Fit parents with kids - when do you find time to work out?

[Anonymous]

If there are two parents, one parent watches kid while the other works out. I had to switch to morning workouts after 2 kids. I was too tired to do it after putting kids to bed. You can get up and workout from 6-7am or 6:30-7:30am while your spouse handles the toddler. This could be 2-3 days a week. On the weekends, you pick whatever time of day you want to workout. As long as there is a spouse around, you have a babysitter for a 45-60 min workout.

My kids are now 6 and 8 but I trained for a marathon when they were 1 (nursing) and 3. I worked out 4-5 days a week. 2-3 days in the morning before work and both days of the weekend. It can be done but you have to prioritize it and have a spouse willing to support you. If I don’t workout, I’m not a pleasant person to be around and can’t deal with stress so my spouse is supportive.

[Anonymous]

5 am or 6:15 (one hour class, either way)

[Anonymous]

OP: thanks for the feedback.

For the early risers, what time do u go to sleep?

[Anonymous]

We have taught our kid to not need us until after 7am, which makes it possible for a workout and shower before she eats breakfast and need us. Generally she plays in her room for a bit after she wakes up. She just potty trained, so now she also generally takes off her overnight pull up and puts on underwear, sometimes will even get dressed (she is almost 4). But honestly, if that doesn't happen until 7:15, it's fine (usually the pull up is dry anyway).

So we get up at 6am. We take turns going for runs, which we both do. On days where my DH runs, I do a 30-40 barre class on my computer in our room.

Getting her ready for the day takes 15-30 minutes tops. Her clothes get laid out the night before, we do meal prep on weekends so that breakfast is just a question of plating things, then she just needs her hair and teeth brushed. We get quality time together during breakfast so it's not like a mad dash out the door. I WFH every day and DH does it two days a week, so it's not like we need to spend a ton of time getting ready post workout.

To answer your follow up question, we usually try to be in bed by 10:30, and then read for 15-30 minutes before going to sleep. Sometimes I get busy with work and have to stay up and work, on those nights I don't workout in the morning but usually can do a workout midday because if I stayed up late working I take that time back later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: thanks for the feedback.

For the early risers, what time do u go to sleep?

NP who has also gotten up that early to workout (my kids are now 9, 7, and 5, DH and I both work FT): I’m in bed no later than 10, most nights. It’s completely worth it. I’m naturally a morning person and the early workout habit well-established pre-kids, which does help.

But you also have to be flexible, so yes to the jogging stroller, lunch time workouts, etc. You find a way to get it done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: thanks for the feedback.

For the early risers, what time do u go to sleep?

NP who has also gotten up that early to workout (my kids are now 9, 7, and 5, DH and I both work FT): I’m in bed no later than 10, most nights. It’s completely worth it. I’m naturally a morning person and the early workout habit well-established pre-kids, which does help.

But you also have to be flexible, so yes to the jogging stroller, lunch time workouts, etc. You find a way to get it done.

The bolded is by far the most important. Yes, it's useful to work out the logistics, but in the end you'll find a way to get some exercise in if it's a priority. When I was in grad school (pre-kids) I had a "rule" with myself. No matter how exhausted or unmotivated I was, I would do something for 10-15 minutes. Sometimes, that's all I did...but it kept me in the habit. Sometimes, I ended up working out for an hour. Tell yourself you are going to do something every day. Maybe it's one of those 10 minute workout videos. But is you set your goal to be "exercise everyday" instead of some fixed plan, you will likely end up working out more. And, I posted upthread, you really can work out with kids in tow/underfoot. Maybe it's not a perfect workout, but it's much better than nothing...and, once you and kids get the hang of it, it can be pretty good. Five y.o. DS still likes to do exercises alongside me.

[Anonymous]

Work out in the mornings. I don't get up super early - 6/630. DH job is fully remote and he doesn't mind getting our son ready in the morning. While he's doing that, I shower and then do drop off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: thanks for the feedback.

