When do you work out?

[Anonymous]

If you have a regular workout routine (3-5 times a week) and small kids, when do you fit it in?

I have an infant and a toddler and manage 3-4 strength workouts per week of 30 minutes each. I usually get it done when the kids go to bed. I’d like to add some cardio but have no idea how I’d find the time.

[Anonymous]

I work from home, two kids ages 1.5 and 3.

Three days a week, I take ~20 minutes of my 30 minute lunch break to do strength training. I’m trying to add 20 minute cardio sessions the other two days but I just started that yesterday so we’ll see if I’m able to make it stick — I may also try running (rather than walking/reading work slack) on the way back from daycare drop off. Weekends I will usually also get in some ad hoc strength training at the playground.

[Anonymous]

Two toddlers.

I walk to and from work two days a week (40 mins each way, uphill on the way home)

I do pilates via YouTube three times a week when the kids are in bed (approx. 20 min videos)

I work out in the office twice a week. My office building has a gym. Once a week, I just go and do my strength/balance routine, which does not make me sweaty, so I'm there and back, including changing, in under 30 minutes. The other day, I do a longer routine - strength/balance, and then cardio on the treadmill, then a quick shower. I'm probably gone from my desk for an hour and 15 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Up at 6am to work out before everyone gets up. It’s the only way! 7 y/o and a 4 y/o

[Anonymous]

My kids are 3 and 5 and I just don't work out. I used to be a workout in the morning kind of person, but I would have to get up even earlier to get myself and my kids out the door and that's just not happening. I already get up at 6:00 to try to have some me-time before they wake up (shower, get their backpacks and lunches packed for the day, maybe eat breakfast in peace and quiet) and they usually wake up between 7:00-7:30. DH says "just go to the gym when you get up" but then I'd be showering and packing backpacks while also feeding the kids breakfast and getting them dressed and I just can't.

Nights after bedtime are the time I get to spend with my husband and I don't want to give those up either. Plus showering at night when I've already showered in the morning just feels like a waste of water. I have grand plans of returning to a morning workout routine in a few years when my kids are more independent in the mornings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Up at 6am to work out before everyone gets up. It’s the only way! 7 y/o and a 4 y/o

Do you go to a gym or do you have exercise equipment at home? I can't imagine getting out the door and back before my kids get up.

[Anonymous]

We have 2 kids , a 7 month old and 23 month old.

I do Orange Theory when i drop of my oldest at daycare since its 5 minutes away. My husband takes care of our 7 month old while i'm gone. We both work from home. We've negotiated our "me" time and "childcare" to help each other out.

[Anonymous]

I work from home. I drop my kid off at daycare (10 min walk) by 8:30 then head home and work out before starting work.

[Anonymous]

Not your question - but just know that even if you don't fit it in now the way you'd like, it doesn't mean you won't get back to it! When I had infants I put so much pressure on myself to try to workout and then just ended up frustrated that a baby not napping long enough or something ruined it. So I finally just gave up and decided that as long as I was walking / active enough to be healthy, this was going to be a stage of my life where real working out had to take a back seat.

My kids are now 6/4/2 and I work out pretty intensely during the day 4x wk. I've run a half marathon and I'm now probably the strongest I've ever been and fastest at shorter distances. There are many fits and starts in keeping it going (kids get sick for 2 weeks that consumes everything and then it take me another 2 weeks to get fully back in routine etc) but overall I feel like its back integrated into my life.

Its great people are able to do it with infants! I wasn't one of those people and accepting that and revisiting it when kids were more predictable and I was less tired (or maybe just more used to being so tired) is what worked for me

[Anonymous]

Also - its also great some people are able to get enough sleep and get up early to workout. Don't put pressure on yourself to do that though if you won't still get enough sleep. Sleep is as important if not more important to our health as exercise.

[Anonymous]

I wake up at 4:30 two days a week and run. I run 2 days after work before day care/ school pick up. DH and I also support each other on the weekends. I usually do a long run and some longer strength/ plyo workout. I do 5-10 minute strength workouts whenever I find time throughout the week.

[Anonymous]

I don’t start work until 930 on my workout days. When we wake up My husband gets ready for the day and I get the kids ready. Then he takes them and I go workout. We switch off days.

[Anonymous]

I have three kids and work in an office everyday.

I’m at my class at either 5am or 6:15.

I then get home, get the little ones dressed, fed and shower then leave by 8am for daycare dropoff.

[Anonymous]

I do about 40 minutes of peleton strength classes 4-5 days per week--there's no way I could get all the way to the gym and back. I take our dogs for a couple of brisk walks as well. I work from home and typically do it a couple of times a week at lunch time with a super quick shower and both weekend days at whatever time I can squeeze it in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a regular workout routine (3-5 times a week) and small kids, when do you fit it in?

I have an infant and a toddler and manage 3-4 strength workouts per week of 30 minutes each. I usually get it done when the kids go to bed. I’d like to add some cardio but have no idea how I’d find the time.

With kids that age, boot camp, 5:30-6:30am, 7 minutes from home. Spouse works out in the evening after they go to bed. Thank goodness, because by then I am wiped out and I need to go to bed!