Staying in shape as a parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old and am really struggling with this.
I sign myself up for a workout class once a week after the kids go to bed. I can't motivate myself to workout at home at the end of the day, but I can manage to make it there once a week.
The only time I have is before the kids wake up or after they go to bed. Both of those times, I am just too damn tired.

I feel like unless I plan my days around a workout, it just won't happen. And frankly, I can't plan my days around a workout. Ugh.

Or, you don't want to plan your days around a workout, which is fine. But own that. Many of us do plan our days (in part) around a workout, which is often the only way to get it done when you have kids and work.

+1

I was never-ever a morning person. But the only time I have to exercise is in the morning before the kids get up. I found an exercise I like and YouTube videos and a studio class I like, and while it was still a struggle for the first couple of weeks, after it became a habit, it's changed everything.

The key for me: let something you enjoy become a habit. Don't force yourself to do exercise you hate and slog out of bed once a week to do it. That'll never stick.

Unfortunately, the thing I love is yoga, and that just isn't burning the calories. Running is downright painful now that I'm overweight, and walking is boring. I'll be 29 in two weeks, and my daughter will be 1 tomorrow! I would like to lose the 20lbs I gained while breastfeeding. Which is crazy, because I lost all 35lbs two weeks postpartum! I had the midwife run a host of tests, and thyroid and all systems fine. Although, I'm now pre-diabetic. All at 28! I also have a 1.5hr commute home on the commuter bus, so time is of the essence. Hopefully, I figure it out.

PP you quoted. Yoga actually is[/] the exercise I love and get up for! With a combination of yoga that works different muscle groups (forms like vinyasa flow and power yoga, not meditation-based yoga) and calorie-counting (1550-1600 calories/day, so not too restrictive), I've lost about 10 pounds. Weight is generally lost in the kitchen, so I don't 100% credit the yoga. But I [i]do credit it, along with the circus classes I take, with making me stronger, defining my muscles, and raising my metabolism and energy.

This is just my experience, and it totally might not work for you and your body. But even a little can help. Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

^^^

Ugh, sorry for the italic madness.

[Anonymous]

Find yourself just 10 or 15 minutes to do something--go for a walk, a run, do body weight exercises. Start with that--anyone at all can find that block of time somewhere in the day. As it gets easier to find that time, work up to even just a half hour. As long as you are moving, even just 10 measly minutes is better than none, and starting with a small goal like that will help you make a habit. It's a little daunting to say, "okay I'm going to work out an hour a day, five days a week!" Start small and work up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old and am really struggling with this.
I sign myself up for a workout class once a week after the kids go to bed. I can't motivate myself to workout at home at the end of the day, but I can manage to make it there once a week.
The only time I have is before the kids wake up or after they go to bed. Both of those times, I am just too damn tired.

I feel like unless I plan my days around a workout, it just won't happen. And frankly, I can't plan my days around a workout. Ugh.

Or, you don't want to plan your days around a workout, which is fine. But own that. Many of us do plan our days (in part) around a workout, which is often the only way to get it done when you have kids and work.

+1

I was never-ever a morning person. But the only time I have to exercise is in the morning before the kids get up. I found an exercise I like and YouTube videos and a studio class I like, and while it was still a struggle for the first couple of weeks, after it became a habit, it's changed everything.

The key for me: let something you enjoy become a habit. Don't force yourself to do exercise you hate and slog out of bed once a week to do it. That'll never stick.

+2. My schedule does revolve around a workout. If I know the only time I will have to get to the gym is 6:30 on Saturday morning, I go to bed early enough Friday, and don't drink even a glass of wine. I don't just go if/when I feel like it. I love my workouts and look forward to them but I definitely have to plan my days around them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old and am really struggling with this.
I sign myself up for a workout class once a week after the kids go to bed. I can't motivate myself to workout at home at the end of the day, but I can manage to make it there once a week.
The only time I have is before the kids wake up or after they go to bed. Both of those times, I am just too damn tired.

I feel like unless I plan my days around a workout, it just won't happen. And frankly, I can't plan my days around a workout. Ugh.

Or, you don't want to plan your days around a workout, which is fine. But own that. Many of us do plan our days (in part) around a workout, which is often the only way to get it done when you have kids and work.

+1

I was never-ever a morning person. But the only time I have to exercise is in the morning before the kids get up. I found an exercise I like and YouTube videos and a studio class I like, and while it was still a struggle for the first couple of weeks, after it became a habit, it's changed everything.

The key for me: let something you enjoy become a habit. Don't force yourself to do exercise you hate and slog out of bed once a week to do it. That'll never stick.

Unfortunately, the thing I love is yoga, and that just isn't burning the calories. Running is downright painful now that I'm overweight, and walking is boring. I'll be 29 in two weeks, and my daughter will be 1 tomorrow! I would like to lose the 20lbs I gained while breastfeeding. Which is crazy, because I lost all 35lbs two weeks postpartum! I had the midwife run a host of tests, and thyroid and all systems fine. Although, I'm now pre-diabetic. All at 28! I also have a 1.5hr commute home on the commuter bus, so time is of the essence. Hopefully, I figure it out.

Then do the yoga to build your strength up. 20 lbs shouldn't make running painful, unless you have some weaknesses/inflexibility making your joints hurt. Maybe walk five minutes, jog one minute, or something like that.

Can you move closer to work?

[Anonymous]

We're just starting to jog while our 4 year old bikes. Once he's a more confident rider, we'll all ride together.

[Anonymous]

I get up at 5am and work out 6 days a week. It can be done. I just go to be at 9pm. I never watch tv. Never ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get up at 5am and work out 6 days a week. It can be done. I just go to be at 9pm. I never watch tv. Never ever.

Oh and our main mode of family transportation is on bikes. We have a tag along for our 6yr old so he can keep up. Try hauling that up a hill! Our trip to the grocery store includes a big hill. Add groceries in and my quads are on fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yea, Heather, I'm like sooo worried. Terrified actually. Pratically hysterical with worry. Damn, I wish he had a dad bod, because guys with dad bods never cheat. It's a fact. Everyone knows that. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old and am really struggling with this.
I sign myself up for a workout class once a week after the kids go to bed. I can't motivate myself to workout at home at the end of the day, but I can manage to make it there once a week.
The only time I have is before the kids wake up or after they go to bed. Both of those times, I am just too damn tired.

I feel like unless I plan my days around a workout, it just won't happen. And frankly, I can't plan my days around a workout. Ugh.

Or, you don't want to plan your days around a workout, which is fine. But own that. Many of us do plan our days (in part) around a workout, which is often the only way to get it done when you have kids and work.

+1

I was never-ever a morning person. But the only time I have to exercise is in the morning before the kids get up. I found an exercise I like and YouTube videos and a studio class I like, and while it was still a struggle for the first couple of weeks, after it became a habit, it's changed everything.

The key for me: let something you enjoy become a habit. Don't force yourself to do exercise you hate and slog out of bed once a week to do it. That'll never stick.

I fucking hate exercise, are you kidding me? I scrape my tired busted ass up out of bed religiously M-F at 5am to do a boot camp. On Saturdays I sleep in until 6am and Sundays I'm off, but still can't sleep in.

I do it because I want to be fit. I like looking and feeling fit more than I like sleeping in. Don't be fooled I dread and hate every second. I don't care if it's boot camp, yoga, or smoking a joint. If I'm doing it at 5am, I hate it.

[Anonymous]

I bike commute (30 mins each way) and in the summer there's a nice public pool on my way to work do I stop there sometimes too.