How often do you exercise, and how do you fit it in?

[dontrunwithscissors]

I'm trying to get myself in a routine of doing exercise, but it always seems to be the first thing to go when life gets busy. It then takes an age for me to get back around to it. Myself and DH work full-time, have 2 kids (4 and 18 months) and no family around. I am a member of a local gym, and I enjoy working out there; I just can't seem to keep it going.

I'd be interested to hear 1) how often you exercise, 2) where/what you do, 3) what time of the day/week. Any other hints about fitting exercise in around work, children and life would be appreciated too!

I work full time, 2 DC - I fit in around 7 hours of exercise a week (on a good week when work doesnt interrupt - otherwise its nearer 4 hours). 2 45 min sessions before work (pilates, circuits) and 4 lunchtime sessions at gym near work (body combat x 2, pilates, body pump), one evening zumba class when the kids are in bed and a pt session early on sunday mornings. Sometimes I manage to squeeze a run in at a lunchtime.

I exercise 3/4 times a week

circuit training mon nights - 1hr
yoga- thurs nights 2hrs
Running ( long run sun am 1 and a half hours , quick run fri pm, if time (or energy!)-45 mins)

I work 4 days a week and have two boys, 3 and 6. I have managed this routine for about 4 yrs.

DH looks after boys each time I exercise, evenings ones he is back at 7 ish, so i nip straight out when he returns ( same for fri run) Sunday long run is at about 7am, so that it doesnt spoil the day.

We have no family around here and on tues and wed nights DH goes to the gym. It doesnt always work, if Dh is away or working late, but generally it is a good routine.

Six days a week for me.

Twice a week I do a class straight from work before picking up dd.
One weekend morning spent riding bike while DD spends time with grandparents, I join them for lunch/afternoon.
One evening a week DH puts DD to bed and I go out on bike for 2/3 hours.
Three evenings after I have put DD to bed I go for a run, if DH is late home or away my neighbour will sit for me the 40 minutes I am gone.

Then I will cycle to work or sneak in a late night swim as and when the opportunity comes up. Very occasionally shred.

Just the one child though who is always in bed by 7pm. Makes it easier.

My routine is quite haphazard at the moment. My aim is 3/4 runs and 2/3 goes on the exercise bike. I run during the day when my older two are at school or nursery and I have DS (4 months) in the pushchair. I bike at home when DS naps or in the evening when he's gone to bed.

I don't work so in that sense it's a bit easier to find the time, but I try to balance it all so I don't feel any guilt. In my ideal world I would exercise every day and have a cleaner!! My DH is a keen cyclist so at the weekend/evenings we have to juggle our time out and family time. I am just getting to the point where my running is picking up again after having DS and breaking my arm 6 weeks ago! I ran a marathon last year and really enjoyed following a training schedule but realise that is unrealistic at the moment so rather than following a plan I do what I can when I can! I have a lump of weight to lose too.

I would like to get up to half marathon distance in the autumn, which will be easier as my two older ones will be at school so I will be able to fit in more runs during the day. The summer holidays mean during the week I can only do evenings and DS goes to bed between 8 and 9 so it doesn't always happen!!

Best of luck, I just think with young children anything you can do is a bonus

I try and do 5/6 sessions a wek. I work 4 days with a long commute (2 1/2 hours a day) and my DH works away Monday to Friday. I can't take the time away from work to go the gym, as we work flexibly and I need to spend my time at my desk working so I can leave to beat the traffic! I generally do a long run on my non-working day (when DD at school). DH and I do a circuit training session together on on either saturday or sunday morning (a double 'shred' - i.e 2 levels back to back with heavy weight.) On the other weekend day I do 45 pilates or yoga DVD. I then try and do another session (DVD)v early (5 45/6am) before going to work. The final two are usually a session on the cross trainer whilst dd eats her tea and watches her post-dinner TV, and then if I am lucky, another run at some point in the week if I manage to work from home or get home early from a meeting.

It is a constantly juggling/scheduling issue, but I am used to doing it (and DD, now 5, is used to me exercising and happy to play whilst I do it.)