To think it’s so hard to be healthy working full time?

[Strawbales]

Probably I’ll be flamed here but what the hell.

So when I was at home FT I could go to the gym and use the crèche for childcare for an hour or so. I went on massive long walks with the children, easily doing 20,000 steps some days.

Now … well. I am tired, all the time, I don’t get to go to the gym, I don’t get to go on long walks and because I’m so tired I’m eating rubbish

Please help me before I gain shedloads of weight.

Night parenting should also be shared.

@Dailywalk

You don’t want to do early or late but that’s kind of the only option for most people. If you finish at 4 you still have about 6 hours before you go to bed. Rope the kids into a run or workout if it’s not possible to leave them?

I finish at 4 but only get home 430 earliest.

Then I have to sort the kids until DH finishes work. Sometimes this drags on.

Then bath and bed. Generally takes until about 8.

I get what you’re saying but not sure it’s something I can do much or anything about!

I'm feeling the same. If I don't exercise before 7 or after 8.30pm, there literally feels like there's no time most days (and my DC are teen/tween so don't need help with bath/bed routine!) I get in from work at 6.15-6.30pm and then ferry to clubs and cook dinner/clear up after dinner and by then it's usually gone 8.30. (Obviously I wouldn't eat dinner if I was going to excercise)
I walk at least 1.5 miles during the day and always take the stairs instead of the lift which often equates to 12-20 flights of stairs during the day which is marginally better than nothing but I want to do classes or go for a run.
I sometimes squeeze in a hiit workout in between taking/collecting from a club, which can be 15-30 min.

Some nights of the week leave DC in childcare til later, and / or leave DH to do bath and bed.

Personally my problem with FT work was less about exercise and more the stress side. Having no time for rest , leisure , etc etc. Exercise just being one element of that.

I can’t Dozer - nursery day is until 530 and I wouldn’t have time to go to the gym after work and pick them up at 530.

Your only options are:

1.Get up before DC wake.

1. Leave DH in sole charge of his children for a while a few evenings a week.

Both have been pooh poohed by you so I’ll write what you want to hear. There is no time OP, just don’t do any exercise.

You probably knew the solutions that would be suggested already. You just wanted some empathy. Which is fine. Just don’t pretend otherwise. If you really wanted to prioritise exercise then you would find time.

You finish work at 4 and sounds like your work is 30 mins away from the nursery. Allowing 5 mins to change and some ‘slack’ that gives you a 45 min exercise slot.

Or DH could do some weekday parenting.

Eg walk or jog. V convenient exercise for those of us who work FT.

I run late. My son is 12 and ok to be left alone now (single parent).
So I wait till he's in bed and then off I go.

@Strawbales

I can’t Dozer - nursery day is until 530 and I wouldn’t have time to go to the gym after work and pick them up at 530.

Why can't your DH pick up the kids?

@Toottootdrive it isn’t that at all it’s great if people have solutions and I’m certainly not meaning to poo poo anything. I just know realistically I won’t go at 730 in the evening. I accept that’s on me but just the same …

@Dozer problem is rush hour traffic. I live close to the gym, nursery and work but at peak times or the day it’s a nightmare.

I would definitely leave DH in charge even just 1 day a week.
I'm pressuring my (self employed) husband to come home before 8 so he can do some childcare/taxi-ing so i can exercise, but if he was home at 6 that would be amazing.

Yeah I should leave him in charge I think. Just always feel guilty!

Plus I’m shattered … but have to force myself

Either you do want to eat well and exercise, or you don’t.
If all suggestions are met with cries of ‘I can’t face it’ then you clearly aren’t that bothered…..

Those that do, do and those that don’t, dont………

Eating well is super easy - I have avocado, mozzarella and cherry toms with a twist of black pepper for a meal most days, fruit and plain yoghurt, pre cooked chicken and salad……. They take seconds to get on a plate.

I don’t think it’s that I’m not that bothered, it’s more exhaustion tbh.

I’m so tired all the time and there’s so much I have to do I genuinely don’t know where exercise would fit in.

Don’t then……… you must be the only tired parent……….

Well no but I’m not the only fat parent either

But tbh @Holidaytan if the threads pissing you off, move on.

@Strawbales

Yeah I should leave him in charge I think. Just always feel guilty!

I work full time as a lone parent, I have to squeeze exercise into my lunch hours and then work in the evenings as well, as well as do everything in the house/child related, I would honestly die for someone to share the parenting load so I could exercise properly.

Basically what I’m saying is you have a DH available and around to help, make the most of it, I have no idea why you wouldn’t. Of course exercise if hard to fit in if you are doing everything yourself. It’s the first thing to fall off my radar when life gets even busier but if you have someone to help then use that help.

I would try and find 3 slots a week- eg, Tues, finish work at 4, run 45 min, then get kids. Thurs, hand kids to dh for an hour. Sat or Sun, get up early and do a home workout. Other days, try and fit a short walk with kids before or after tea; or a disco dance/ Joe Wicks/ footie in the garden.

@audweb because I’m conscious I don’t see much of my children as it is. Plus it involves leaving them with Dh at the time of the day when they are most fractious and difficult to manage so that feels a bit rotten!

Exercise and eating better will increase your energy levels.

I think your DH needs to step up. What does he do all evening?

@Strawbales

If you won’t do 7.30pm then I really would encourage you to try first thing in the morning. Just for a couple of days. Even if it’s just getting up at 6 and doing a 15mins YouTube workout before DC wake.

I work ft out of the house and have 2 young kids. One of whom doesn’t sleep well so I do understand. I make sure I’m in bed early which does sacrifice my evenings somewhat but it is worth it. I get up & out and back for 6.45. Quick shower and out to work. It is literally the only option for us as my older child has clubs/sports after school every day so evenings aren’t even an option. DH WFH so he can run on his lunch. I do leave the majority of the early stuff to him because he is their parent and perfectly capable of looking after them on his own. With a bit of micromanaging!

It is hard getting up and I don’t do it every day and if DC2 has had me up all night I’m not militant. You do need to make sure everything is ready the night before which is not in my better nature as I’m a bit of a winging it person rather than a planner but I know that exercise makes no end of difference to my mental health and I am someone who eats well when they are exercising. If that makes sense!

Whatever you do. Make sure you work on letting your DH parent on his own. It will be worth it!