How do you fit exercise in?

[bez91]

Hi all

I'm going to sit down and work out some set days that I can set aside an evening or an hour in the weekend to exercise. I used to be pretty fit before having my 2 year old and now it seems impossible to fit anything in 😂

I work 4 days a week with a commute, my day off is with my daughter doing classes etc. Evenings are then dominated by me trying to get through a 20,000 word dissertation before May to finally finish my course. If not that it's sorting stuff out for the house extension we have going on right now and weekends are just full of family things and if not that my husband is usually on call for work so I generally always have our daughter!

I am going to set one evening a week aside for exercise, I'd love to tone up before we start TTC #2

How do you supermums fit it in? Love to hear your hectic stories!

No answers really but watching with interest. I'm heavily pregnant with number 2 at the moment. Like you I also have a 2yo, a job and a commute (no dissertation though!)

My plan is to get into running, as I figured i can do it right from my front door any time that suits. I'm also going to try doing some of the Joe Wickes youtube videos. Theyre only 15 minutes of hiit, so I'm hoping I can maybe get one done most days involving my toddler in it, or maybe while he is eating breakfast for instance.

Can you fit any walking into your commute as that's probably the easiest way to slot it in ?

Realistically if you’re that busy it’s hard. Once your dissertation/course is done it will be easier. Can you go for a walk at lunchtime when you’re at work?

I run at the weekend and one other day during the week. I fit in a few 10 min ab/thigh workouts from YouTube in between.

We alternate bedtime duties, so on the nights that DH is doing bedtime I go to the gym for an hour then. I also go on saturday mornings when he's taking DS swimming. In your schedule it would mean you'd be spending less time doing something, but you might find that exercise energises you the rest of the time. It does for me. (The more I do, the more I want to do)
Maybe try and fit in a little bit for now, I'm assuming after May you'll be less pressured and be able to find more time for yourself.
Good luck with your course.

Thanks all for the little bit of extra motivation!

@LilithTheKitty total agreement that doing more exercise gives more energy/motivation to do more so maybe sacrificing one evening going to the gym will encourage me to do more of my dissertation elsewhere in the week 😊

I'm in a very similar situation to you as regards having no time. I work FT, have 2 small DC, and evenings are out completely as I'm working on my MSc, as well as doing some other voluntary stuff.

So here's how I fit it in...
At weekends, I do Parkrun on a Saturday morning and run to and from the event, meaning about 5 miles in total. Home by 9.45am for a full day with the kids.

Sunday is long run day, and I go in the dark before the rest of the family are up. I run for a max of 3 hours/20 miles, and am home by 9am ish. That means I still get full weekends for family activities - we do a lot of climbing, biking, walking etc - as well as visiting friends and grandparents.

Weekdays are tougher to find time, as I can't do anything in the evenings. So I cycle to and from work, and run at lunchtimes. Even if I can only squeeze in a 30 min break, that's enough for a fast 3 miles and a super quick shower. Usually though, I take a full hour if meetings allow; which means I can go to the gym or do a proper run.

So on average I run 40-50 miles a week (less if I'm not in marathon training), plus gym once a week, and daily cycle commuting. It's hard to find the motivation sometimes, but it's worth the effort IMO.

I work ft and have a 3 and 6 yo.

They stay at my mums 1 night a week so I either go that night or before work the next morning as no school run, then gym one day at the weekend for an our while they di something with their dad.

Other than that I I either do a YouTube video or just basic exercises at home, I have some free weights, 6kg ball and a kettlebell- that's all I need and just do 30 mins after the kids have gone to bed, or 1st thing

I walked a lot (pram pushing) & cycled for local commuting (to shops) when DC were small. Had to wait until youngest was at least 6yo before I could do frequent aerobic exercise.

Running I am seriously impressed!

I walk everywhere and i do pilates 5 times a week on the floor whilst ds 22 months is in his highchair next to me. This is when hes eating something that takes forever like toast.

I have three dd's and work part time. I do a dance class one evening a week, I swim one morning and drop baby dd off at the crèche, and usually squeeze in two or three 30 minute runs during the week. Usually weekend mornings, plus I sometimes try and incorporate a run ending with picking the dcs up from the childminder. Good luck! For me it's a about routine, and looking at the week ahead and at your and your dh's schedule to see where you can fit in some exercise. Running is great for fitting in around family life.

I go early in the morning, 6am. Is that an option for you? Either a class or a run or exercise video. Once a week is a good start but for toning you're prob gonna need about 3 sessions a week

Great to hear all your own routines and challenges!

@Runningonempty84 that's ace - must take a lot of self discipline!

