Roll up, roll up and share your top tips on exercising as a single parent!

[Lioninthesun]

I'm feeling frustrated at the lack of running/swimming/muscle burn. I used to be a fast walker (there was a point where pushing the pram about rather manically was about the only exercise I got, but by gad I did it with aplomb) but dd has put a stop to all of that with her insistence that we walk/dawdle everywhere. Pesky little legs and cute toddler curiosity!

So, how do you fit in the odd burst of energy? Are you all out there flexing with tins of beans or doing bum lifts glazed over whilst watching Frozen for the 9384th time ?

I had a mini disco in our kitchen the other day at 7pm, rock and roll baby and did about 40 'lifts' of dd. The next day I felt like a complete old lady. I need to do something pronto! Help!

I wish I knew between being a single parent (no contact ex) and working 12 hours day/night shifts (plus extra on top so we can go on holiday) I have yet to have the energy to do any exercise

I'm 42, overweight by about 4-5 stone I keep telling myself to do an exercise video and then just sit on my arse in the rare few hours I have a week to myself.

I'm bloody miserable about it to and I know its only me that can change it.

I'm going to try this later! Only takes 10 minutes, I'll report back if anyone's interested (if I survive)

i walk. this amounts to my sum total of excercise. I hate exercise.

I used to exercise in the evenings after DD was asleep. Lots of fitness blogs out there with workouts you can do at home with little to no equipment. When I started back at work I took up cycle commuting which keeps me fit-ish. Wish I had energy or time to work out in the evenings now. Also local gyms may have a crèche which is good if you want to have a quick blast on the treadmill etc.

I did The Shred when DS was really little and now I go to a local group a couple of times a week when he's at nursery.

I find a weighted hula hoop fab. You can just do 5-10 minutes whenever you have time. Small unweighted hoops can be bought for your little one too, if they want to join in with mummy.

Bum lifts and baked beans in front of Frozen, did I leave my webcam on again lol... Pretty much though tbf. We're going swimming tomorrow with my Dad (her Grandad), be nice as I found it really stressful taking her on my own. I was really active before, walking 2 or 3 hours a day, swimming two or 3 x a week (I swam up until I went into labour) and classes sometimes too (I did antenatal Pilates/yoga which was fab). I do miss being able to exercise like that, but baked bean Tins can be fun too, and my daughter thinks it's hilarious jumping on my while I try to do crunches!!!

I got frustrated at this too.

Gyms should have crèches imo!

I really missed gym workouts/swimming etc when I became a lp.

I did do a lot of walking when DC was buggy aged but yes after that it's much harder.

I find at home workouts lonely and boring.

Some gyms do have crèches. I never got to do a class as she'd start crying and they'd come and find me, but I might try going back now she's a bit bigger. It's only a few sessions a week though, so works better for me exercising from home. I got her Grandad on board yesterday, we took DD swimming, so I got to do a bit of swimming as on my own I can't swim just move in the water. I'm hoping to find a pool with Creche or maybe get her grandparents to have her so I can swim, as it is nice to get some exercise and head space. X

I do the shred dvd first thing while DS is still in bed.

Plus cycling to and from work (walk with bike to school with DS) and running at lunch and whenever he has a club.

Now that DS is older we go swimming and play gif a bit then he gets out and I do lengths. Sometimes he don't come in at all and just sits with his tablet etc.

Plus we walk everywhere as no car!

I still manage to gain weight and feel sluggish though :(

Good luck, just fit in whatever you can. I am going to get more DVDs and do those instead of watching tv!

If i ever have money I will stat a gym just for parents.

I use exercise vids. (Sometiimes with the kids picked up lots at chrity shops and carboots)
Play energetic football with the kids.
Cycle to commute. When they were little I had a bike trailer I hauled them round in. Great for day out to the beach.

I run up and down the stairs sometimes.

sometimes i weight lift the kids much to their amusement as they get to touch the ceiling.

Weighted hoop.
Exercise bike.
Kettle bells.
Digging the garden.

i get out on the bike any spare childcare time I get i.e. when they are at rainbows.

Do the housework/walk around with ankle and wrist weights on.

squats/press ups/sit ups during the ad breaks

Walk/gym in lunch hour at work.

Like you, I need exercise!

this all makes me sound like a loon. I don't do all of these all the time.

parkrun if the kids are doing enough to run too or play in the park while you do all he work. me and 8yo DS sometimes run with another 8yo while my friend looks after her other child and my dd.

Boring I know, but sometimes if you get a good clean on it can burn more calories Doing housework than going to the gym ! Playing 'active games' with DC/DCs, taking them swimming. There's a million ways to get fit!

erm... whats exercise?

tbf im preggo so im allowed to be fat. I do my physio though once DCs are in bed. not that it works