To think it’s impossible to exercise with young children?

[lineandsinker]

As the title says, really.

Mum to 13 month old DS. Prior to having DS, I went to the gym 3-4 times a week. During mat leave, I went out for daily long walks with my LO.
Returned to work 4 days a week in Sept (am a teacher) and I just can’t find the time to exercise.

I leave for work at 7.30am and usually get home at 5.30pm. DH arrives home at 6.30pm. By time DS has been fed, had a bit of time with me, been bathed and put to bed, it’s 8.30pm. Once DH and I have had dinner and cleared away / prepared for next day, it’s 9.30pm. We usually go to bed around 11pm so we’ve had a little bit of time together and also time to sit and watch the TV to relax.

On my day off, DS is an early riser. I’m usually exhausted from the working week and can’t push myself to do much more than a brisk walk outside. DH and I try to do longer walks with DS at the weekend, depending on what else we have planned but doesn’t always work out like that.

Due to COVID, I am a static teacher - have to stay at front of room. Drive 25 mins to and from work. DS is shattered and hungry from nursery so can’t take him for a walk once we get home (have tried this already).

AIBU to think it’s nigh-on impossible to exercise when you have small children? I’m really beating myself up about how little exercise I’m doing, particularly as I’m used to being quite active.

Also cycling to work but appreciate that’s not for wverhobe

Its hard work, I enjoy exercise so that made it a bit easier.

When my son was a toddler I would take him to the gym in a pushchair and he would generally nap while I did weights etc. I also used to get up before him and exercise. I also used to take him to rugby training and he would either be in his pushchair, in a safe area to run around or another player would watch him for me.

Just to add you are not alone!

I would readjust your expectation. It is possible to exercise but maybe not at the same intensity or duration as before.

I had small children and worked full time as a teacher and I have done all of these suggestions.

If you are a secondary school teacher - use the school gym before or after school for half an hour twice a week.
Go on a long walk on Sunday afternoon with your family.

Or once per week join the local running club.
Once a week long walk
Once a week swim on a Saturday morning on your own.

Pelaton - a big outlay but you could do it three/four times a week on a Sat/Sun and once in the week.

Beachbody on Demand - you pay for this but the classes are really good and you can do it at home. Again aim for three times a week that you actually do rather than trying for unrealistic six days a week.

Superfit Bootcamp - it runs five days a week - online so you can do it at home. The class starts at 6am so you roll out of bed, do it and still can get ready for work. It's a live class over zoom, led by an instructor and it changes every day for six weeks.

We also have an 'in person' Bootcamp near us that is a 6am class, five days a week. You book for six weeks in one go which helps with the motivation. That one is called Dawnbreakers - you might have a similar one near you? I used to do this then drive to school and have a shower at work. You do need to be super organised. Pack your bag, breakfast and lunch every night and have a dh who will sort the children and drop them off at school/childcare.

The thought of exercise when you are tired is just awful but try not to think about it, do it, and it will make everything feel better.

Peloton. Absolute game changer. Hideously expensive of course but after initial 2k outlay membership is 39 quid a month so comparable to a gym. You can easily fit in multiple 10/20/30 cycles on your schedule.

It is hard. I agree with pp's why don't you eat with ds then you can do exercise later in the evening? And also that online hiit or a static trainer are your friends.

My dc are 3 & 5, I manage a pilates class 8pm, a swim 8pm, and a run at the weekend at 9am.

But also 13m is so young still, things will change! Don't beat yourself up about what you can't do.

Yup, agree with pp that you could hand over to your DH a couple of nights a week and leave the house by 7pm for a gym session or run. Either eat early with your DS, or eat when you get home. If the issue is that one cooks while the other does bed time, then do a bit of batch cooking at the weekend (or just double portions mid-week), so you have frozen 'ready meals' available.

If you manage that at least once a week, you might feel more energised on your day off, so able to do something. Exercise is self-promoting.

Why can't you get out for a quick run at the weekend while DH spends time with DS? You only need an hour to change, run and shower.

