Tell me how you exercise with a baby and toddler and no energy

[tiredtrumpet]

Basically, just that!
I need to exercise but I have a 2yr old and a 16 week old. Gym membership isn't really an option because of the cost (the cheapest around here is £40 a month plus a £25 starter fee). I don't have much childcare and when I do they generally only tend to take one of them
DH is home in the evenings but after bath and bed and cleaning tidying etc there's nothing much left to give, so I'm hoping to do something during the day whilst on mat leave to get me motivated enough so when I go back to work, I can exercise in the evenings.
I just have no idea where to start so I never do

Does the gym have a creche? If so would do that.

Walking is good, natural light etc.

Weekends, with DH looking after the DC.

YouTube HIIT and yoga videos. Lucy Wyndham-Read saved my post-natal bacon

Double buggy and walking!!

Walks with a double buggy would be a decent start. You can upgrade to a double running buggy when DC2 is 6 months...

Short stuff off YouTube can work although older DC might try to make off with your weights. Both mine found my efforts fascinating/amusing so I'd usually get 20 minutes in.

Carifit (carrying 16w old in a sling) could also work if older DC is occupied.

This is me (except the newborn, congrats). I can't be bothered with running, and have no real motivation for anything like the gym except for the fact I'm 40 next year and really starting to feel physically shit. My plan is to get a bike trainer (eg static bike), because even 20 mins on that every few days will start me off. Once I can be figged with it all, and feel a bit better, I might try running too but a static bike is really easy to just do something

Thank you for the replies!
I do have a double buggy and have started walking a bit, dc1 is 2.10 though, and gets VERY frustrated if placed in the buggy. So we crawl along at a toddler pace and I have to stop him from bolting, but it's better than nothing.

I go to a HIIT class that you are allowed to bring kids to. It's only £3. The instructor used to carry my baby around!

Try a Facebook search for child-friendly exercise, or possibly women-only classes.

Can you give him a picnic lunch while you speed walk for a bit, might stop him complaining? Then he can dawdle back?

@PerpetualStudent I will add her to my list on YouTube thank you!

@megletthesecond that's a good idea

You said you had (free?) childcare for one DC? Could use that for DC1 and push DC2.

@Dozer I could do weekends when DH is home yes, probably a class.

My DM or DMIL sometimes come over, but they only tend to be able to cope with one at a time. So whilst one of them looked after toddler I could go out speed walking with baby.

I just wonder if sporadic and low impact exercise is going to make any bit of difference.

When I was on mat leave I started doing 20mins pilates a day whilst DD slept. I can't tell you how toned it made me and so fast! I was looking back on pictures the other day and I looked the best I ever have when I had a 5 month old. Needless to say she's now 2.5yrs and I'm in the worst shape I've ever been and that's only with one DC. I wish I could help but clearly I need some guidance myself!

Honestly I’m amazed by the difference short chunks of exercise made for me! Downside is I find I don’t get the same endorphin rush from a 10-15 min workout but doing it 3-ish times a week keeps me from wobbling too much, and if I do a few sessions focusing on one area I can really notice the difference. I think if you’re used to exercising and have decent technique (and are motivated to make the most of that slice of time without the kids crawling on you!) you can get a lot of them.

I should probably mention that I'm very very unfit, I had a very problematic pregnancy which led to near enough 9 month bed rest, horrendous weight gain and I'm now very very overweight. I was no gym bunny before that either.
I just don't have the skills or knowledge to make use of 20 min slices here and there.

For example, do I need to warm up before these bursts of exercises? If I'm doing 20 mins of a you tube video, do I need to spend 10-15 mins before that stretching?

I used the app Lumowell Pilates. I had no previous pilates experience and I literally just followed the steps (they're very basic and easy to follow). You can choose the length of the workout,and there's a 5 or 10 minute stretching cool down after which is more yoga stretches. So I would generally do 10 mins pilates and 10 mins stretching and that's it. After each workout it asks you if you want to repeat it so I'd sometimes do that if I felt up for it but it was often 20mins a day during DD morning nap.
What's your diet like ?

I took DD for a walk in her pram and walked really quickly, it was nearly running. It helped me lose weight despite me eating lots of bread, pasta and biscuits.

Walks, get a double pram or a buggy board. I love the healthy mummy website lots of great exercises with variety so you don’t get bored

I used my dc in a workout.(weights while doing squats etc) it can end up being quite fun with them and because they are involved it keeps them amused

Anything you can do, no matter how sporadic and low impact will make a difference. Even the odd stretching exercise /yoga pose while you play with them on the floor. There are good yoga YouTube videos.

Just do what you can and be kind to yourself. I remember those days and for me it was the tiredness that was the hardest. Plus no childcare and toddler who walked at snail pace. So hard to find time/ energy for myself.

Don’t feel pressured to do something drastic - try to live in the moment and enjoy your little ones. Nourish your body with healthy food (also so so hard when you are tired!).

Every small thing/decision you do counts

Your eldest could get a scooter so you can walk a bit faster with a sling or buggy for your youngest? I wouldn't do hiit until you can walk a good amount per week, the fast paced nature of it can lead to injuries, eg don't do burpees!

When my kids were small I got a big double jogging buggy and i walked everywhere. I couldn't have committed to class but the walking really helped. I got exercise, the kids fresh air and no matter how hard it was to get going i made myself do it everyday rain or shine. It also did wonders for my mental health. Get yourself a good pair of running shoes and a good waterproof coat and get out there. You will thank yourself for it by the summer.

Do you have a children’s centre close? The ones in my area run an exercise class for new mums think it’s called something like MEND mums

I kept my exercise time very short but regular when my children were toddlers. 10-15 minutes in the morning every morning before they were up, then it was done. I’ve very little willpower when it comes to evening exercise. I used a Wii Fit, it was about 10 years ago, or something like the 10 minute solution dvds, which have a variety of workouts on a given theme, I just chose ones that appealed. It did make a difference and could be a great way to work up to a class at the weekend, which I think would be great and very motivating.

I went on to do C25k and mostly run now, but wouldn’t have got there without starting small.

When the baby sleeps give the toddler (next to you) stretches to do and toys to play with while you do a YouTube exercise session. It works but you may still be tired.