For the early risers, what time do u go to sleep?

No special time. Between 10:30 and midnight usually, depending what I need to get done once kids are asleep. I will add I don’t work out at 5 am every single day, only 3-4 days per week. The other days I am just active and that is enough for maintenance as I’m already a heathy weight and in great shape

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: thanks for the feedback.

For the early risers, what time do u go to sleep?

NP who has also gotten up that early to workout (my kids are now 9, 7, and 5, DH and I both work FT): I’m in bed no later than 10, most nights. It’s completely worth it. I’m naturally a morning person and the early workout habit well-established pre-kids, which does help.

But you also have to be flexible, so yes to the jogging stroller, lunch time workouts, etc. You find a way to get it done.

The bolded is by far the most important. Yes, it's useful to work out the logistics, but in the end you'll find a way to get some exercise in if it's a priority. When I was in grad school (pre-kids) I had a "rule" with myself. No matter how exhausted or unmotivated I was, I would do something for 10-15 minutes. Sometimes, that's all I did...but it kept me in the habit. Sometimes, I ended up working out for an hour. Tell yourself you are going to do something every day. Maybe it's one of those 10 minute workout videos. But is you set your goal to be "exercise everyday" instead of some fixed plan, you will likely end up working out more. And, I posted upthread, you really can work out with kids in tow/underfoot. Maybe it's not a perfect workout, but it's much better than nothing...and, once you and kids get the hang of it, it can be pretty good. Five y.o. DS still likes to do exercises alongside me.

PP you’re quoting and right, exactly. I’m rigid AF about getting some exercise in, but generally very flexible about what that is, especially when my kids were infants and toddlers.

[Anonymous]

Once I had kids I started going to the gym earlier. I go at 5/5:30. I find it easier than trying to workout in the evenings when I’m tired and more excuses pop up.

[Anonymous]

I’m a 4:30 am riser naturally- so hitting a 5:45 class is easy for me (I responded previously). I’d prefer to go to bed by 9- don’t watch the or have one in bedroom- but with older kids I’m finding ten is more realistic these days

[Anonymous]

Wake up at 6 and do a short (20 minutes) but high intensity beach body workout. Once a week after the kids are in bed I go out and play tennis with my hitting partner.

[Anonymous]

Also an early bird here- up at 4:45am, on the bike by 5:15am. I do this M/T/Th/Fri. Then try to get a workout in on the weekends, but sometimes it's hard.

I try to get into bed by 9pm each night...asleep by 9:30pm.

I have had to give up a lot of weeknight TV time, because my DC is 10 and is usually in bed by 8/8:30pm. Once dinner, homework, showers, etc. are done, I typically go to bed right after her.

It has helped tremendously that my DH is on the same schedule as me. It took him awhile, but it helps that he goes to bed early and also wakes up around my time.

As Britney says, "You want a hot body? You want a Maserati? You gotta work b$tch!"

[Anonymous]

Early morning workout to ensure that it happens. I try to go to bed by 930 pm. Also can you start doing daily long walks after dinner with your child in the stroller?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a toddler and we both work full-time. I’m finding it very hard to carve out time to workout.

Toddler is up by 630am, we are starting work at 8am.
Done with work at 5, dinner at 615, bedtime routine, kid down by 730pm.

I can’t workout after eating a meal. So basically my night is shot because we eat dinner at 615-630pm. Are you skipping dinner and eating later after you work out?

Please let me know how you fit it into the day! Are you getting up at 5am? If so, what time do you go to bed?

It's been a while since our kids were toddlers but I (gently) call BS on the bolded portion. Your kid is down by 7:30pm so you can certainly go running, swimming or something after. I used to go running at 10pm. There are some people who will say that working out late negatively impacts your sleep but I wasn't one of those people. I could shower up and then fall right asleep.

There is plenty of time to do an evening workout in your situation or if you sleep at 8 or 9pm, you can certainly wake up early to do an early morning workout. Like another poster wrote, just find a way to get something done.