It’s impossible while they are wee and clingy. I remember trying to do Joe Wicks with DS hanging off my arms. I now get up at 5 to try to do a quick YouTube workout. But knowing I’m getting up early, DS has started getting up at 5:15 rather than 5:30 as usual! Luckily he’ll now watch while I finish my workout.

It's really difficult, but for me it was essential for my mental health. I would say work out what is practical eg I took up running because you're can be out the door and back in half an hour/ an hour depending how long you go - no wasting time getting to the gym, getting changed etc.

Also work out what is realistic. I am never going to get up at 5am to exercise but I will go when DP does bedtime, or Saturday and Sunday mornings before we get going.

It's hard when you're tired, but I find having the time for yourself is really beneficial

I do an online class 5 times a week. I do the recorded classes as I can never be online when they are live. If I miss one during the week, I’ll catch up at the weekend.

It’s a 30 min HIIT class. Really quick to do and a very good workout..I find that the easiest with 4 young children as I can do it whenever and it’s only 30 min, at home and very effective and extremely cheap (£9 for a month and there are also yoga classes, LIIT etc...included in that)..

Good luck!

yeah, I think it would be super hard. If you really want to do more, could you do exercise vids on youtube a couple of times a week, then you can always pause it if you need to.

I do think you should probably give yourself a break though as it sounds like youre busy enough

Have you tried a jogging buggy?

Totally agree, OP

Don’t hate me for this but I don’t find it hard. I just change what I do. All my strength and yoga is from youtube. Walking the dogs and cycling for cardio.

DH was away a lot pre covid and I as a mini trampoline for those days.
You just need to change what you do

I try to exercise at home, as soon as I get to the floor I have the kids on my back saying giddy up

I've never managed more than about 30 mins of yoga usually with DS falling about behind me and making me laugh!
All these people getting up at 5am to exercise - do you have regular help with childcare or cleaners or the like? Just wondering how you do it all.

Is there any local gyms that you can take baby too? They do a few around me so I do that twice a week then on the weekend I leave my little one with my husband whilst I go for a run.
It is hard work but if I’m organised I can manage it. I work 40 hours a week as well but on a shift pattern that gives me days off in the week so that helps

Ah that sounds really tough!!

With your routine, could you all have dinner together at the same time before DS goes to bed and then take it in turns each night to do bedtime? That way one of you has a free bit of time after dinner to do some exercise if you want to. (Appreciate exercising on a full stomach may not be the best idea in hindsight...)

It is tough, but it won't last forever. I did a lot of walking when mine were small. I had the type of lifestyle (work) that allowed that.

time to sit and watch the TV

Some people find exercise relaxing... if you spent 20 minutes running, 10 minutes showering, I bet you could still get half an hour of TV-watching in a day, too.

YANBU OP. Lockdown had me decide to sell the dining room furniture so we can have a home gym that I can get 30 minutes exercise in here and there.

Used to do powerlifting for exercise and now watching my toddler run around undoing all of my clean and tidying just works up a sweat.

We changed our routine to eat with the kids in the evenings and it gives much more time! Have a small lunch then eat with your ds and you only have one evening meal prep to worry about.

Then easier to get exercise in.

How far away is work? Can you find a closer job?

I find it very hard, I used to play team sports and run for miles now I can barely jog round the park. I’m hoping I’ll get some of my old life back once they are a bit older.

I had exactly this issue and can relate to this so much. DH and I started losing weight, he joined a gym in his lunch break but I work from home, do all school and nursery runs, had a one-year-old.

In the end I signed up for the DDP Yoga app. It's not a zen-like calm thing, there's a lot of high impact, calorie-burning stuff and the workouts ranged from 11 minutes up to over an hour. I used to do it either while the DC ate breakfast or when DS napped once DD started school.

They're bigger now so it's easier, but I still use the app - it's £7 a month and it's really helped me with my fitness and losing a good chunk of weight, although I do other things now as well!

Yanbu. We never find time for exercise either. Managed a walk today, and a very short bike ride Thursday evening. I'm hoping once both DC are school age it will be easier.

I didn’t go back to the gym until my youngest was two 😬