To get the double buggy back out for my 7 and 3 yr olds

[Kuio]

No size issue, they are usually petite, and not bothered by the buggy. They probably miss it if anything

My main fitness was walking, long distance and speedy rather than pottering around. It’s so hard with kids, they aren’t bad walkers for their age but can’t really stride fast enough or cover distance in a way that will make a proper dent on my fitness levels.

I’ve still got my double, I live in a hilly area. My husband works long hours and I just don’t have time otherwise. I’m thinking of each afternoon popping them in the buggy for a really brisk hilly 3-4 mile walk. With the double it’s not easy. I do other things, like cycle, but this is a super easy no prep way of actually sticking to something for fitness tat works.

I’m getting flabby, odd? If you saw me regularly would you think it was odd...? We do walk together, but as I said it’s just not going to keep me fit staying at their pace

Why can’t the 7 year old cycle or scoot with just the 3 year old in the buggy? 7 is much too old imo.

Agree with PP, I wouldn't put a 7yo in a buggy.

Do it if they fit!

I run with my 5 and 3 year olds in the double buggy, they like it.

I'll keep doing it until the wheels start falling off :)

I wouldn't put a 7 year old in a buggy.

You can't put a 7yo in a buggy! get them on their bike or scooter. When mine were young and I was fitter I used to run with them on their bikes, wouldn't work now of course!

She can’t cycle, scooting would need to be flattish and smooth pavements as opposed to off road hills. She doesn’t really want to join my fitness plan of going out with no purpose and resists, I want to walk at proper adult pace. She’s small and clumsy and wouldn’t last the distance or regularity. I can’t afford a gym membership, I have very little time for me and I’m pretty desperate for a workout. Matching up and down off road hills with a big weight is all I can think of to really get my heart rate up.

I can see your reasoning - it will help your fitness.

But will it help theirs to be sat in a buggy for an hour? Surely they'll be bored silly.

Thing is...I would

I would have thought the 7 year old would be embarrassed though if his friends see them though?

My dd is 6 and she’s a lazy monkey at times and would happily sit in a buggy....but if her friends were around she would be out like a shot

What about sticking Body Coach on YouTube and doing it together?

When you say afternoon, do you mean after school? It's already getting dark much earlier.

Do you work and can only fit it in after school pick up or would you have any time before school pickup?

I just want something for me, before I feel like a blob of a mum limited to constant child speed. I have a muffin top and I feel a bit shit. She is not the kind of child to manage keeping up, she has no balance (we’ve tried for years on bikes and I got older siblings going under 5). She’s not the best at scooting even tbh, she’s that clumsy kid who’s barely up to the shoulders of her peers. No exercise partner, my older ones could have- but no chance for her

I honestly cannot imagine a 7 year old who misses being in a buggy. I would have thought it a much more sensible option to get both of them a scooter or bike and have them accompany you on trips out.

Although you may find it tough to get either of them to join you during the week as will be dark once they finish school/nursery so is there a way you could go for a walk a few nights a week while dad looks after them?

There is honestly no time I can otherwise do this, no wiggle room in my life apart from a later afternoon/ early evening stride (plus when she’s already tired). I have five kids and zero time when it’s all added up, dh usually out 7-8 and frankly I know from experience I’m too tired before/ after so actually stick to it

Honestly, she gives no shits about watching the world go by from the buggy. I’m hardly going to embarrass her knowingly

How old are your older kids? Could they watch them for half an hour while you go out?

Is there any chance you could buy a secondhand Wii fit? You can do jogging in your living room with that, and various other things. Literally done this recently and after just a few weeks of a short burst every evening I'm already seeing a difference. But I am super unfit tho.

If you have no time to go out then why not get a treadmill or do exercise at home? If your 7 year old is not the sort who would enjoy going out on a 3-4mile walk then I think it would be unfair to go. She would be bored out of her mind sitting in a pushchair for so long doing nothing.

Older kids aren’t old enough, alone ok but not to have the responsibility.

Wii fit isn’t really going to get me fit, we have one in the garage. I need real exercise of some kind, really to get my heart rate up and burn fat and build stamina. I’ve always been fit and enjoyed it, but I’m becoming a peri-menopausal flabby middled stereotype.

It doesn’t matter what others think, You clearly think it’s a good idea and have no other option, so go for it OP.

Oh op you sound really down and desperate! Do you mean she can’t cycle at all? Or just not without stabilisers? Many children are clumsy but the more then can do physical stuff, the better it will help. Can she not run?

Treadmill, I’ve already mentioned the money issue. Plus this is a very small and full house. Even the wii fit is a struggle to clear space for when we used to use it.

If anything the 7yr old likes it,
Watching the forest, chatting, bursts of movement and getting out. As I said very small, little, clumsy and general very young for her age. Mild LD but very happy and calm

She can not coordinate turning pedals, nor can she balance a balance bike. If I wait on that one I could be waiting some time. Really, I can’t stress enough that it’s a case of doing this, or not doing it. No middle ground. Don’t think typical 7 yr old.

It is becoming pretty clear I’ll be judged massively for it. I’m just so stuck in the house

Wii fit includes jogging and other heart-rate raising activities like the hula hoops. Those particular ones can easily improve cardio fitness and stamina if you do them long enough. And the strength exercises too, you can modify many of them by using weights to make them more difficult.

Tbh tho there is a lot you can do at home without the need to go out anyway. Body weight exercises. YouTube videos like the 30 day shred one or whatever it's called. None of them require expense and can be done at home.

Sounds like you've made your mind up and are trying to convince us OP. Just do it if that's what you think is OK

I personally wouldn't put a 7 year old in a buggy. Can't you do home workouts? HIIT workouts are really good. The Body Coach has loads for free on his YouTube. My 4 year old often joins in with me!