How do you exercise if you have babies/children?

[lovemydog301]

My DH and I are considering having kids. We both love our careers and our hobbies. In particular, I love exercising regularly.

Just wondering how people stay fit when they have kids? How do you fit it in?

Thanks!

Different things at different stages.

In the baby stage I took up running as an excuse to get some time to myself. Longer and longer distances!

In the preschool stage I danced to children's music like a crazy thing and got them to do yoga with me. I did classes or gym or went for a run around the block while they did gymnastics.

At primary age they sometimes came to watch our sports or classes. Then started joining in and still do one of those sports. After family outings I got DH to drop me a few miles from home to run back (not interrupting family time) or went early in the morning.

I got a spin bike and weights and a punch bag to use at home.

Now they are teens and I do as I like swim, gym, running, outdoor swimming, sailing, yoga. But still work around giving them lifts.

DH has continued his sport a few nights a week throughout and we just worked it around each other.

They're worth it though 😊. Good luck deciding

I go to the gym when the kids are in nursery/school or when DH can be with the kids.

I use ring fit adventures on the Nintendo switch and go jogging.

I go to a david lloyd gym which has free childcare for 2 hours a day !

Baby/napping or jumperoo age - dvd workouts are home

Pre-school age (ie not napping but not at school) - gym whenever I can manage, which realistically is hardly ever, maybe 1 morning a week. I'm too tired from juggling kids and work to go in the evening once H is home weekdays, and weekends are too hectic.

I'm hoping when the kids are finally in school I can go to the gym much more regularly around working hours!

One weekend morning I do my sport. The other weekend morning DH does his. Afternoons are family time.

I’ve gone down to 4 days a week working, sometimes on my day off DD goes to nursery for the morning and I do my sport.

Also evenings after DD in bed.

It comes at the expense of other things though. We don’t take turns having lie ins at the weekend like a lot of our friends with kids. We hardly ever watch TV.

It’s harder but not impossible.. your expectations have to change a little but you’ll find once you have a baby, they’ll be your priority. That just comes naturally! If I can’t fit in a workout or I’m just too tired, I shrug & move onto another day!

We invested in some weights in our garage & I still do a mixture of a cardio workout programmes on YouTube and weight lifting. And sometimes a yoga or Pilates class on YouTube. I personally have never loved gyms, so I’m happy at home! Saves a lot of time & money and I’m still keeping fit and healthy. After my first DD was born, I mostly just walked & walked & walked. It got DD to sleep & I live in the Yorkshire hills, so I got a good sweat on pushing a pram! It eased me back into exercise after a poorly pregnancy where I couldn’t do much at all.

If you are dead set on gyms or running clubs etc, then take it in turns with your OH once the little one is in bed or while they are watching them

My gym had a creche too. Later, my husband went to the gym at 6am while I did the kids, then he came home took over so I could get ready. You could swap doing that on alternate days. Go to the gym on your lunch hour. Alternate evenings.

I do a 6am class at the gym, home for kids and husband just getting up or having breakfast

I don't. It has been one of the biggest lifestyle changes since having kids. I always went to the gym 2-3 evenings a week after work and had a run at the weekends. If I did that now I would never see my child in the week (I often have work events a couple of nights a week). I run occasionally at the weekend and was doing yoga at bedtime for a while but it's really difficult. We both work full time with a fairly long commute so I'm knackered all the time too. I really miss regular exercise.

Ideally I'd like to start running again as I really enjoyed that before I became a mum. It's not possible at the minute due to circumstances.

I'm still pretty fit though and purely from looking after an 18 month old! Lots of brisk marching around with a buggy and walking uphill with buggy and shopping bags, housework, lifting the baby - it's constant!

