Mother of 3 under 5 years old. When to workout?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You wait till they're older and in school.

This is my plan. 2 more weeks!!

I had to wait, too. I have three kids who are only 2 years apart. I tried taking them all to the gym but it costs a fortune and they hated the babysitting room and it took me like 90 minutes to get everyone ready and get there. then they would cry and I had to go get them in the tot room.

PS One of my friends ran/walked on her treadmill while kids watched a tv show. She kept her exercise machine in the den with the tv. The only downside was she had to workout to the kids' show which was boring.

[Anonymous]

I also have three little ones and now that I am back at work I find it easier to work out. My day is something like this-
Up at 6- half hour run, then straight to shower while DH gets them up and stars breakfast. Eat/ get ready/ leave for work at 8.

Lunch - workout for 45 minutes almost very day.

Home at 6, dinner-bath-homework- bed by 8:30 for all except me. I then prep for next day, maybe watch a show or work for an hour then to bed around 10.

Yes, it is a total pain in the ass. But, it is worth it to me. DH an I trade long workout days on the weekend because I am training for a race. That said, my oldest, now 6, ride her bike for 4 miles while I ran the other day and I loved it. To me, teaching them that taking care of yourself and also that mommy needs the time for pure sanity is important.


When I was a SAH parent, I had a treadmill and yes, I would absolutely put on a kids show while I ran so my older two would sit still for 30 minutes. I also taught them how to do yoga. It wasn't a ton of workout but it was better than nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also have three little ones and now that I am back at work I find it easier to work out. My day is something like this-
Up at 6- half hour run, then straight to shower while DH gets them up and stars breakfast. Eat/ get ready/ leave for work at 8.

Lunch - workout for 45 minutes almost very day.

Home at 6, dinner-bath-homework- bed by 8:30 for all except me. I then prep for next day, maybe watch a show or work for an hour then to bed around 10.

Yes, it is a total pain in the ass. But, it is worth it to me. DH an I trade long workout days on the weekend because I am training for a race. That said, my oldest, now 6, ride her bike for 4 miles while I ran the other day and I loved it. To me, teaching them that taking care of yourself and also that mommy needs the time for pure sanity is important.


When I was a SAH parent, I had a treadmill and yes, I would absolutely put on a kids show while I ran so my older two would sit still for 30 minutes. I also taught them how to do yoga. It wasn't a ton of workout but it was better than nothing.

This is my dream. My oldest is getting a scooter for her 3rd birthday next week, and I'm hopeful she'll be able to go for at least a mile at a slow-jog pace. I'm so excited for a time I can run together (or bike/scooter/whatever) with my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You wait till they're older and in school.

This is my plan. 2 more weeks!!

I had to wait, too. I have three kids who are only 2 years apart. I tried taking them all to the gym but it costs a fortune and they hated the babysitting room and it took me like 90 minutes to get everyone ready and get there. then they would cry and I had to go get them in the tot room.

PS One of my friends ran/walked on her treadmill while kids watched a tv show. She kept her exercise machine in the den with the tv. The only downside was she had to workout to the kids' show which was boring.

Maybe it depends where you go. My gym was 20 bucks a month for the child care. And that was up to three kids. SO the more kids you had, the more economical it was. If I had 3 kids, i would defintiely go to the gym for a break!

[Anonymous]

Try to squezee in 30 mins few times a week working out at home, depending on your fitness levels, all you need is bodyweight exercises to keep toned and slim at the very least. If you desire resistence workouts, try bands or kettlebells. All it takes is 15 mins of kettlebell swings a day and you will burn calories and tone up.

[Anonymous]

Gym with childcare. My gym is the least fancy option near me, but the childcare room is the nicest and the price is the lowest, so I can forgo the spa, pool, and everything else I'd never have time to use anyway. I SAH, so it's easier for me to fit it into my day. Oldest goes to preschool 5/mornings a week and the younger two and I go to the gym 2 or 3 mornings. I make it our morning activity. Sometimes I'm too tired to really exercise so I just slowly walk on the treadmill and watch TV.... We're only there for 45 min, but I love those 45 min.

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids in preschool. I often workout during preschool and or early AM or late at night (8pm) after DH gets home.

On days, we don't have preschool or I can't make it to the gym for whatever reason, I do yoga with my kids, take them on lots of walks and spend plenty of time outside. I have 5lb and 10lb dumbbells at home so it's easy to squeeze in 5 or 10 minutes of weights here and there, too. On those days I am stuck at home, I may do Jillian Michaels or some other dvd. I may not finish the whole thing but 20-30 minutes it better than nothing.