How can I become an exercise person again?

[Iamatissuebox]

I used to be a proper exercise person. PT, short runs, yoga, Pilates, classes - all contribute to a good physique and lots of social activities.

Since x2 tough pregnancies with lots of physical issues and the resulting 2 small kids, lockdowns and moving to a different area I have completely lost all motivation. I feel like I’m not even me anymore. I miss it badly.

I know I need to take a small step, don’t think about it just do it etc etc but I’m honestly so tired and overwhelmed with FT work, kids (who are seemingly always ill too) and just life in general I can never get and just do it. It just seems too hard and I don’t know where I would’ ‘steal’ the time from. It’s a vicious cycle as this has a negative impact on my mental health. Then I can’t be arsed even more.

Has anyone felt like this and pulled it back? If so how?

If finance permits I would get PT once a week and do an exercise video once a week
You may find that this gets you back into the fitness mindset and then you may want to increase your exercise
Also try brisk walking for fifteen minutes twice a week which you can increase to thirty minutes.
Start slow

There’s always time. Go in the evenings when your children are asleep / take turns with partner when you go out.

i run three times a week it gives me that me time and de stresses me. This is with a daughter and son who have lots of sports clubs too. I just go in evening when they are back and once on the weekend at any time that it can be fit in around clubs ect. There’s always an hour somewhere you can fit in and once you do it you feel so much better. And you can’t make excuses if it’s cold or wet. Dress appropriately and go no matter how slow you are just get out and do it! (Gym , swim , walk something if not wanting to run).

I’m doing jillian michaels beginner shred, this is a bit pathetic but its kicking my arse but it’s only 20 minutes I do it 5 times a week so whole thing will take me 6 weeks but after 2 already feel stronger and a bit fitter.

Do you have a partner at home doing childcare and housework?

Book your fitness time in, including travel and any showers/drying hair etc. And defend it like a raving maniac.

You are not alone OP!
I was super fit a few years ago, but moving to full time hours and having much more responsibility at work combined with the housework and being knackered at the weekend means that I've completely lost motivation.

I was much fitter when I had younger kids, but to be fair I had a better work/life balance then.

Can you find an exercise buddy? Another mum, maybe?

Buy a peloton. No travel time means you can get a good exercise session in in literally 30 minutes. It has made me go from exercising once a week at the gym (the only chance I got time wise) to exercising daily

I recently started kettle bell work outs at home. 20 minutes, a lady called Roxanne.
Full body, resistance weights is the absolute bollocks for benefits.

I squeeze it in 3 times a week with a rest day between.

YouTube is your friend! Honestly it's the only way I could have got started. I've gone from life long couch potato to doing 30/40mins of something every night.

I got cheap resistance bands and started at 15 mins. I'm now up to over an hour. I've just bought a kettle bell, learnt some exercises and doing these increasing reps. I'm walking, in door cycling and I've started adding in 20 kettle bell deadlifts/squats at the kettle boils. I feel so much better!

Find something, anything and just start to move.

Dumbbells and the Fiit app transformed me into an exercise person post-kid

sounds tough op, I can empathise! as a LP I don't have time to go to the gym (despite trying during school hours it still didn't work for me, because it used up too much of my day - such a faff getting stuff ready, going there, getting changed, showering then coming home can take up so much time when you're busy fitting around school nursery etc and household tasks!). What I have found helpful is getting a home gym together - one cross trainer, some small weights and some resistance bands. You will need to clear an area of your home but having a dedicated area for it (I use a section of my bedroom because that's the only space it can go) that's clean, tidy and dedicated only to exercise is super helpful. Then I started out doing 2 - 5 mins only per day on the cross trainer with 1 min of weights and keeping a record of the days I did it. I always watch youtube or listen to podcasts to keep it interesting. Keep your goal small and work up, don't worry if you only do two mins a day. Having the equipment at home rather than having the hassle of going all the way to the gym / pool makes it so much easier. Using the couch to 5 k app is good too (I use it on the cross trainer because I can't run on the roads due to pelvic floor issues) as it helps motivate you. Be sure to have a good video or tv series to watch! Keep your goals super small to start with, especially with small kids. Set a regular time if you can e.g. before dinner or something. Check out the Atomic Habits book or videos too as that is very helpful!

Yes, I meant to say my workouts are YouTube. There is an app called 7 minute workouts (I think) which are great!

Thanks these are really good ideas

the more I think about it the more I think I need the social element- so I’m thinking to kick start I’m going to book some PT sessions to make me accountable

I agree OP, accountability is key.

As well / instead of PT sessions, signing up to classes where you book ahead (so if you don't turn up you lose money / credits) could be a good way to make it fun & sociable. It also might add some competition as you'll be trying to keep up with the others in the class.

PT sessions can be a bit lonely.

I train almost every day, and I love the little interactions & chat before / after as much as the exercise itself.

I'm never a fan of people working out alone at home (tho I know why many need to) as the risk of injury or not working hard enough is always possible.

Hey!! Don't be too harsh on yourself.... You're a bloody ft mum of two 😂!!!!

I'm quite into my fitness, but I find this time of the year difficult, with the weather, dark evenings, etc ...

So I'm doing a "run at least 1 mile a day" in January challenge (just a goal I set myself!)....... sometimes I'll only run a mile, but sometimes I'll enjoy it, and do 2 or 3 miles .... X

Walking pad
Sweaty mamas classes - bring the kids.

I think start big, as in commit to something that you have to train for. Starting with a little bit here and there with you can fit it in won't work (in my opinion) because there'll always be something else to prioritise. Can you sign up for a race? Or a fitness event like Hyrox. Something that you feel a bit intimidated by, but that you'd be excited/proud to complete.

I know the advice for parents is often to just do short bursts when you can, but I think it can be really hard to motivate yourself. Particularly because a 20 minute yoga video isn't very rewarding (again, in my opinion!). You need to chase the endorphin rush of a good, tough session. Once you've got a few of those under your belt the love and motivation will start to come back.

Just my two pennies anyway.

I felt exactly how you felt recently. I'm lucky and only have one DD but I'm on my own. So I started small with a 15 minute home workout so DD could join in. ( AB Coaching on Instagram has loads of little workouts you can do at home for free).

Then I started adding a little 15/20 minute walk in on my days off. And last week I did my first PT and are doing one every fortnight just to build me up.

Good luck OP, its really hard and it's exhausting but I've felt so great afterwards

YouTube is your friend here. Pre lockdown and one kid, I was in great shape, gym regular , climbed Munros when I could etc etc...But another baby born in 2020 then WFH, then multiple work/life stresses it all slipped.

Joe Wicks and Caroline Girvan are my go to vids. Joe especially as he's not always able to complete his sets! Get a kettle bell too (Aldi have some 6kg ir 8kgs just now for a cheap start). I just do a 15 min video week days and try to do a half hour one or get a gym class on days off/weekend if possible.

It was just getting back into the habit that worked for me. Also Yoga with Adriene is great, again lots of options and encouragement. Yoga gives you a great base for fitness I find. I do it in my PJs with a sports bra on before bed usually.

I've been doing this properly again post Xmas, along with stopping drinking for a bit....and today at a break in work I went for a spontaneous 20mins run (trying to make.WFH work for me, as I'm not really a fan of the isolation because of the type of work I do). I've not ran for a long time and it wasn't far (it was also freezing) but I felt amazing.

Just force yourself those first 2 or 3 times and then you won't want to miss it.

Good luck!! You can be fit again....