How do you fit exercise around being a mum - if at all?

[eggybreadandbeans]

My ds will be two on Wednesday. I haven't exercised really since cycling to work pre-pregnancy, and I'm missing it. I want to start exercising regularly again.

I'm wondering how to fit in three worthwhile sessions of something a week with a very lively (and at the moment quite clingy) two-year-old to keep amused and out of mischief.

What sort of exercise do any of you do? When? Where? How? Where do your little ones go - or do you exercise with them around?

Grateful to hear what works for any of you. Thanks.

Did have a look at those in Argos/ebay. But not sure about not being able to see what they're doing really; dont trust ds1 not to poke ds2's eyes out or something yet. We're not over the new baby jealousy stage yet. Think my best bet is still my treadmill. My lodger is moving back in in jluy, prt time, so will be around for a bit of childminding in lieu of rent, which will help alot.

Play footy in the park with your DS. Do lots of "unnecessary" chasing the ball, run round him in circles, do lots of bending down to pick up and throw the ball. Have mini races with him. Keep this up for 30 mins and you've run a good 4 miles! (good luck with the hayfever, I'm suffering too...they say a spoonful of local honey everyday helps)

How about buying a cheap second-hand exercise bike from Ebay or somewhere? You can have ds in the room building a train station with building blocks or a whole town with farms and an airport if you're lucky - and talk to him now and then while you're cycling.

If you manage 2 x 15 minutes a day when he's up, should do the trick. Maybe even another 30-60 mins when he's in bed. Cycle and watch tv or read a book so it's not too boring?

SKIPPING!! I hope you get to read this so low down in the list but I swear to God, try a bit of skipping and you'll feel your heart pumping. I bought myself a skipping rope for about £5 and after 5 minutes I was panting. It's such good cardiovascular exercise and you could do it when your little one is having a nap.