Staying in shape as a parent

[Anonymous]

I go running twice a week at 6 a.m. Kids may wake up once I'm gone, but DH would usually be up with them. I also go to Zumba once a week in the evening, and DH stays home with kids.

DH runs during lunch hour at work or right after work, and bikes to office twice a week (1 hour each way) when weather permits, plus does at least one long bike ride on weekends.

We also generally try to do one active family activity per weekend, like hiking or even just a walk. It was really nice when the kids were young enough for strollers, and we'd go on super-long walks during naptime. But now they're old enough for some hiking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to make it a priority, and then be flexible about how to do it: gym with childcare, jogging stroller, work out at home or on your lunch break, get up very early (or stay up late to exercise). I've kept it up with my two kids, and plan to do so when our third arrives shortly, and have done some combination of all of the above as needed. It means trade-offs: I don't have much downtime, I deliberately chose a job that would afford reasonable work hours and a short commute, I wake up super early, etc. For me, it's been well worth it.

But really, it comes down to making that workout as essential to your daily life as eating or sleeping.

Unless I had no other option, I would not take a job that didn't give me enough time to work out.

Same. I have a short commute and get to work by 9. DH leaves with the kids at 8, I work out then.

Glad I'm not the only one (from original PP quoted)! Life is just too short for me. Yeah, I earn less than some, but still a great salary and a reasonable, flexible schedule. I had a job for about 15 months that had a 100 mile round-trip commute daily (pre-kids), and even though I still was working out daily, I gained weight, was miserable, from all the extra sitting and just general stress of having such a crummy commute. So I--and my husband--*totally* take quality of life into account when making work decisions. I know that I'm lucky to have those options and also proud of taking advantage of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no possible way as a WOHM that I can work out as much as I used to. I used to exercise about 5 times a week. No time for that anymore! I aim for 2-3 times a week, but I work out hard and efficiently. I do HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training. You get an amazing workout for all body parts in about 20 minutes. Other than that, I really try to eat right. I'm not looking like I looked pre-kids, but I am still looking pretty good. I am hoping once my kids are a little older, I will have more time.

Agree with this. I do what I can, walk/ jog during lunch break, or YouTube fitness video at home if I am still awake at night.

[Anonymous]

I work out before the kids get up or after they go to bed. It means that sometimes I don't have as much time to clean my house, catch up with friends, etc., but it's not really that hard.

[Anonymous]

be efficiant. I do crossfit 3 times a week. Cna't get anymore time than that. But its so intense that its definitely whipped me into better shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:be efficiant. I do crossfit 3 times a week. Cna't get anymore time than that. But its so intense that its definitely whipped me into better shape.

I do the same. It is so efficient. I would love to do yoga and Pilates but I can't get enough time to do it to make any difference to my fitness. With crossfit i can go three times a week, get defined abs, lost weight etc. I get up at 4.50am for a 5.30am class. Home by 6.40am.

[Anonymous]

If a dad in his 30s/40s spends so much time exercising that he has ripped muscles and washbord abs, the mom should be a little worried.

[Anonymous]

I could have written what 8:40 said. You just have to make it a priority, make space in every day (or nearly every day) for some sort of workout.

When I can, I work out or run at lunchtime. (and eat at my desk afterward while working.) During the summer when it's really hot by lunchtime, I get up super early and get the run in before work. On Saturdays and Sundays, I drag my daughter to the gym for an hour or two. I run during my daughter's soccer practice if I can't do it any other time; I used to run during her drop-off dance class, and I'll run during drop-off birthday parties.

It's basically just a matter of finding time wherever I can and using it efficiently, and being flexible enough to tailor the activity to whatever the time/location I have. (i.e. if I don't have child care to run on weekends, I just go to the gym on weekends and do all my runs mid-week.)

[Anonymous]

7:33 - I'm a mom and until I hit 40, I had ripped muscles and washboard abs, from just an hour of exercise per day. I still have pretty toned arms and legs, but the abs have that post-40, post-kid layer of goo.

Some people have good natural definition, and if they work out and eat right, it's not unusual to have that well into your 30's and 40's. Doesn't mean anything's wrong or that the wife needs to worry. (though she might worry if she's let herself go and the husband hasn't; that can lead to issues.)

[Anonymous]

I just discovered rowing. Right now I am rowing 45 minutes at my work gym, but seriously looking into buying a machine. I think I could watch TV while doing it and it's a relatively strenuous exercise. Current regimen is rowing one week and then lifting the next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7:33 - I'm a mom and until I hit 40, I had ripped muscles and washboard abs, from just an hour of exercise per day. I still have pretty toned arms and legs, but the abs have that post-40, post-kid layer of goo.

Some people have good natural definition, and if they work out and eat right, it's not unusual to have that well into your 30's and 40's. Doesn't mean anything's wrong or that the wife needs to worry. (though she might worry if she's let herself go and the husband hasn't; that can lead to issues.)

It's the in-shape dads who arouse suspicion. Not the moms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7:33 - I'm a mom and until I hit 40, I had ripped muscles and washboard abs, from just an hour of exercise per day. I still have pretty toned arms and legs, but the abs have that post-40, post-kid layer of goo.

Some people have good natural definition, and if they work out and eat right, it's not unusual to have that well into your 30's and 40's. Doesn't mean anything's wrong or that the wife needs to worry. (though she might worry if she's let herself go and the husband hasn't; that can lead to issues.)

It's the in-shape dads who arouse suspicion. Not the moms.

Am I missing something? What is there to be suspicious of?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7:33 - I'm a mom and until I hit 40, I had ripped muscles and washboard abs, from just an hour of exercise per day. I still have pretty toned arms and legs, but the abs have that post-40, post-kid layer of goo.

Some people have good natural definition, and if they work out and eat right, it's not unusual to have that well into your 30's and 40's. Doesn't mean anything's wrong or that the wife needs to worry. (though she might worry if she's let herself go and the husband hasn't; that can lead to issues.)

It's the in-shape dads who arouse suspicion. Not the moms.

Am I missing something? What is there to be suspicious of?

Ha! Exactly. My husband and I are both very athletic and fitness has always been a priority since we met at 25. At 45 we make sure each has a chance to get in our daily workout. We are both unpleasant without that daily workout--whether it's at the gym or a run.

[Anonymous]

10:37 here- my point was that for some people, it's not that hard to be ripped. For some people, it's impossible. And it's easier for a dad to be ripped than a mom because the dad's body didn't change with pregnancy and the dad's not at the mercy of the same post-40 hormones as the mom. I see plenty of toned dads and don't think anything of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7:33 - I'm a mom and until I hit 40, I had ripped muscles and washboard abs, from just an hour of exercise per day. I still have pretty toned arms and legs, but the abs have that post-40, post-kid layer of goo.

Some people have good natural definition, and if they work out and eat right, it's not unusual to have that well into your 30's and 40's. Doesn't mean anything's wrong or that the wife needs to worry. (though she might worry if she's let herself go and the husband hasn't; that can lead to issues.)

It's the in-shape dads who arouse suspicion. Not the moms.

Am I missing something? What is there to be suspicious of?

Ha! Exactly. My husband and I are both very athletic and fitness has always been a priority since we met at 25. At 45 we make sure each has a chance to get in our daily workout. We are both unpleasant without that daily workout--whether it's at the gym or a run.

Yup, we are the same way. I'd be more suspicious of someone who says he/she is at the gym a lot but doesn't look like it.