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?

Can you run or cycle to/from work? At least part of the way? I get about 50 miles a week in on the bike this way and it only adds 10 minutes on my commute when you factor in faffing both ways.

When they were smaller and I had nwds I used to be I my running stuff and go out the door as dp came in. Do you have a local running club? That gives a group to rub with for safety in the evenings and they often have a walk/run or beginners group.

You could also look round for a class that is set up to bring a small child- it's quite hard to find a good one that is a proper workout but we're lucky enough to have a few near us. We also both sacrifice 'family time' at the weekend to exercise. It only needs to be one morning and you can get a couple of hours each in.

Do you have space to work out at home? I have a Les mills subscription so can do classes etc. then.

sacrifice your weekend lie in for a class?

definitely ask your DH to do a bedtime or two.

Sadly can't make use of way to/from work to exercise as I don't have a commute, I work from my car and do a lot of mileage. Weekend lie in is really needed for me to catch up on sleep (nights are still disturbed regularly) so can't sacrifice that but I could probably make time at some other point in the weekend if I start planning ahead.

Not sure why this is difficult

Just run around after your child, that's enough

I’m part of a great online group called strong in motherhood. It’s about £30 for a half term, live online work outs at 7am (which sounds ideal for you timing wise, and can also do on catch up). The lady that runs it also posts short stuff you can do yourself during the week in those shorter gaps.

workout, child in front of Bluey while shower, dress.

YouTube workout before she wakes up at 6.30 or at naptime or with her if at all possible are the only options on non work days

Because that's not enough, obviously I do that already but per my original post I don't feel healthy

If the gym is shut is there a swimming pool open? On none working days could you take the toddler to the pool?

Rather than a push chair could you get a child carrier? A bit like a back pack but for the child? Then you are doing more than steps because you have some weight on you.

Take an hour every Saturday and Sunday. It’s a very long day. You don’t need to go do something for the whole day, though realistically if you are solo parenting a few days a week and your dh isn’t getting home until late, doesn’t he want time with his dd? If you worked 8-6 5 out of 7 days, you’d be tripping over yourself for a whole day to do fun things with dd. Let him do that more often, but certainly he can spend time with her 8-10am or whatever every Saturday and Sunday so you can go for a run and do Wednesday dinner and bedtime.

Thank you all for your suggestions and support, I needed to go to the shop for something small so you motivated me to run there and back, just under 4k done 🙌

I will try and put your suggestions into place and get a routine sorted as I feel great having done it!