How do you fit exercise into your day?

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Pre-DS, I was a mad-keen exerciser, and I'd dearly love to get back into it especially as I'm still eating like I'm doing five circuit classes a week but, short of finding the power to add extra hours into the day, I really don't know how to fit it in as a full-time WOHM with a 9 month old!

Give me ideas! How do you fit exercise in?

I started running when DS was about 9 months. A half hour three days a week to begin with, now run 5 to 6 days a week. I start climbing the walls unless I pound the pavement.

I walk to work and back - 45 mins each way, I do to classes two evenings a week, plus circuits, Zumba and yoga at the weekend. I get restless if I don't do some exercise every day.

How do you get to work? Can you include cycling/walking in yr commute?

Lunch breaks 3 times a week, early morning at weekends and one evening a week

I used to get up an hour before everyone else. 30-40 min exercise, then shower and dressed ready for everyone else. Though Im lacking the motivation for this ATM.

There must be some way of finding a slot a few times a week if you are determined. Early morning or late run/gym (while DH does breakfast/bath and bedtime), lunchtime run, swim or gym? Workout DVD at home - Shred is great and less than 30 mins. Turn your commute into exercise...run/cycle all or part of the way to or from work?

I drive - it's 18 miles into work, so not even remotely cyclable/walkable unfortunately.

I leave home at just after 7am (DH drops DS at nursery). I pick DS up around 5pm. I have my only play time with him - while simultaneously doing dinner and laundry or other jobs - until we start his bedtime routine at 6:30pm. I finish off a few other jobs after he's asleep then I'm usually in bed by 8pm so I can get in as much sleep as possible around his umpteen night wakings. I've thought about doing a couple of long sessions at the weekend but I don't want to spend even less time with him than I already do

I do a long run early at the weekend- about 7am, back by half 8/quarter to nine- so no lost time with the dc's ( and its quiet out, so noone sees me in my just out of bed state!!)

DS will only go to sleep for me so I can't leave bedtime to DH, although he does bath time.

I work 3 days a week. On a Monday I have a personal trainer come to the house while the DTs are napping upstairs (or that's the plan, sometimes they decide they'd prefer to join in!). On Tuesday and Thursday I do a power plate session at lunchtime at a gym nr work, no shower required. On a Saturday or Sunday morning I try to go for a run. And I walk everywhere with a double buggy on my non working days, so burn a lot of calories that way too

Can you fit something in your lunch break? A pool nearby?

If you can't fit in time without him, what about with him? Are there any weekend exercise classes that would let you take him in? (Local place does spin, Pilates, aerobics where you can take baby in - they have to be in buggy).

Am sneaking exercise into DPs weekend by going for Sunday brunch somewhere the other side of hill, he pushes buggy while I frolic along ahead saying helpful things like "I'm much quicker when I come this way during the week". Might not be hardcore enough for you tho.

I used to get up at 5 to run in the summer, but I think it's much harder in the winter and I won't run in the dark. Can you afford to join a gym?

At weekends can you run or do a DVD while Ds naps?

What you need to do is schedule in some time to exercise and stick to it - in summer, up at 6 (or before) for 20 minute run or cycle, or shred DVD twice a week, once a week yoga or Pilate's DVD one evening (and slightly later bedtime but should help wind you down) and something at the weekend would be a start.

I run 3 times a week, once the DC are tucked up in bed. I go out for 30 mins at time and I do run in the dark but along a well lit road used by other runners.

My DC are always in bed by 7pm though.

If there's no gym near your work, are there meeting rooms at work? How about getting one over lunch time and do some exercise DVDs with other women in your office? other busy mums might be up for it

OR get a trainer between you and some colleagues? It will be cheaper if you split the cost.

OR find out who in the office is a keen runner and persuade them to run a couch to 5k over six weeks?

Also what does WOHM stand for?

I'm loathe to get up earlier - DS is awake every two hours or so throughout the night and I need to fit in as much sleep as I can to function. I'm up at 6am as it is and I hit the ground running to get out if the house on time.

His naps are rarely longer than 20 minutes, unless they're on me, which rules out any decent weekend exercise while he's asleep.

The only thing I can possibly think of is fitting in something like Shred after he's asleep in the evening but I'm just so bloody knackered by that time...also, does exercising so close to bed make you a bit wired?

Working Out of Home Mum

OK Elphaba - first thing to do is get it so dh can put ds to bed a couple of times a week. Sort that out first before focussing on exercise. Ds2 was a nightmare sleeper like your Ds but we worked on getting him to self soothe and so dh could put him down or tend to him in the night too (routine for naps at home and bedtimes worked) which helped a lot and meant I could exercise a couple of evenings or nap times a week. If you can't exercise at lunchtime near work, then you need to let it slip till Ds is either more settled with sleeping or older.

I'd say start training your DS to go to sleep with his dad so you have some free time.

Can you do anything in your lunch breaks?

IS there any way you can combine a cycle ride and a car journey to work and back? Park 4 miles away from work and cycle the last part? You could find somewhere to lock up your bike so you're not taking it back and forth in the car? A park and Ride perhaps? I know lots of people who do this.

What does your DH do to fit in exersise?

Perhaps you could get a running buggy or a bike with a child seat and make a family outing of it every weekend?

Get up at 6. Meet friend at 6.15. Run for 30/35 mins. Home for 7 when DH and DCs getting up.

Very lucky I work from home - so if I can I fit in the Shred DVD in the afternoon before DS1 gets home and I have to pick DS2 up from nursery.

Do work paperwork in evenings/weekends to make it up.

Tabata training. Aim to go flat out... I like to run on the spot/ do those bunny hop things.