'd have to build on my fitness before cycling to work.

I also suggest you download an app called Human (I recommend it often, but I don't work for them!) which tracks how many minutes exercise you do outdoors per day. It's excellent. (Today I have done none, but goddammit I feel like shite. Tomorrow will be better).

i used to be like you OP
I now get up, put exercise clothes on, put on DVD (Davina "Fit in 5 weeks is my favourite) and do some exercise.

If I'm in a rush I only do 10 mins, if I'm not, I do longer. But at least I've done something and it really does work. I do it 3 or 4 times a week and I don't beat myself up if I miss a day. Just start again the next day. I've been doing this for about 7 months and I am much fitter than I was.

I get up at 5.45am, kids up at 6.30am and we leave at 6.50am to drop them at 7am breakfast club. I work FT, getting home usually around 8pm. I then train for a cross channel (relay) swim I'm due to attempt in 2 weeks. On Saturdays I drive an hour to Dover harbour to do a 2 hour cold water swim. I couldn't do it without DH picking up the slack, but if you want it enough it's perfectly feasible!

It probably wouldn't take long for your fitness to pick up - I am finding my fitness levels are Improving almost daily as a result of shorter rides. I picked up ds from his childminder the other day which was a round trip of 15.6 miles (which I did not expect, google maps gave me a 7 miles route but it involved trespassing ) and I'm not going to say it was easy but I was fine and not crippled the next day.

Can you drive part of the way then cycle the remainder to start with?

On the days I have stuff to do in the evening (running the kids to various activities etc), I get up at 5am and do a 30 minute workout then. I actually enjoy it and you have no time to talk yourself out of it

If I don't have to do anything on the evening, I'll workout then instead.

I use home dvd's/Internet streaming to keep it short and easy to do. Finding time to actually go to the gym is impossible at the moment due to the DC's commitments so this method works for me. I prefer gym classes so I will rejoin a gym when they are older and don't require so much ferrying around

There's always a way if you want to find it!

I go to the gym 5 times a week on average and have young dc (toddler age). I go twice at the weekend. On a weekday I'm out of the house for work around 7 and home between 5.30/ 6. I go to the gym in the evening. Usually I will get home and play with dc then cook dinner and eat when I get back from gym. DH settles dc for bed on these nights.

My relationship with dc is amazing even more so for me being able to make some time for myself, so yes, it is very doable.

I agree this isn't a fitting it in issue, this is a motivation issue.

I am up at 6.30, cook breakfasts and make packed lunches, leave the house at 7.30 to be at work for 8. Leave work at 6, home for 6.30, cook dinner for 7.

Twice a week dinner is in the slow cooker and I go straight to a karate class from work 6.30-7.30, either dh looks after children or they all come to it as well. Tuesday nights we all train together and eat late, weekends we train together.

Finding an exercise that you absolutely love doing is the first step to finding motivation to do it. If your DH can do it with you it's even better, you then alternate who does which session to tag team childcare. When the kids are old enough, get them exercising with you.

I did the 30-day shred DVD when on mat leave with DC2. Then didn't exercise properly for a few years as DP worked away from home & no family support.

I have the Pacer app & try to get 10k steps daily.

Have also started C25K & finding I can fit that in 3-4 X week fairly easily.

Getting a fitbit has motivated me so much.
I am in a MN fitbit group that do challenges-but it also reminds me how many calories i am using so it's not rocket science to try and eat less than I move....
I have lost 3 stone since january.....
no gym. just choose steps every chance I get!

You are all so inspiring!!!!

Op I'm in exactly the same place as you, although bedtime routine lasts at least until 9pm (sleep defying toddler) and we're also up in the night, so are exhausted.

I'm currently toying with the idea of signing up for a gym (££££) that is open later, so that I can get into a habit of at least going for a swim to unwind 2-3 times a week. Once I'm in the habit of going there I'm planning to use the gym etc too.

Would that work for you?

Can you not excersise from 6-630? If kids are sleeping partner has half hour to sort himself out or fed kids then you have whole hour to get kids and yourself dressed and out the door. Not totally impossible

FYI -- we got our cargo bike on bike to work, which worked out at a massive 35% discount. It is totally wonderful, and not that hard to drive at all; in fact it seems to be easier with two children rather than just our only DS.

Definitely share your pain with this OP. I know I can find the time, but it's rare never that I find I have both the motivation and the time at the same time.

However, I have talked myself into exercise of some sort being a need, so I've started swimming and going for longish walks with DCs at the weekend and for a Fitbit that as PP have said is encouraging me to be at least mindful of walking around more.

From this, I'm slowly building to doing more during the week. It's getting easier because o know I feel good after swimming, and so I know I will feel good after other exercise. Start slowly but surely with one thing per week, and build from that.