How do busy parents fit regular exercise around work and family?

[Homeiswherethedogsare]

I go to a pilates class once a week and to a dance class another time a week, love both and wouldn’t give these up for the world (used to be a regular gym goer and did body pump, combat etc a lot). So it’s 2 evenings a week I am out. I work FT and DC is in school plus afternoon clubs all week so would feel really bad leavingmore than those 2 evenings a week to go to more classes.
I have a desk job so quite sedentary however I try to average 10K steps a day most weeks.
That’s pretty much it. I tried to workout at home sometimes but I find it boring abd can never stick with it. Hate running.

What do other busy parents do to stay in good shape and workout regularly?

I was single mothered when the dc were young, so I got a bunch of exercise equipment to use at home. It was all cheap or second hand. Where there's a will...

Gym at 5am.

I get up at 5.30 3 days a week and either go for a run or do a Yoga session on You Tube. I also go to a Yoga class one evening a week.

I think you’re doing great, better than I ever did. Can you take your kids on bike rides or take up a sport with them?

I exercise at home in the evening when DC in bed. I have Les Mills on demand - it's far cheaper than the gym and in my experience, far better. You do have to be motivated though.

I also run once at the weekend.

Gym at 5am, and I was back home before my son woke up. This is now so entrenched in me I can only train super early! Or tag team with partner?

I run and work out with dumbbells at home. The good thing about running is it can be done at most times of day. Mine are bigger now, so childcare not an issue.

Also I never felt guilty for going for run. It was max 40 mins.

I go before work too I used to run at 6am now I go to the gym.

I do try a couple of evenings after work, but it doesn't take much to persuade me that I'm too tired.

And then I go on Saturday and Sunday mornings too. My children are teens now so they're still in bed then. I prioritise exercise - I think if it's something you enjoy, it's much easier to do that.

Oh and i generally go out for a walk at lunchtime too. (also office-based.) I walk the dogs on days I'm wfh.

I go to the gym 4 times a week - two days straight after work, DH sorts kids after school, feeds them etc
One day on my lunch break (I start earlier to make up the time)
Saturday morning i spend a few hours there - both kids are in a 3 hour club
I also walk as much as I can. Pre work, lunch time, after dinner. The kids are now used to going out for walks after dinner every day, for long walks at the weekend and we tend to avoid getting in the car if the journey can be walked in less than an hour so we all get alot of exercise that way
When the kids were younger my DH and I used to do Insanity workouts when the kids were in bed or napping and I would do yoga and pilates videos.

Did you have to invest on equipment though, for example for body pump? Is it expensive to get Les Mills on demand?

I have so much admiration for all of you who can wake up at 5am to go to the gym or run. I absolutely hate mornings and love my sleep way too much to ever be able to do that, especially in the winter.

Question for those of you who run: do you actually enjoy it and have you always been a runner or is it just something you force yourself to do as it’s good for you?
I have always hated running but I can see how it’s an easy exercise to fit into my routine, I also have a lovely park nearby

I'm flexible so go to gym whenever I can squeeze it in - sometimes morning, sometimes evening, could be also during DC activities, sometimes lunchtime. Helps that the gym is really close, so I don't waste time getting there.

You can get les mills online! I subscribe, bought some cheap weights (theirs are ££) and do a few workouts a week - body pump etc. They have 30, 45 and 60 minute options.

I’ve got a rower and weights at home. Best thing I ever did

I can't run as I have a disability. I walk a lot, so much we got rid of the car. On a Saturday I will walk 30k steps to drop DC off at various clubs and back (they're out of prams so walk it with me). I try to do weights once a week but with a full time job that I have to do around school run it's tough. I can't get up at 5am to do the gym because I get up at 5am to start work before the school run. So it would need to be 3.30am to get to the gym and I just can't do that.

I don't sit and watch TV at night, I'll watch something on the treadmill. Even if DH goes out I can still be there for the kids and get some exercise at the same time. All weather. If I had to go to the gym to exercise I'd end up not bothering.

@Homeiswherethedogsare

Les Mills+ costs me the equivalent of around £7 a month because I pay a one off annual fee. I bought a whole set of the Les Mills equipment very cheaply off eBay but you can buy non branded stuff much cheaper.

There's plenty you can do without equipment. My favourite workout is Shapes and they always have one instructor using no equipment.

All the online stuff is incredibly high quality and there's everything you could possibly want. It's honestly been the best investment I've made in my fitness.

Do a sport at the same time as DC. Swim during their swimming lessons in the public lane. Pick other activities which adults can do too. No time spent scrolling killing time and exercise with no complicated logistics. Win win

I walk the school run and then to work. Walk back, walk the home school run, then do a YouTube workout once the child is in bed.

I can't go to the gym as I have zero childcare so walking it is for now.

I bought a walking pad and weights to use at home. I use these briefly in the evening at least four times a week when DC in bed.

I also do stretches/a bit of yoga most mornings before work while DC are getting ready for school.

Other than that, I go for a walk (must be at least 3+ miles) with DH while DC are at their Saturday morning club.

I otherwise have a very sedentary lifestyle unfortunately.

I run twice a week and do weights at home twice a week. Tbh I hate running (especially in the winter) but I force myself to do it as it’s the only exercise I can fit in around FT work and two DC - 45 min incl warm up.

I honestly love it but if I have a long break for some reason, getting back into it is awful. I feel like there is a brutal process to go through to get your body used to running and it just hurts and feels impossible. But if you persevere and don't try to rush the process and avoid getting injured, after a few months it feels great and its an easy exercise to fit in
Good trainers (ideally fit at a proper running shop with gait analysis, at least if you are going to start going a few times a week for 5k plus) and a bomb proof sports bra are good investments
Also I can't run without music. Absolutely hate it. If I have my favourite tunes blasting in my ears I can do so much more

I’ve got a folding treadmill, an exercise bike and some weights and resistance bands in my conservatory. I’m disabled, so can’t do too much at once, but I find it easier to walk on a treadmill with a handle to hang onto than I do on a potentially uneven surface outside, so I can go faster, have the incline on full and get my heart rate up more.

I do 10-15 minutes walking first thing whilst I’m waiting for the dog to have a potter around the garden, then usually another couple of 10-15 minute sessions during the day, plus 10-15 minutes with the weights whilst on my exercise bike.

I usually do one of the dog walks too, although I do struggle walking outside a bit and use a stick at a minimum.