Working parents who work out regularly… what’s your secret?
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Anonymous
Man? Woman with short hair? My colleague who pretended it only took an hour, but it was really 90 minutes plus the time after she spent eating lunch with her door shut? |
Anonymous
| The secret is to stop collapsing on the couch. Go grab your weights for 20 minutes and then collapse. Or go outside and run for 20 minutes. Just do something to move your body before you allow yourself to sit down, because it’s really difficult to get back up! I normally work out once the kids are in bed around 930/10. |
Anonymous
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-Set up coffee maker so a cup is ready when I wake (before kids are up).
-Take 10 min to indulge in said cup. -Work out even if just 15-30 min. -Work out at home most days -Work out at the gym when I can “pair” it with a social interaction (eg. taking a class with friend or spouse) |
Anonymous
This is my neighbor. Her DH was at the elementary school bus stop in the mornings because she was working out and then getting ready for work. I remember thinking to myself that I would really miss the time with the kids and wouldn't want to do the same. Fast forward about ten years and one of us has steadily gained weight through her 40s (me) and one still looks amazing (her). If I could go back in time, I'd get into that early morning workout routine while the kids were younger. |
Anonymous
| Single parent here. My mom’s birthday gift to me every year is a gym membership. The gym has a kid’s center so I bring my son with me. I go twice a week during the school year and usually three times per week during the summer. Sometimes I don’t feel like it but I usually make myself go unless one of us is sick. |
Anonymous
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The only way I managed to do it when my kids were younger was by joining the 5am club. It was the only time I could count on no one needing me or interrupting me.
It was hard at first, and it caused some tension with DH, as he was still on the “putter until midnight” routine. My goal at first was to hit 3 weeks in a row. When I hit that (and I’ll admit it kinda sucked for those first three weeks), I aimed for 6 weeks, then 3 months. After that it got easier. In the first year I forced myself to wake no matter what kind of sleep I had the night before — I figured if I did it every day, no matter what, I’d take away my ability to “decide” not to do it, it would just be what I did. It’s been a lot of years now, and I will now let myself sleep in if need to, because I’m not at risk of stopping the habit like I was at the beginning. It’s easier to start this time of year because of the light. Hard to start in winter though I learned to love being awake alone in the dark in the early morning. And PP is right: It did give me more energy. |
Anonymous
Or 1 minute. Seriously, you’re better off to start very very small. If you want to be someone who works out for 30 minutes, you first have to be someone who works out for 30 seconds. The challenge is always, always, going from nothing to something. Make the “something” small and unintimidating at first; then build. |
Anonymous
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Prioritize what’s important and be consistent.
I work 12s so not every day. On my work days I don’t exercise. On my off days I walk the dog for an hour after drop off. Then go swim 60 laps. Then usually walk the dog again before pick up. If I don’t swim right after the first walk I won’t go. So I force myself. Bag is packed ready to go every morning. |
Anonymous
Change/Workout for 40 minutes. Shower/Change for 15 minutes. Walk to and from your office - 5 minutes. Eat the lunch you packed at your desk before or after workout (depending on the type of workout of course). I am the one who asked your kids ages and your job logistics. Not sure I saw your answer. How/when you workout varies based on these things. |
Anonymous
Me again, have you read Atomic Habits? That book was life changing for me. I was someone who saw no point in working out for 5 minutes, but points about why it’s important to workout even for 1 minute really struck a chord with me. |
Anonymous
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The moms I know who do this work out before kids wake up or they have flexible schedules. One friend I have has one child and a husband who is very hands on and is more the default parent. He handles school drop off and pick up. She takes classes right after work. You really need to make it a priority or else it is easy to make excuses and not do it. I have another friend, also one child, who said she used to make exercise not the priority and would meet friends, housework, etc the bigger priority and not have time to work out either. She leaned on her husband and made exercise the priority and she is the friend who always invites other friends to yoga and other group exercise classes.
I know SAHMs who can’t find time to work out either. They also have a kid or kids and exhausted. The most fit mom I know has 4 kids. She works out at 5am before her husband goes to work. When she is at the pool with the family, she swims laps when her husband manages the 4 kids. She runs and takes walks with a stroller. She is ultra fit and in tip top shape. She doesn’t even look like she has any kids let alone 4 kids. |
Anonymous
NP here. I wish I had an hour lunch, but you can't change and do meaningful sweaty exercise in a 30 minute break. Maybe a 20 minute walk. I have been getting away with lunch break workouts during WFH, since I can jump back online all sweaty and shower later, but 5-day RTO is in June and I'm just going to have to lose time with my kids in the early mornings or evenings to work out. In addition to the hour of commuting. Sigh. |
Anonymous
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Other fit moms I know work out with kids around. Dad may get kids ready for school while mom runs on treadmill. She is always running 5ks, 10ks and half marathons.
These people tend to truly enjoy fitness and being active. Another yoga mom I know used to be an instructor. She says she does yoga while cooking, taking a work break, with kids. She used to post online of all her difficult yoga poses while having a baby and toddler watching her. She eats super clean and in tip top shape. It is probably more genetic and her eating that keeps her thin and very fit looking. |
Anonymous
When I worked in a building with a gym, I could fit in a 25 minute workout and ate at my desk. I only did it 2-3x/week. at that time I had an after-school nanny I really trusted who loved my kid, so I felt OK about staying at work an extra 30 minutes to make up for the longer lunch. Now that my kid is older and no nanny, I don’t feel OK about getting home late, so I get up at 6:15 and work out at home (jog or home gym). |
Anonymous
Good for you |