Help me fit exercise into my schedule?

[RoseTurtle]

I have an almost 2 year old. When she was a baby I managed to do couch to 5k but this dropped off a while back. I'm feeling unfit and unhealthy but can't see how I can fit in regular exercise. Can you give me some pointers? I'm aware at least some of what's stopping me is lack of desire, but there are practical issues too.

Non-work days:
Get up at 6:15, shower etc
Little one wakes 7/7:30 ish
Husband starts work at 8 (not wfh)
I take her out in the pushchair as much as I can to get some steps in although she increasingly wants to walk which is very slow.
We have tea as a family around 6/6:30 depending what time husband gets home
Bedtime 8/8:30ish.
So I could in theory do some exercise before her bedtime but I'd have to skip tea, or when she's in bed but it's pitch black outside and local gym is shut.

Work days it's impossible as I have to work all day then also after she goes to bed until around 10pm.

Weekends my husband and I try and take turns to have a bit of a lie in, then we usually do family days out. Once every couple of months I take a day at the weekend to do an active hobby but it's not regular.

Any suggestions you can give? What works for you?

Join a 24 hour gym and get up early and go to the gym then.

Home workouts when she’s in bed? Lots on YouTube or you could get a subscription to les mills or peloton.

Are you doing every bedtime or are you sharing them with her Dad?

Non work days husband does tea and bedtime. You exercise at that time and come home and reheat your tea and eat it after. You can't add exercise into a schedule that's already full without taking something out. Your child has seen lots of you on non work days, forget family time, take that time for yourself.

I would do a Joe Wicks YouTube video after DD is in bed on non work days. When it's lighter, I would go for a 5k run at 8pm also. This would also work before your breakfast. If you do pilates you could do it your pyjamas 😄

Get up at 5:30, go for a run, then keep to the rest of the daily routine.

None work days - what time does DH leave the house? Get up early enough to be back from a run for that time - he has to deal with DD if she wakes before your back. Shower with DD awake. Or home excerise video at 6.15am, or when DD naps.
Work days: run at lunchtime.

Any gyms near you with a crèche? That's the only chance I have to go. £4 for 2h, so there's time for a shower (or a coffee...) after a class or a swim.

Work days - workout during lunch break, or find a gym that has a crèche.

Let your DH do a few bedtimes a week? Find a regular local class you like so you don't have a chance to back out.

Run or do home video about 6am - you've got an hour.

Getting ready while she's still asleep is a luxury - juggle toddler while you're getting ready.

I do bedtimes unless I'm going out so that's a good point, maybe need to step back a bit on that

Really good suggestion, thanks

I'm willing to give this a try when it brightens up in the mornings, not so sure I'm comfortable running in the dark

I don't get a lunch break in that way, as I work from my car on appointments otherwise would be a good suggestion, thanks

That's a good point actually, thanks.

Never heard of this, can I ask which company this is with?

Thanks all, some really helpful suggestions! I definitely need to look at where I can step back and husband can step up so I have more time for me. Then just need to work on motivation 😄

You definitely deserve some time for yourself OP, and working on your own health and fitness is great for that and also your mental well being. Start carving out some small pockets of time, and you can add more over time.

A 7am get up from your little one is pretty handy I would say- loads of time for you to do exercise before she is awake. I like home workouts (YouTube has loads of options), for about 30min? Or, once daylights hours are back, you can try couch to 5km again if you liked it.

Get dad to do bedtimes 50:50 (unless he is working etc), and that would free up a few evening slots.

As your child gets bigger you can do more with them around (easier to keep them occupied with TV or playing). So you can shower/ dress etc once they are up too. Also you might be able to work out with them? E.g. they watch TV in lounge while you have workout playing on your phone. They might try and join in with you! That's probably not the best option but if you're haven't managed to fit something in otherwise could give it a go.

I'm lucky in that I can exercise on a lunch break from work if I'm wfh so I usually aim to do that a couple of times a week. On top of that I do parkrun on a Sat morning and go for a coffee with a friend so husband has DS for a couple of hrs. Exercise 3 times is enough to make me feel good about myself and on top of things but from nothing aiming for twice a week would be a huge difference - one early start a week and one hour out of your weekend isn't much really and would make all the difference I'm sure. The exercise I do is MummyFIT - I did the live classes on maternity and now online ones, it's been life changing for me.

Nuffield Health gym. Half the price of the local David Lloyd (which is stupid expensive). Once the kids are bigger, they do after school activities. But I think some council gyms do this too.

I do workouts online. I love Les Mills on Demand and I can get up and do it while by DC (similar are to yours) are in bed or even if they're up I might let them watch some breakfast tv while I do the workout on my iPad or give them the iPad and I have the tv. They don't usually get the iPad so this is a treat and they'll let me do a 30, 45 or 60 minute workout. It's difficult to fit this in on days I'm in the office but I work 2 out of 4 days at home and I can easily do it in the morning or even at lunchtime or in an evening before I make dinner.

The other thing that worked for me when I got back into fitness was trying to do ten minutes of exercise a day. Ten minutes of anything - Pilates on YouTube, a ten minute walk around the block or even on the spot, leg raises and abs exercises, anything.

I also take the stairs at work.

You should be able to find 20-30 minutes (or even ten minutes) a few times a week and often you'll feel better for it and want to fit in more.

The 10 minutes thing is good advice, and as much ad anything should be an easy way towards building a habit. I actually have a rare day to myself tomorrow so first thing once little one and husband have left will be to go for a run! First one in a while but you've all got me feeling like I can do it. Thank you!

I think doing a home workout is a really good idea. I love Jessica Smith videos on YouTube. She has some really short ones (10 mins), including walking, running, beginner stuff. I used to do them all the time pre-baby. Mine is only 11 months. I could do them while he naps tbh…

It’s actually really good, get it out of the way, start your day the best possible way, but I understand your worry.

I run with a friend, bit sometimes the dark feels a bit uncomfortable.

Skipping rope in the garden if you don’t fancy the dark, early morning runs. You can get weighted ropes so it’s decent workout.