@Looneytune253 6am not really an option in my house, DD is up from 5am and husband leaves for work at 6am, after that we're out the house by 7:15. Just done a 3k run so I am going to try doing x3 times a week. I have a gym membership but as someone said before running seems the better option as I can just head out the door and make use of all the time 😊

My 3 dc are a bit older than yours but I do yoga at home 5 nights a week after 12 hour shift. Only 30 minutes. Sometimes the children drift in and out or join in. Then 2 classes one night a week when dh is at home . The 7th day is wine day
I also try to do a 30 minute walk on my lunch break but it’s more to clear my head. At weekends I take the dog for a 3 or 4 mile walk.

Will your dc go in a buggy so you can run with them?

Very similar to @Runningonempty84. I work full time with a 4 and 6 year old. Mon - Fri I run on my lunch break at work, usually 50 mins, then a quick shower. Long run Sat morning, DH takes the kids swimming and gets them lunch so I have up to 3 hours. Sunday morning I go out at 6:00 for an hour or so, so it doesn't interfere with the day and I'm then back to take kids to junior park run. During the week I also cycle part of my commute, and on a weekend the kids have at least one decent bike ride, so I get a 5-6 mile walk in, in addition to running. I use to think I didn't have time to run, but actually it's about seizing the opportunity and getting on with it!

Sorry to jump in but I'm similar boat, can I ask those of you who do home videos, what ones? Is Davina still meant to be good or have I missed newer ones? Thanks x

@PlugUgly1980 has it spot on with I use to think I didn't have time to run, but actually it's about seizing the opportunity and getting on with it

It seems hard to find the time at first, but once you get into a routine, you wonder why you didn't do it beforehand.

My husband went to the gym at 6am every morning, of course I was at home with the kids - can your partner do the morning routine while you do that?
A friend goes for a run every lunch at work.
Really it's just making it a priority - one hour out of the weekend will not impede too much with family tme, and one hour during the week in the morning or evening the same.

Realistically your situation is challenging due to your work/commute, studies and your H’s current working pattern.

Is your H really on call all weekend, every weekend? That’s a bit unfair on you if so. Would be better to do two exercise sessions each weekend. How about going early and within reach of home if he does get called out? Or a gym with a creche.

You could reduce family/social stuff at weekends to prioritise the exercise.

Agree with PPs about morning workouts being good, you could go into work late and return later.

Hi Op

I also have a nearly 2 year old & work 4 days.

My ideal regime looks like this. But sometimes it doesn’t all happen due to illness, lack of sleep, work etc.

One weekend day - 30 miles or so cycle. First thing, while DH looks after DD

Other weekend day - sometimes do My exercise bike in the evening once DD asleep

• Mon & Thurs - these are my most hectic days work-wise, so no exercise.

• day off - try to do exercise bike at home in the evening after DD in bed, but sometimes DD goes to nursery for the morning and I go actual cycling.

The other two days I work from home so try to do an hour long hill walk one lunchtime out of the two.

I do things to free up my evenings like put dinner in the slow cooker in the morning so I’m not messing around cooking in the evenings. I also try and cut down on other stuff. Like I rarely watch TV and I have reduced internet time.
It is tough but if you make it a priority and part of your routine it’s achievable.
Good luck

@SuperDuperC I just mix and match from YouTube so I'm not doing the same all the time

Personally, I think that you have to sacrifice something. You can't do everything unless you're super human. For me, it was cleaning the house. We lived in squalor for a while but have just caved in and got a cleaner.

We have 2 DDs, 2 and 4 (who has cerebral palsy, so a little more time consuming). We both work full time.

DH goes the the gym two evenings a week and once or twice at the weekend. I go 2 mornings a week at 0615. We do classes of 60 minutes. I also do long runs at the weekend.

I have zero self motivation so would be useless doing work outs at home. Great if you can do it as You Tube is an amazing resource.

Currently the fitness and strongest I've ever been on 4 hours exercise a week.

@Yogawoogie I had thought about this running with her in the buggy but I think it'd be more trouble than it was worth seeing to her whinging 😆

@Dozer husband being on call is most weekends yes, sometimes it'll be 0 call outs, other times it won't stop so it's hard to gauge 😆 I don't mind however as the money is good even for being on standby. I had looked for a gym with a crèche but struggling to find any at all within 20 miles. I remember there being plenty when I was younger!

I think doing C25K 3 days a week is achievable so I will stick with that and see if I can squeeze any more in! Thanks all 😘 x

No luck here - get up at 6 to get ready for work, get kids up, take to nursery and school, 1 hour commute to work, solid 9-5 (lunch breaks are unheard of!) 1 hour commute back, pick kids up at 6, bed and bath and asleep by 8, make dinner for next day, tidy up, pack their bags, laundry on and dishwasher, life admin (like online shop) 930 I'm into bed knowing one of the kids will be up at some point.
Weekend mornings spent at ballet, gymnastics, footie, rugby and swimming lessons.
I don't drive so I have to walk everywhere and that helps, but until my kids are a bit older I'm not sure how to fit it in.