When could I fit exercise into my day?

[CarpeJugulum]

I know this sound daft, but I'm really struggling to get my head round it.

I'm up at 5.30am, and out to work at 7.15am. In between is showering, getting dressed and organising DS & DH.

Work all day and then home by 6pm. DS has family time and his bedtime routine until 7.30pm, then it's dinner time, sort out house/cleaning/washing, sit for an hour to read/watch TV before bed, and then bed around 10pm.

So how do I fit in exercise? I'm thinking about the shred as it's the shortest routine that I can find...

Shred is 20 minutes. Do it in the morning as soon as you get up. Tell DH to organise himself.

My routine is the same Mon to Fri but Isqueeze in 30-60 mins running about two evenings a week as soon as dd in bed at 730. Forget the chores that night! May also do the same on a sat night or sat or Sun morning.

You just have to get into the routine of it. I found signing up for an event e.g. a 10k motivated me to go out. Running easy as don't need to travel to a gym. I found using a gym meant I hardly went as too much effort.

How about family bike rides or swimming at the weekend?

Why do you need to organise your DH? Can't you just leave on those mornings - you have an hour and half to go for a run, or you could get to the swimming-pool before work? He can sort DS.

You are up for 1 3/4 hours in the morning. What do you actually do first thing - that's not a judgy question, just wondering what you could fit in?

We get up and get ready and get two children to school in 1 hour. Why do you get dh ready?

Could you commit to one class/swim/gym session or whatever one evening a week? Then 1 thing at the weekend you could all do, then something 1 morning a week?

Agree dh can sort himself out! And DS!

I disagree re family cycling/swimming - fun but not actually proper exercise IMO.

I leave my lot to sort themselves and go for a run at 6.45.

And/or do something at 7.30 - not my personal ideal option but DH would have dinner on the table for when you got back in.

That is a long time in the morning...surely you could squeeze half an hour?

I agree if you want to exercise to lose weight you need to 'work out' hard for 30min - 1hr 3 times a week

If you're just trying to improve fitness levels the family bike ride works well

I do 30 minutes in the morning when I wake up, before I shower and start the day

Commit to a class or whatever with a friend. You're more likely to stick with it if there's someone you don't want to let down

Can you get out for a run at lunchtime (if your workplace has showers)? I try to run 3 x a week, one lunchtime, one after work (straight from work, before I go home) and a parkrun on Saturday mornings.

When I used to shred a long time ago I used to do it as soon as I got out of bed.

Exercise is for toning/losing weight.

The morning is:
5.30 - 6.00 shower and dress
6.00 DS up
6.00 - 6.30 sort hair & face while trying to get DS to stop running about
6.30 - 7.00 try to eat breakfast with DS and spend some time with him
7.00 - 7.15 get DS dressed and get out of house.

It sounds like I have loads of time, but DS is 4 and he is quite clingy just now, so I am trying to straighten my hair while he is literally hanging off me.

super early night and get up half an hour earlier three or four times a week?

join a running club that meets once or twice a week in the evening

go for a 20 minute walk every lunchtime, think walking is sadly underrated, that's 5 extra miles a week right there

Half an hour to shower and dress? A shower takes about 2 minutes. Dressing about 30 seconds. Do the Shred 5.30-5.50, then shower and dress. You'd have 5 minutes to spare for lying on the floor crying after the Shred a cup of tea.

Agree you need to do the shred first thing then shower etc.

Can your dh not supervise him or perhaps have breakfast with him giving you a bit of extra time for ablutions?

Nearly 2 hours to get up and out? An hour to get showered, dressed and do hair and make-up?

I suppose we all have our priorities but in that hour I would run for 40 and do the rest in 20mins.

I do it after my dc go to bed. I have a cross trainer and it's not unknown for me to be on it at midnight. Both dc have ASD so don't sleep as much as other children. I have to fit it in somehow though. I get depressed if I don't.

I agree the morning is your best option. You are currently allowing an hour for showering, dressing and made up. I get up at 6.40 and am out of house by 7.30 with 2 DDs in tow. You could easily halve that which leaves you 30 mins to do a short workout.

Agree you need to cut down your time getting ready!

DD goes swimming at 6.00 several mornings a week. I get up at 5.00 shower, make coffee, her breakfast, get her clothes and drink. Get dressed, full make up and I'm out of the house by 5.45.

I could do shower, dressed and full make up in half an hour. Leave hair naturally to almost dry and style before I leave the house.

What is your DH doing ?

Agree on the length of time, but it's not easy with DS at the moment.

DH is asleep until 6, showering and dressing from 6 - 6.30am, spending time with DS as I eat and then he's out for 7.

Hair takes about 10 mins, face 2-5 depending on eyeliner. Add in moisturise body, throw on clothes and it is about 30 mins in a block but DH and I can't shower at the same time and I don't want to wake him so timings don't work any other way

A few mornings a week get DH to sort your DS. Get up, straight into your running kit and straight out of the door.

Lay all your work clothes out the night before so dressing takes 2 mins.

Do your make-up on the way to work.

Tie your hair back so you don't have to style it.

Park 20 mins away from work and walk.

Run at lunch times.

Take turns doing bed times/ tidying the house/ cooking at night. When it's not your turn go for a run.

Do at least 2 hours exercise at the weekend. If you bring your DS to the playground join in like a loon.

And exercise is not for toning/losing weight. It's essential for general good health-physical and mental.