You can still exercise I managed to continue at the gym until I was 32 weeks pregnant and then kept up my long walks with the dog until I went into labour. After giving birth my hips took a bashing so for the first 6 weeks I just went on progressively longer walks with the little one in the pram. From 6 weeks I would fit a swim session in between BF. She is now 9 weeks old now and I had to give up BF and so I’m back at the gym. I can’t book classes really and can’t go to the gym at the same time every day but depending on my partners work hours I go for an hour a day.

Getting back to exercise has helped me mentally to gives you some you time

I work FT and go at lunchtime

*to the gym

What sort of exercise do you like? I cycled loads with DS1 in a bike seat, but started running after DS2 (and cycling with both in a trailer).

I used to run 30 miles a week before i had DD. Now I'm lucky if i do 5k on a Saturday or Sunday! I do a bit of yoga when I remember when she is in bed, and if I ever get an extra hour or two childcare I'd go but that is rare. It's harder to exercise at home so I'd do it on your lunch hour at work or as part of the commute. Looking forward to joining a gym when DD is in school

A gym with a crèche if you can afford it.
When buying a pushchair, consider getting one that it's possible to run with (my big regret as I can't with mine).
YouTube for home work outs.

It's doable, just takes a bit more planning.

I’ve just started getting back into it. Youngest is 2. I go to the gym on a morning as DH doesn’t leave for work til 8.30. As long as I’m back by 8, all is good.

I also do a buggy fit class once a week.

Not at the moment - not what I used to do anyway. DS has been such hard work and won’t entertain himself at all really so by the time he naps I just want to sit down, have a brew and eat something and likewise at bedtime, just want to see DH.
I’m non stop all day with DS though and walk loads so still really active, just not what I used to do. Once DS is at nursery I’ll get back to it a couple of mornings a week before work. Lots of people fit exercise into their lives if they’re really passionate about it.
Don’t let it put you off having kids. I exercised all through my pregnancy (well till 28 weeks when it all went tits up) and it definitely helped me stay in shape when DS was born.

Where there’s a will there’s a way! I’ve found I just have to be more organised and adapt. For me exercise (cycling) is essential: it helps me to feel like me, maintains my sense of self/ identity, gives me an endorphin mood boost and helps me to be the best mum I can be (most of the time).

Pre-DS I used to road race competitively although I do a similar amount of hours on the bike now, I just can’t train my topend speed and fitness to the level needed to return. I’ve tried several times. The level and intensity needed exhausts me (on top of working) off the bike which it did before... it’s just that I could crash out and do nothing, absolutely not an option now. More importantly I want to treasure the time I have with DS whilst his little. So for now I’m happy pottering on my bike enjoying the scenery!!

The newborn stage was easy as I’d just hop on the rollers (like a treadmill for a bike) whilst DS napped. We also did LOTS of sling walks. I’d get up super early to go and ride alone (and still do).

As soon as he was big enough he went in a trailer and came along on my cycling adventures no matter what the weather or terrain! He’s now 3 and LOVES his trailer rides - we go out weekly (more in the summer) and I normally ride for about 3 hours... he’ll either chat and sing away to me or nap. I’ve towed him over goodness knows how many French, German, Italian and Spanish mountain passes when we’ve been on holiday. I’m gonna miss the ‘trailer training’ when he grows out of it... I think I’ll just fill his trailer with bricks to simulate the load!!

I can’t wait until DS reliably masters his pedal bike as I’m looking forward to going out running with him whilst he rides. I’m also super excited about going riding with him in a few years.

On my lunch break at work, or after bed time.

Baby friendly circuits and once they're 6 months run with them. This year buying a double bike trailer so I can cycle with them. When I can persuade my mil to have then I get a decent run.

You just change your habits. Yoga at home, buy a baby bike seat, lots of walking with baby in sling and dancing in the living room.

A nice gym session seems like a distant memory these days. I'm either too frantic, skint, or tired. Sleep comes first, after dd of course

I'm not a runner and don't like the gym. I do love walking though - I just used the put the baby in the pram and walk for miles. Kept me sane.