Working out as a new mom
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Anonymous
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You stay at home, and you can't figure out how to get a workout in? I work, and I usually get 3-5 workouts in per week by waking up early during the week and then taking some time for myself on the weekends.
Off the top of my head, if I was a stay at home mom, here is what I would do - workout during nap time, put baby in the playyard and get a workout in while baby plays, wake up super early and go to a workout class while hubby and baby are still asleep, find a gym with trusted child care (I would need a friend or something to vouch, this would make me a little nervous with an 8 month old), find another SAHM to do a childcare swap with so you can both get to the gym...the possibilities are pretty much endless. |
Anonymous
+1 This is the way. You can go everyday if you want and just relax for a little. You don’t have to work out everyday. |
Anonymous
| Buy a jogging stroller, put baby in it, and walk/run 3-4 miles. Do this four times a week. Baby will love the ride, the change of scenery, may even take a nap. On the weekend, husband can watch baby while you go work out. |
Anonymous
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A gym with childcare and/or a jogging stroller. I did both when my kids were babies/toddlers.
Yes, your husband should support you working out. |
Anonymous
+2 I was a SAHM to twins and most babies/toddlers are very exhausting to look after all day long. Both physically and mentally bc you can’t take your eyes off them. I was always wiped out by nap time and couldn’t do anything but recharge. I hate working out, but when my kids were toddlers, I went to the gym 3 evenings a week around 5pm for Zumba. It’s the only time I had consistent energy. I packed the kids dinner food because the childcare people were willing to feed them so that got simultaneously handled and we came home for bath and bedtime after. I ended up in great shape! |
Anonymous
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I have a 2.5 year old and a 6 month old. I usually work out in the evenings after they’re both asleep. Bedtime for the baby is between 6:30 and 7, bedtime for the toddler is between 7 and 7:30. As soon as they’re both down, I change into workout clothes and get my workout done. We have a Peloton bike and a variety of dumbbells, kettlebells, etc. I either do a 30 minute Peloton ride or 30 minute weight workout with the Strong Like a Mother program (she has an app, it’s amazing). I probably average 4 workouts per week.
Not going to lie, it does take a lot of discipline. I’m so tired by the end of the day that all I want to do is sit on the couch. But I feel so much better immediately afterward, and I feel better/healthier in general when I make it happen consistently. The other downside is that there are some things that just don’t get done. The house is not perfectly clean and sometimes laundry doesn’t get folded for a few days. But I’ve decided to prioritize working out. I would like to switch to working out in the mornings, but the baby has been waking up at 5 am lately, so that’s not happening. |
Anonymous
Forgot to answer your second question - yes, DH is very supportive. He also works out multiple times per week. But we both workout at home and don’t go to a gym, so that makes it easier for us to both squeeze it into our schedules. |
Anonymous
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Look into Burn Boot Camp. It is the only thing that has worked for me since having kids and they have childwatch aka childcare, so at certain classes during the day (some during the day that work well for SAHM like the 9:30 class and then some for work outside the home parents in the afternoon). It is 45 minutes, a great workout, always different, tons of moms. It is really built to work well for parents in my opinion (the founders are a couple with three kids). Personally I have to get it done in the morning or the day gets away from me and I lose my motivation. I work outside the home, so for me that has looked like a 5:30 or 6:30 am class most of the time. If I was a SAHM I would likely have a slow morning and then go to the 9:30 class, have some me time and then still time for a walk to the park etc., lunch, then nap for baby.
Highly recommend, it is motivating and just well done in my opinion. |
Anonymous
| We belong to a gym that provides childcare for up to 2 hrs. I think the minimum age is 6 months. |
Anonymous
| Walks during maternity leave, and then nothing much until the kids were 2 and 5, when I joined a morning boot camp (6-7am). Spouse had been exercising in the am, but gave that up for me - boot camp is 5 days a week. Spouse now exercises in the evening |
Anonymous
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I work fulltime (hybrid schedule) - I don't workout nearly as much as I'd like, but my only chance of success is to make it as easy as possible.
I really like the apple fitness plus option. They have all sorts of different workouts (yoga, pilates, dance, weights, running, rowing, ect) for different durations - normally either 10, 20, or 30 minutes. I realize that you can probably find similar things via Youtube, but the Apple sessions are nicely produced, and it's easy to pull up the ap and find something good that will work within my limited time available- I'm not wasting time scrolling through various Youtube producers and having to listen to commercials before I even start a session. Downside is that you have to be set up in the apple environment with an apple watch and an iphone or apple tv. |
Anonymous
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I have three kids, and our youngest is a baby. My husband and I are both lawyers in private practice. OP, like you, I cannot commit to getting up any earlier than I need to, and our mornings are busy getting our older girls off to school.
I realized that going to the gym would add stress, so we have a Peloton, treadmill, and weights at home. I often run outside at night after bedtime, and it’s a great wind down time. Sometimes I’ll do a Peloton ride if my husband takes the kids to evening activities. I really like Body Pump classes (via app). On the weekends, we are active as a family. My husband is very involved in helping care for our kids, and we’re able to trade off time for workouts. If you’re home on weekdays, a gym or workout class with childcare is a great option. Walking outside with the baby is another great option. |
Anonymous
+1 gym childcare is great for this and a slow warmup for preschool. |
Anonymous
| Just give it up honey. embrace your new life and new weight. |
Anonymous
This is the only way. Bring the baby when he or she is rested and fed, the gym daycare will entertain her for an hour while you exercise and voila, your baby will be tired. |